Underwater photography is about capturing more than just what you see. It's about bringing back the colours, textures and details that often disappear beneath the surface.
Even in clear tropical water, natural sunlight becomes weaker as you descend. Reds and oranges are among the first colours to fade, while underwater videos can start to look blue or green. This is why choosing the right underwater video lights can make such a difference.
Whether you're filming coral reefs, swimming alongside marine life or capturing wide-angle underwater scenes, good lighting helps bring your footage to life.
But what should you look for in an underwater video light? And how do you build a lighting setup that works with your camera?
Let's take a closer look.
Why Do You Need Underwater Video Lights?
Sunlight behaves differently underwater. The deeper you dive, the less natural light reaches your camera, and the colours in your surroundings gradually become less visible.
A camera may still record the scene, but the footage can lose much of the colour and detail you noticed while diving.
Underwater video lights help restore some of the colour in illuminated areas, making subjects appear more vibrant and defined.
They are particularly useful when:
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Filming colourful coral reefs and tropical fish.
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Recording marine life in shaded or deeper environments.
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Shooting underwater videos in low-light conditions.
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Capturing close-up details of underwater subjects.
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Creating more balanced lighting for wide-angle footage.
A good underwater lighting setup isn't simply about making everything brighter. It's about placing light where it is needed without overwhelming the scene.
What to Look for When Choosing Underwater Video Lights
Not all dive lights are designed for underwater photography. A traditional diving flashlight usually produces a concentrated beam for visibility, while a video light is designed to provide broader, more even illumination.
Here are four things worth considering before choosing one.
1. Brightness: How Many Lumens Do You Need?
Lumens measure the total visible light output of a light source. Higher lumen output generally means more available light, although actual underwater performance also depends on beam angle, water clarity and shooting distance.
For general underwater video recording, lights in the 3,000–6,000 lumen range can be a practical starting point.
For divers who frequently shoot wide-angle scenes or want more lighting flexibility, higher-output models may be worth considering.
For example, the LetonPower Sealion L24 delivers up to 12,000 lumens of white light. It offers additional illumination capacity for divers building a more powerful underwater video lighting setup.
The key is to choose brightness according to your shooting conditions rather than simply buying the highest-lumen light available.
2. Beam Angle: Why Wider Lighting Matters
Imagine filming a coral reef with a narrow-beam flashlight. The centre of your footage may look bright, but the surrounding areas can appear noticeably darker.
This is one reason why wide-angle floodlights are popular for underwater videography.
A wider beam distributes light across a larger area, making it easier to illuminate subjects when recording broader underwater scenes.
A beam angle around 100–120 degrees is worth considering for wide-angle video work.
The Sealion L24 features a 120-degree beam angle, helping provide broad illumination for underwater filming.
3. Colour Rendering: Bringing Back Natural Colours
One of the most noticeable changes underwater is the loss of colour.
Red wavelengths are absorbed relatively quickly, which is why underwater footage can look increasingly blue or green as depth increases.
A video light with a high Colour Rendering Index (CRI) can help reproduce the colours of illuminated subjects more naturally.
The Sealion L24 has a CRI rating of 90, making colour rendering an important part of its lighting specifications.
For underwater photographers who care about the appearance of coral, fish and other marine subjects, colour quality deserves just as much attention as brightness.
4. Battery Life and Charging
A powerful underwater video light is only useful if it can keep up with your diving schedule.
Before choosing a light, consider its battery capacity, charging method and whether the battery can be replaced.
USB-C charging can make preparation easier, especially when travelling with multiple camera accessories.
The Sealion L24 uses a replaceable battery system and USB-C charging. Its stated runtime is approximately 70 minutes at maximum brightness and up to 8 hours at low brightness.
Actual runtime varies depending on the selected lighting mode and operating conditions.
Why a Dual-Light Setup Can Improve Underwater Videos
One underwater video light can work well for close-up subjects and simple filming situations. But when shooting wider scenes, a single light may not cover the entire composition evenly.
This is where a dual-light setup becomes useful.
By mounting one light on each side of the camera housing, divers can adjust the direction and spread of illumination independently.
A typical dual-light configuration offers several advantages:
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More flexible lighting coverage.
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Better control over light direction.
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Greater flexibility when filming wide-angle scenes.
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The ability to adjust each light according to the subject and shooting distance.
For example, two LetonPower Sealion L24 lights can be mounted on a camera tray using compatible arms and clamps.
The position of each light can then be adjusted depending on whether you're filming a reef, a school of fish or a larger underwater landscape.
However, two lights aren't automatically better in every situation. For macro photography or close-range subjects, a simpler setup may be easier to manage.
Building a Balanced Underwater Camera Rig
Your lights are only one part of the overall setup. The way everything is mounted can also affect your experience underwater.
A typical underwater video rig may include:
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An underwater camera or camera housing.
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One or two video lights.
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A camera tray with handles.
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Buoyancy arms.
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Ball clamps or other mounting accessories.
What Do Buoyancy Arms Do?
Once you add a camera housing, video lights and mounting accessories, your equipment can become quite heavy underwater.
Buoyancy arms help compensate for this weight, making the camera rig easier to handle during a dive.
They also provide additional mounting points for positioning your lights.
The amount of buoyancy needed depends on the complete rig, so it's worth considering the underwater weight of all your equipment before selecting your arms.
Why Are Clamps Important?
Clamps connect your buoyancy arms, mounting balls and lighting equipment.
They allow you to change the position of your lights without rebuilding the entire camera rig.
This flexibility is particularly useful when switching between wide-angle filming and closer subjects.
A well-organised mounting system makes it easier to adjust your lighting while keeping your camera setup stable.
Choosing the Right Underwater Video Light for Your Diving Style
Different types of underwater photography require different lighting solutions.
Wide-angle underwater photography
When filming reefs, large marine animals or underwater landscapes, broad illumination is important. A high-output floodlight with a wide beam angle can help cover a larger composition.
Marine life and general underwater videography
For everyday diving footage, look for a combination of sufficient brightness, natural colour rendering and practical battery life.
Close-up and macro photography
For smaller subjects, light positioning and output control are especially important. More brightness isn't always necessary, and excessive illumination can create unwanted highlights.
Night diving
When natural light is unavailable, a reliable underwater light becomes even more important. Battery life, brightness settings and beam coverage should all be considered.
Explore LetonPower Sealion L24
If you're looking for a powerful underwater video light for scuba diving and underwater photography, the LetonPower Sealion L24 brings together several features worth considering.
With up to 12,000 lumens of white light, a 120-degree beam angle and CRI 90, it is designed for divers who want broad illumination and natural-looking colours in their underwater footage.
It also offers white, red and blue lighting modes, USB-C charging and a replaceable battery system.
Whether you're putting together a single-light setup or building a dual-light camera rig, it can be part of a flexible underwater filming system.
Explore the LetonPower Sealion L24:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a dive light and an underwater video light?
A traditional dive light is generally designed to provide a focused beam for underwater visibility. An underwater video light typically produces a wider, more even beam to illuminate subjects and scenes during filming.
How many lumens are best for underwater video?
It depends on your shooting conditions. Around 3,000–6,000 lumens can be suitable for many general filming situations, while higher-output lights can provide more illumination flexibility for wide-angle scenes.
Is a 120-degree beam angle good for underwater photography?
A 120-degree beam angle can be useful for wide-angle underwater video because it distributes light across a broader area. The ideal beam angle still depends on your camera lens, shooting distance and subject.
Should I use one or two underwater video lights?
One light may be sufficient for simple filming or close-up subjects. Two lights provide greater flexibility and can help create more balanced illumination across wider scenes.
Are underwater video lights suitable for night diving?
Yes. Underwater video lights can be useful during night dives, especially when recording marine life or capturing details that are difficult to see in low-light conditions. Always use appropriate lighting and follow local diving safety guidelines.
What accessories do I need for an underwater video lighting setup?
A typical setup may include a camera tray, buoyancy arms and compatible clamps. These accessories help mount your lights, adjust their positions and balance the overall camera rig.
