Bluewater 3000 Underwater Video Light Review

The Bluewater 3000 underwater video light is the world's smallest underwater video light, weighing in at just over half a pound (275 grams)! Despite its small form factor, it packs a powerful 3000 lumen punch with a beam angle of 100 degrees at 6500K.

One light is the ideal tool for macro video, and two can light the full range of a wide angle scene. For a retail price of $299, there isn't a better value option for an underwater video light....except with our 50% off launch pricing for our 12 Days of Christmas holiday deals!

The Bluewater 3000 is the "big brother" the Bluewater 1500 - our most popular focus light. Although the 3000 has all the power of a video light, it can also double as a focus light by simply reducing the power. 

Over the last six months, our staff have been putting this light through its paces in the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest - from the colorful walls of Port Hardy to the wolf eel "condos" of Tacoma, Washington. Take a look at the incredible underwater video footage above. Although this is a full review - we think the video clips speak for themselves! 

Bluewater 3000 Specifications

• 3000 lumen beam
• 6500K color temperature
• 100 degree beam with smooth fall off
• Anodized aluminum body - corrosion resistant
• 40 minute burn time at full power 
• White, red, and SOS modes
• 21700 battery with USB-C charging
• Depth rating: 100m
• Includes ball mount and lanyard
• Dimensions: 161 mm length × 56 mm diameter
• Weight: 275 grams (0.6 pounds); 135 grams underwater

Bluewater 3000 Key Features

Ergonomically Indestructible Design

The Bluewater 3000 is nothing short of a marvel of engineering. It's constructed with a hard, durable, anodized aluminum material but weighs in at just over half a pound above water and 135 grams underwater. After almost 100 dives with the light, we collected a couple of scratches from surf entries with rocks and a couple of smacks against an aluminum boat. But overall, we've been impressed with how well the light holds up in rough, coldwater conditions.

When it comes to controls, the Bluewater 3000 is as easy as it gets. The light is designed with a single button that is used to turn it on and off, change power levels, and change beam color. Surrounding the button, there is a battery life indicator that is color-coded to convey the approximate charge remaining in the light. 

The back of the Bluewater 3000 features a hole to attach a lanyard in case you wish to use the light as a dive torch. The bottom of the light has a connection point for the included standard one inch ball mount which is used to attach it to most underwater camera systems. 

A Wide, Beautiful Beam for Underwater Video

Over the course of the last six months, we've been able to capture beautiful underwater video with the 3000 lumen beam of the Bluewater 3000. It's a little on the "colder" side with a color temperature of 6500K. In cold green water this really can make subjects pop with bright, sunlit color. In blue water the tones look more natural than with video lights that are on the warmer side. Overall, we find that the post processing and white balance correction tends to be less necessary with video lights in the 6500K range. 

The Bluewater 3000 has a 100 degree beam with soft, even fall off. There are no hotspots in the beam and it's a good width for both wide angle and macro video. We find that lights with a wider beam tend to light a bit more particulate matter, making 100 degrees ideal. However, if you have an ultra wide lens like a fisheye - we recommend getting two lights to cover the field of view. Two lights will also provide more power which can be better for scenes with higher levels of ambient light - like clear, shallow, tropical water. Macro video typically requires less light, but two lights allow for more creative effects. All of the video footage shot in our review above was with just one Bluewater 3000 light!

Burn Time and Charging

Because we packed twice the amount of power into the same body of the Bluewater 1500, the burn time on the Bluewater 3000 at full power is 40 minutes. That said, at lower powers it's much longer - even a couple of hours. We recommend running the light at half or quarter power during the dive for focusing in photography and bringing it to 3000 lumens when you're ready to shoot video. This will allow the light to last a couple of dives. 

If you do want to use the Bluewater 3000 on multiple dives at full power, you can charge between dives using a simple USB-C port attached to the battery. You can also get a couple of spare batteries to quickly swap them out between dives. Swapping batteries is easy - all you have to do is turn the back of the light to remove the battery. 

Red Beam for Backlighting and Critter Hunting

If you've ever struggled to sneak up on an elusive critter, look no further! The Bluewater 3000 is equipped with a red beam that many underwater critters can't see. The red beam acts as a focus light and is drowned out by the white light of your strobe. This means there's no need to worry about interference from the light in your photo.

Our favorite use case for the red beam is to use it for creative backlighting. By placing the torch behind your subject or shining it on steel wool, you can create interesting photos with critters like this Tritonia festiva. 

The Perfect Dive Torch

If you aren't much of a photographer or videographer the Bluewater 3000 acts as an excellent dive torch. 3000 lumens is bright enough to light up the darkest of places and signal to your buddy underwater. If you want a tighter beam, you may want to consider one of our other dive torches.  

The body of the light is easy to hold - especially with the included adjustable lanyard that allows you to easily attach the light to your wrist. 

Who Should Buy the Bluewater 3000?

The Bluewater 3000 underwater video light is an excellent option for anyone looking for the best value for money in an underwater video light. The Bluewater 3000 is designed for macro video shooters. At full power, the 40-minute burn time means this isn’t designed for nonstop wide-angle video on long dives — it’s best used strategically or as a dual-light setup. 

Because the light is so compact, it's especially the right choice for travelers and action camera/gopro shooters. 

Conclusions

The Bluewater 3000 was designed to be a small, reliable video light that you actually want to bring on every dive — and after months of real-world use, that’s exactly where it shines. It’s compact enough to travel with easily, powerful enough for macro and close-range wide angle video, and tough enough to handle cold water, surf entries, and day-to-day abuse. One light is a great choice for macro shooters and compact setups, while running a pair opens up much more creative flexibility for wider scenes. If you’re looking for a lightweight, no-nonsense underwater video light that balances output, beam quality, and usability without unnecessary bulk, the Bluewater 3000 is a solid choice.