Kraken Sports Hydra 5000 Underwater Video Light

Powerful 5000 lumen underwater video light with wide 120° beam and creative lighting modes including UV, red, blue, and green.

A powerful and versatile underwater video light designed for serious underwater photographers and videographers. The Kraken Hydra 5000 delivers a wide 120° beam with excellent color rendering, along with specialty modes including red, blue, green, and UV lighting for creative shooting and night dives.

Key Summary

The Kraken Hydra 5000 is a multi-mode underwater video light built for wide-angle video, reef photography, and night diving. With up to 6000 lumens in flood mode and a high CRI rating, it produces natural color and even lighting across wide scenes.

Best for: Underwater video, wide-angle reef shooting, and night dives
Main advantage: Multi-color lighting modes (white, red, blue, green, UV, WRGBU)
Beam angle: Wide 120° beam ideal for video
Compatibility: Standard ball mount works with most arm systems
Tradeoff: 35 min burn time at full power
Depth rating: 330ft / 100m for technical or cold-water diving

Key Specifications

Max Output
5000 Lumens Constant
6000 Lumens Flood

Beam Angle
120° Wide Beam

Color Temperature
5600K

CRI
90

Depth Rating
330ft / 100m

Power Levels
11 brightness levels

Burn Time
35 minutes @ full power

Weight
520g land / 265g underwater

Compatibility

Works With

Most underwater camera trays and arm systems
Ball-mount lighting arms and clamps
Mirrorless, DSLR, and compact underwater camera systems
Action camera setups including GoPro trays

Requires

Ball mount arm system
Underwater camera tray
Compatible rechargeable battery

Optional Gear

Dual light video setups
Extended strobe arms for wide-angle lighting
Cold shoe adapters for compact rigs

Compatibility varies by system — contact Bluewater Photo (sales@bluewaterphotostore.com) to confirm your setup.

Kraken Hydra 5000 underwater video light wide beam lighting reef scene

Wide 120° Beam for Even Video Lighting

Video shooters need broad, even illumination that doesn't create hotspots. The Hydra 5000's 120-degree beam spreads light smoothly across wide-angle scenes, making it ideal for reef environments and large subjects.

Excellent for wide-angle video
Reduces backscatter hotspots
Even lighting across reef scenes
Works well with dual-light setups

Multiple Lighting Modes for Creative Shooting

The Hydra series is known for its creative lighting modes. In addition to powerful white video lighting, the Hydra 5000 includes red, blue, green, UV, and WRGBU modes that open up unique underwater photography possibilities.

Red mode for shy marine life
UV mode for fluorescence photography
Colored modes for creative effects
Switch quickly between lighting styles

Kraken Hydra 5000 underwater video light showing multiple color lighting modes

Perfect For These Dive Scenarios

Wide-angle reef video
Night diving illumination
Fluorescence photography using UV mode
Travel underwater video rigs
Dual-light mirrorless video setups

How It Compares

Product	Output	Beam	Best For	Mount Compatibility
Kraken Hydra 5000	5000 lumens	120°	Creative lighting + video	Universal ball mount
SeaLife Sea Dragon 5000+	5000 lumens	120°	Recreational video	SeaLife systems
Kraken Abyss 6000	6000 lumens	120°	High-power video	Universal ball mount
Weefine Smart Focus 7000	7000 lumens	100°	Advanced video rigs	Universal Ball Mount

Pros

Multiple lighting modes including UV
Wide beam ideal for video
Strong color rendering (CRI 90)
Compact size for travel

Cons

Short burn time at full power
High-output lights require larger batteries
Single light may be insufficient for large wide-angle scenes

Expert Verdict

The Kraken Hydra 5000 is one of the most versatile mid-power underwater video lights available today. Its combination of strong white video output and multiple specialty lighting modes makes it particularly appealing for divers who want creative lighting options.

If you primarily shoot close-focus wide-angle video or macro video, pairing two Hydra 5000 lights will create balanced, even lighting across larger scenes. Divers focused purely on maximum output may prefer higher-power lights like the 7000+ lumen range, but the Hydra 5000 strikes an excellent balance between performance, portability, and versatility.

Why Buy from Bluewater Photo

Expert advice from working underwater photographers
Hands-on compatibility guidance
Industry-leading underwater photography retailer
Dedicated support before and after purchase

Content reviewed by Bluewater Photo staff, recognized as the #1 online retailer specializing in underwater photography and scuba diving equipment, with real-world experience supporting, selling, and configuring underwater camera systems.

Free shipping over $200 · Lifetime Support included

Recommended Accessories

Clamp systems
Strobe Arms
Dual tray camera setups
Fiber Cables
Spare rechargeable batteries
Ball mount adapters

Learn More — Guides & Articles

Best Underwater Camera for 2025 — Our top picks for the best cameras for underwater photography for 2025.
Best Dive Computer — Our top dive computer picks for 2025
Professional Underwater Video Lights — lighting for underwater video professionals
Best Regulator Guide 2024 — ensure you have the perfect regulator for underwater photography

Modes: White flood, red, blue, green, UV, WRGBU
Depth Rating: 330ft / 100m
Lumens: 5000 lumen constant, 6000 lumen flood
Beam Angle: 120° (white)
CRI: 90
Color Temperature: 5600K
Power Levels: 11
Burn Time: 35 minutes @ 100%
Dimensions: 58.5mm (D) × 157mm (Length)
Weight: 520g on land, 265g underwater
Switch: Adjustment dial with button and battery level indicator

Weight: 2.00 LBS

Dimensions: 6.20 (in) × 2.40 (in) × 6.20 (in)

Free Worldwide Shipping: No

Brand: Kraken Sports

Light
Battery Pack
Charger/AC Adapter
USB-C Cable
YS Mount
Ball Mount
Spare O-rings

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Kraken Hydra 5000 good for underwater video?

Yes. Its wide 120° beam and 5000-lumen output make it well suited for wide-angle underwater video and reef scenes.

Do I need one or two lights?

Most underwater videographers use two lights to achieve even lighting and reduce shadows. A single light works for compact travel rigs or macro scenes.

What are the colored light modes used for?

Red light is commonly used for night dives because many marine animals cannot see it. UV mode allows fluorescence photography when used with compatible filters.