The YS-D130R is a Sea & Sea strobe for mirrorless and DSLR rigs. It delivers 130 Ws from a circular flash tube for even coverage, daylight-balanced 5600 K color, and a beam of 80×82° (or 102×102° with the diffuser). Full-power recycle is about 0.8 s with the Li-ion pack. The body is depth-rated to 100 m.
Modes include Manual, DS-TTL, RC (OM Digital Solutions certified), and HSS. It runs on the SB-L02 Li-ion battery or standard AA cells. Sync is via fiber-optic or electrical cord, depending on your housing. This Sea & Sea strobe suits shooters who want a simple, reliable light with clear controls and common power options.
- What it is: 130 Ws underwater strobe with circular tube and 5600 K output.
- Best for / not for: best for wide-angle and macro on mirrorless/DSLR; not for basic point-and-shoot use.
- Key compatibility: Manual, DS-TTL, RC (OM certified), HSS; fiber-optic or sync cord (per housing).
- Power: SB-L02 Li-ion or AA Ni-MH/alkaline. Li-ion pack enables fast recycling, supporting high-speed continuous shooting and High-Speed Sync (HSS).
- Note: sync cables and some triggers are sold separately.
**The YS-D130R PRO PACKAGE comes with the SB-L02 Li-Ion battery and SC-L0D dual charger.
Mini Compatibility Matrix
| Camera / System | Required Housing / Port / Sync Gear | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| OM SYSTEM mirrorless (e.g., OM-1/OM-5) | Sea & Sea MDX- housing with RC flash support / fiber‐optic cable | RC mode officially certified by OM Digital Solutions. |
| DSLR (Canon / Nikon) with Sea & Sea housing | YS/Optical YS Converter or fiber-optic cable sync | Supports DS-TTL and manual. Verify with your housing. |
| Any camera with basic tray/arm setup | Bulkhead sync cord or fiber-optic cable (sold separately) | Manual mode available; TTL/RС may not work. |
Even, Wide Illumination from Circular Flash Tube
The YS-D130R uses a large circular flash tube to deliver uniform light distribution, reducing harsh shadows and hot-spots for more professional underwater lighting.
- Beam angle 80 × 82° without diffuser, 102 × 102° with diffuser.
- Ideal for wide-angle reef scenes where even spread matters.
- Diffuser included to soften the spread further for macro or close-range work.
Flexible Control: RC, TTL, Manual & HSS Modes
The strobe supports four shooting modes—manual power, DS-TTL, RC wireless flash and HSS (high-speed sync)—giving experienced shooters full control while still supporting automated workflows (See Specifications for more details on the Modes).
- Flash output rated at 130 Ws.
- Recycle time as fast as 0.8 s with the Li-ion battery.
- Color temperature of 5600 K for consistent daylight-balanced output.
Rugged Build & Dive-Ready Performance
The YS-D130R is depth-rated to 100 m and is built with solid materials and design that stand up to the demands of underwater photography in challenging conditions.
- Dimensions: W 98 mm × H 110 mm × D 157 mm.
- Weight on land: 715 g. Underwater weight with Li-ion: approx. 30 g.
- Includes diffuser, red filter, strobe ball base, silicon grease and base block.
- Advanced mirrorless or DSLR shooters doing reef wide-angle photography.
- Cave or wreck diving environments where reliable sync and high output matter.
- Macro lighting where diffuser and even beam spread reduce hot spots.
- Travel or liveaboard photographers who want one strobe to cover both wide and macro situations.
Pros
- High output (130 Ws) with fast recycle time (~0.8 s) for demanding shoots.
- Versatile flash modes including manual, DS-TTL, RC wireless, HSS for advanced workflows.
- Depth rating of 100 m supports serious dive environments beyond recreational limits.
Cons
- Relatively high cost may be beyond casual user budgets.
- Large size compared to compact strobes — may add weight and bulk to dive tray.
- Some features (RC wireless, HSS) require compatible housing and sync gear — extra cost and setup required.
Why Buy From Bluewater Photo?
Sea & Sea is a respected brand in underwater photography gear, known for quality Japanese manufacturing and innovation. The YS-D130R carries that tradition into a flagship-level strobe. When you purchase through Bluewater Photo, you receive our support for setup, lifetime advice on dive and photo gear, and a standard 30-day return policy.
Rest easy knowing you're covered by manufacturer warranty (via Sea & Sea authorized dealers) and buyer support from Bluewater Photo’s experienced team.
Free shipping over $200 · Lifetime Support included
Bring your underwater lighting to pro-level precision with the YS-D130R.
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
- Underwater Photography Guide — lighting & strobe technique fundamentals
- Best Video lights for 2025 — Our top video lights picks for 2025.
Recommended Cords and Cables for the Sea & Sea YS-D130R:
- Flash Output: 130 Ws
- Flash Modes: Manual / DS-TTL / RC (OM Digital Solutions Certified) / HSS Manual
- Beam Angle: 80 x 82 Degrees (w/o Diffuser) / 102 x 102 Degrees (w/Diffuser)
- Usable Batteries: Li-ion (SB-L02) / AA Ni-MH / AA Alkaline
- Recycle Time (FULL): Li-ion : 0.8 sec / Ni-MH : 2.5 sec / Alkaline : 4.0 sec
- Color Temperature: 5600K (w/ or w/o Diffuser)
- Depth Rating: 100m
- Body Color: Black
- Dimensions: W98 x H110 x D157 mm
- Weight on Land: 715g
- Weight in Water: w/ Li-ion : 30g / w/ Ni-HM : 50g (incl. strobe ball base)
- Accessories (Standard): AA Battery Holder, Diffuser, Red Filter, Strobe Ball Base, Silicon grease, Base Block
- Accessories (PRO Package): Li-ion Battery (SB-L02), Dual USB Charger (SC-L01D)
Shooting Mode Details
- RC Mode
Works with OM SYSTEM’s Wireless RC Flash to control output via digital light signals for accurate exposure. - Manual Mode
The YS-D130R offers two manual flash types to match different camera systems: MANUAL-P: With pre-flash cancellation MANUAL-N: Without pre-flash cancellation Select the appropriate type according to your camera model to ensure proper synchronization and reliable flash performance. - DS-TTL Mode
Detects camera pre-flash and fine-tunes strobe output for precise, stable autoexposure. - HSS Mode
Fires rapid light pulses for full-frame exposure at shutter speeds above 1/250 s.
- YS-D130R Strobe
- AA Battery Holder
- Diffuser
- Red Filter
- Strobe Ball Base
- Silicon grease
- Base Block
Sea & Sea YS-D130R — FAQ
- Is the YS-D130R compatible with OM system cameras?
Yes — its RC wireless flash mode is officially certified by OM Digital Solutions, making it fully compatible with supported OM bodies/housings.
- Can I use standard AA batteries with this strobe?
Yes — the YS-D130R supports Li-ion (SB-L02) battery, and AA Ni-MH or AA Alkaline cells.
- What is the maximum depth rating?
The strobe is rated to 100 m (approximately 330 ft).
- Does it include a sync cable or fiber-optic trigger out of the box?
No — the standard package includes diffuser, red filter, base block and other accessories; sync cables or fiber-optic triggers are sold separately.
- Are wet-lens optics compatible with this strobe?
Compatibility varies by housing/port; please verify with Bluewater Photo before purchase.
Why Buy from Bluewater
- Authorized Garmin dive gear dealer — full manufacturer warranty.
- Founded and staffed by active divers, underwater photographers, and explorers.
- Decades of combined hands-on experience with the gear we sell.
- We test and use most of the equipment ourselves before recommending it.
