APLOS AP02 2500 Lumen Dive Torch

The APLOS AP02 punches well above its $62 price tag, delivering 2500 lumens of genuinely useful output in a solid aluminium body that feels like it belongs in a higher price bracket.

Finding a decent dive torch under $100 used to mean accepting serious compromises. The AP02 changes that equation. For $62 you get a rechargeable aluminium-bodied torch rated to IPX8, throwing 2500 lumens through a beam that is wide enough for general diving and focused enough to be useful for spotting critters in holes. It is not going to replace a $400 primary canister light for cave diving, but for recreational night dives at Cabbage Tree Bay or lighting up the inside of a wreck at HMAS Brisbane, it does a surprisingly capable job.

## Overview

The AP02 uses a high-output LED housed in a machined aluminium body with a rear-mounted magnetic switch. It is powered by a rechargeable battery and comes with a USB charging cable, so there are no disposable batteries to worry about. The aluminium construction gives it a solid, durable feel, and the IPX8 waterproof rating means it is designed to handle submersion well beyond recreational depths. A wrist lanyard and basic mounting hardware are included.

## Key Features

- 2500-lumen LED output from a single emitter - Machined aluminium body with anodised finish - IPX8 waterproof rating for reliable submersion - Rechargeable battery with USB charging - Magnetic rear switch for easy operation with gloves - Wrist lanyard included

## The Good

- The output is impressive for the money. 2500 lumens is enough to serve as a primary torch on most recreational night dives. On a recent night dive at Clifton Gardens, the AP02 lit up the sandy bottom across a wide area and brought out the colours in cuttlefish and decorator crabs. - The aluminium body feels genuinely robust. It has a quality heft to it that inspires confidence. After six months of use including salt water, sand, and the occasional bump against a boat gunwale, ours shows only minor cosmetic marks. - Rechargeable battery is a welcome feature at this price. You charge it via USB before a dive trip and forget about carrying spare batteries. A full charge lasts comfortably through two standard night dives. - The magnetic switch works well with gloves. You can feel the click through 5mm neoprene, which matters on a cold winter night dive off the NSW south coast. - IPX8 rating has held up in our testing. No moisture ingress across multiple dives to 25 metres, including entries with the torch switched on. - At $62, the value proposition is strong. Comparable output from name-brand dive torch manufacturers typically costs three to four times as much.

## The Bad

- The beam profile is a compromise. It is neither a tight spot beam nor a wide flood — it sits somewhere in between. This works for general use but is not ideal for photography fill lighting or long-range spotting in low vis. - Brand recognition is limited. APLOS is not a household name in Australian dive shops, so sourcing replacement parts or warranty service may require dealing directly with the manufacturer online. - The magnetic switch, while functional, can occasionally be activated by contact with metal objects in a dive bag. We learned to store it with the head wrapped in a cloth to prevent accidental activation and flat batteries. - The anodised finish, while durable, does show scratches more visibly than a matte-finish torch. Purely cosmetic, but worth noting. - The included lanyard is flimsy. Replace it with a proper wrist lanyard or bolt snap before taking it on a dive. - No multiple beam modes. You get full power or off. A lower-power mode would extend battery life on longer dives and be useful for close-range macro spotting without blasting subjects.

## Verdict

The APLOS AP02 is the kind of product that makes you wonder why name-brand dive torches cost so much. At $62, you get 2500 lumens of reliable output in a solid aluminium body with rechargeable convenience. It is not perfect — the beam profile is generic, the brand is unfamiliar, and the lanyard needs replacing on day one — but for the price, the performance-to-cost ratio is outstanding. Whether you need a primary light for occasional night dives or a serious backup for deeper work, the AP02 delivers real value.

**Rating: 4.0 / 5 stars**