The BigBlue VL4600PB Dual Package is a robust lighting system specifically designed for GoPro users looking to capture high-quality footage underwater. I had the chance to test it this past summer while diving in Porthkerris, Cornwall, and the experience was impressive.
Here’s my take on this setup, looking at it in two parts: the GoPro rig and accessories, and the dual BigBlue VL4600PB lights.
- Comfortable and Balanced Underwater
- Bright and Wide Beam
- User-Friendly Setup
- Versatile Lighting Options
- Higher Price Point
Table of Contents
Unboxing the Setup
The BigBlue VL4600PB Dual Package is a well-rounded lighting and rig system designed specifically to elevate underwater GoPro footage. By combining a high-quality mounting tray with powerful dual lights, it provides divers with a stable, well-lit platform for capturing vibrant underwater scenes. This package comes with everything needed for seamless integration with GoPro cameras, transforming them into professional-grade underwater video setups.
It includes:
- 2 x Bigblue VL 4600BP video light heads
- Bigblue Aluminium Dual GoPro Tray
- 4 x Deepshots Aluminium clamps
- 2 x Deepshots 100mm arm sections
- 1″ ball mount, lanyard, a drybag (colours vary), and a yellow plate filter for viewing the fluorescent effect.
Each component plays a crucial role: the ergonomic tray offers control and comfort, while the dual VL4600PB lights deliver flexible and powerful lighting options that bring out the details of marine life.
This is not the first Big Blue dive light I have been lucky enough to try. I took another of their range to the Galapagos Islands, reviewing the VTL2900PB, a slightly less powerful version of the VL4600PB
GoPro Rig and Accessories
The BigBlue GoPro rig (also works for Paralenz cameras) provides a well-built and user-friendly tray designed to keep your GoPro secure while diving. It was straightforward to set up, even as a first-time user of a rig with dedicated dive lights.
I prepped for the dive by watching some YouTube videos, which helped me understand optimal light positioning. This research made a noticeable difference in footage quality, as proper lighting angles vary depending on conditions and subject proximity.
The rig itself is comfortable to hold underwater, with a sturdy yet lightweight feel that made it easy to maneuver and frame shots. Even in Cornwall’s often chilly waters, I found the tray easy to grip, and its ergonomic design reduced hand fatigue, allowing me to focus on capturing footage.
BigBlue VL4600P Lights
The VL4600PB lights are the highlight of this package, providing versatile lighting options for different diving conditions. Each light features a range of brightness levels, a red mode to prevent disturbing marine life, and a blue mode that enhances bioluminescent subjects.
The lights switch modes effortlessly, and the brightness levels can be quickly adjusted, even in thick gloves the button was easy to locate and press, which was particularly useful when diving in varied lighting conditions along Cornwall’s coast.
Specifications and Features
- Light Output: 1150 Lumens (Level I), 2300 Lumens (Level II), 4600 Lumens (Level III). 300 Lumens Red LED
- Blue LEDs for fluorodiving (120 lumens)
- Casing Material: Aluminum alloy, anti-corrosive anodized
- Power Source: Li-Ion 32650 battery
- Battery Life: Up to 30 hours (medium brightness)
- Double O-ring sealed
- 120º Wide Beam angle
- Colour Temperature: 6500K
- Burn Time: 1.5 hrs (Level III), 3 hrs (Level II), 6 hrs (Level I)
- Air integrated
Before you use the torches, make sure you spend some time setting them up on dry land and familiarising yourself with the functions.
Performance Underwater
During my dives, I found the VL4600PB lights to be highly effective, producing bright, even lighting that brought out vivid colors in the kelp forests and marine life around Cornwall.
These lights emit up to 4600 lumens with a wide 120-degree beam, ensuring smooth, even illumination with no harsh edges. This setup is ideal for capturing high-quality underwater photos and videos in low-light conditions, providing ample lighting coverage for wide shots as well as close-ups.
While diving here, I encountered several pinnacles and rock formations where various marine creatures were tucked into crevices and gaps. The BigBlue VL4600PB lights were perfect for illuminating these hidden spaces, allowing me to peek into nooks that would have been lost in shadow without proper lighting.
The adjustable brightness levels, along with the red light function, helped me adapt to the surroundings, casting just the right amount of light to reveal the colours and details of the marine life without overwhelming the scene.
I’m simply a beginner when it comes to underwater lighting and camera set ups, but you can see from the screenshots from some video footage I took, how the colours just “popped”!
Made from a corrosion-resistant anodised aluminum alloy, the VL4600PB lights are built to withstand tough underwater conditions. They’re rated to a depth of 330 feet (100 meters), and the double O-ring seal on the tempered optical glass lens ensures waterproof reliability for deeper dives. You’ve got everything you need with this set up!
Take a look at some of the footage I captured using the rig and lights.
Battery Life and Charging
The VL4600PB lights run on high-capacity rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which provide about 2 hours of battery life on the highest brightness setting. During my dives in Cornwall, I found this to be sufficient for a single dive, but if you’re planning multiple dives in one day, it’s worth having spare batteries ready to go – you can purchase them separately, just look for the Big Blue 32650 Li-ion.
Charging is straightforward, as each battery is easily removed from the light housing and recharged individually. The charger also has indicator lights that display the charging status, so you’ll know when each battery is fully charged and ready for use.
Final Thoughts
The BigBlue VL4600PB Dual Package for GoPro is the ideal setup for divers looking to take their underwater GoPro footage to the next level. With powerful, adaptable lighting that produces stunning 4600-lumen brightness, this system lets you capture vibrant details even in low-visibility environments.
For those just starting with underwater videography, this setup is user-friendly and versatile, making it easy to handle on dives while elevating video quality instantly.
What makes this package perfect for divers aiming to improve their footage is that it’s not only compatible with GoPro but can also grow with you if you decide to upgrade to other cameras or a more advanced rig in the future. The powerful BigBlue lights are designed to integrate seamlessly with various underwater setups, so this rig can be your foundation as you move into more advanced filming.
In cold or murky UK waters, the lights stayed consistent, creating an ideal entry point for any diver keen to enhance their underwater filming without the hassle of overly complex gear. I was very impressed with this set up and was pleased to see that it contained everything I needed to start filming some epic underwater adventures.
