HID bulbs have no filament. The HID bulb creates light by creating an arc between poles. The result is an extremely bright and powerful beam. Because of the low wattages required, HID light system burn times are substantially longer than other types. A 10-watt HID bulb is approximately equal in light output to a 50-watt quartz halogen bulb.

The HID bulb output has a color temperature of 6,000-6,500 degrees Kelvin, essentially the same color temperature as the sun. As a result, the HID light is an excellent choice for underwater video and digital still photography -- and nearly any other underwater activity.

HID bulbs are generally rated as offering approximately 1,000 hours of bulb life. In reality, bulb life is more directly related to the number of times you turn the bulb on and off. Once activated, you should give the bulb at least four minutes to warm up to its proper operating temperature before turning it off. You should also wait at least a minute before restarting a bulb that has just been turned off.

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