Halcyon's Explorer and Proteus lighting systems set the standard for underwater illumination. HID, halogen, and HMI lamps can be matched with any application, while a wide variety of canister/battery configurations allows you to dial in your system to meet the demands of any diving environment:

• Explorer NiMH Primary Lights
• Proteus Lead Acid Primary Lights
• 2003 10watt HID Light Head
• Apollo HID Video/Film Lighting
• Apollo HMI Video/Film Lighting
• Apollo Video Housings
• Halcyon Lighting Technology Overview
• Scout Reserve Lights

• HID FAQ
• NiMH FAQ

Show your DIR Diver colors at your local divesite with new Halcyon shirts and hats. We're now offering a Halcyon DIR Dive System shirt and baseball cap with Halcyon's new logo.

Halcyon shirts and hats are available through your local Halcyon dealer.

Halcyon Helios NiMH Lighting Systems Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery technology emerged nearly thirty years ago from research on the storage of hydrogen for use as an alternative energy source. NiMH development resulted in batteries providing enhanced capacities while retaining the well-characterized electrical and physical design features of the sealed Nickel Cadmium cell design. Halcyon is pleased to be at the forefront of dive equipment innovation by introducing Nickel-Metal Hydride technology in its Helios line of underwater lighting.

The discharge behavior of the Helios Nickel-Metal Hydride battery pack is well-suited for underwater lighting applications. Halcyon’s NiMH battery pack provides a stable voltage for extended periods of operations. When compared to other battery technologies, Halcyon’s Helios Nickel-Metal Hydride battery pack offers three distinct advantages:

• Higher capacity: Halcyon’s Helios battery pack has more than 50% more energy density than their lead acid counterparts. As a result, the Helios light canisters can be a fraction of the size of the Explorer Pro line with equal or greater burn times.
• Environmentally green: NiMH batteries contain no cadnium, mercury, lead, or lithium which are proven to be a disaster in landfills.
• No memory effect: Unlike lead acid and NICAD packs, NiMH batteries are not affected by battery memory effect and can be partially recharged and discharged at will without shortening the life of the battery.

The NiMH Advantage

 

Helios Primary Light Systems
Model	Configuration	Burn Time
Helios 4.5	4.5ah 10watt HID	240 min
Helios 9	9ah 10watt HID	8 hours
Helios 9	9ah 18watt HID	240 min
Helios Systems Manual

 

Apollo Video Light Systems
Model	Configuration	Burn Time
Apollo Video 4.5/24 4	4.5ah 24watt HID	100 min
Apollo Video 9/24X2	9ah dual 24watt HID	100 min
Apollo Video 9/50	9ah 50watt HID	90 min
Apollo Video 13.5	13.5ah dual 50watt HID	65 min
Apollo Systems Manual

The extended burn times are remarkable considering the reduction in size of the lights: the displacement of the Helios 9 18 watt HID light is three times less than the Explorer Pro 6 with the same lamp, yet it burns for twice as long. The Helios 4.5 10 watt HID is three times smaller in displaced volume than a similarly configured Explorer Pro 4 for the same practical burn time! The Helios 4.5 now comes with your choice of Halcyon's redesigned 10watt HID light heads, either fixed or focusable. The powerful Helios 13.5 video system, with its scorching twin 50 watt HID video lights, is one third the size of the Apollo 14; photographers and videographers alike will appreciate the increased maneuverability of diving with the smaller canister. Like the rest of the Helios line, the Helios 13.5’s design is perfect for securing your 1st stage long hose during a dive.

Helios Delrin Canister
Thanks to the compact dimension of the NiMH battery pack, the Helios canister is a fraction of the size of the Explorer Pro lighting system. Just like its indestructible Scout back-up light, Halcyon mills the Helios canister out of a solid rod of Delrin. The one-piece design ensures a structural integrity not found in any other available dive light. Delrin shares the same characteristics of industrial metals such as aluminum and stainless steel. Some comparable properties include stiffness, dimensional stability, impact resistance, and structural strength. The one-piece Delrin canister is virtually indestructible under normal usage. Although the canister itself can withstand depths of over 3000 feet, the recommended working depth of the Halcyon Helios line is 450 feet/137 meters.

To complement the Delrin canister, all Helios lights feature high quality stainless steel fittings and new locking latches. The small diameter of the Helios canister prevents the use of the self-connecting banana plugs found in the Explorer Pro line. Simply line up the color coded connector and use firm pressure to plug and unplug the battery pack from the light lid or the Helios charger.

Helios Battery Care and Maintenance

Light signals can be an important means of communication because they work in a variety of situations and are especially effective in gaining a team member's attention. In dark surroundings, individuals can easily communicate with their lights over large distances. Even in close quarters light signals may be preferable, especially if divers are not facing one another. Many open water divers are starting to realize how lights can simplify communication and enrich a dive. Divers frequently use light signals over hand signals because they are:

• Easy to see
• More efficient to use
• Effective at much greater distances

DIR Tips courtesy of Global Underwater Explorers