The built-in light is often enough in clear lakes. In murky water or below 20 to 30 metres, many people want more. On the larger models from QYSEA (FIFISH) and Chasing, you can retrofit extra light. The only question is what actually gets better as a result.
First of all: we have not fitted or tested any of these lamps ourselves. All values come from manufacturers and retailers. This is an assessment, not a hands-on test. There is a separate article on the gripper arm: Underwater drone with a gripper arm: what you can retrofit on FIFISH and Chasing.
Note on prices: All prices without guarantee, as of October 2026. Where QYSEA or Chasing only state US dollar prices, we give those. We could not reliably check Swiss franc prices for the accessories.
- The built-in light is between 2,400 and 6,000 lumens depending on the model.
- For the V-EVO and V6 Expert, QYSEA offers a mount for normal diving torches (€69); Chasing offers its own lights for the M2 series.
- Lamps with their own battery do not load the drone, but have their own limited run time.
- Light that is attached to the drone costs run time. The manufacturers do not say how much.
- More light is not automatically a better picture: suspended particles throw it back.
Which drone has how much light?
Not every underwater drone has a port for accessories. The small entry-level models usually have none.
| Model | Built-in light | Accessory port | Official extra light |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIFISH V-EVO | 5,000 lm (2 × 2,500) | Expansion interface | Mount for diving torches |
| FIFISH V6 Expert | 6,000 lm in total | Q-IF, 22 tools | Mount for diving torches |
| Chasing Gladius Mini S | 2,400 lm (2 × 1,200) | 4-pin connector | none found |
| Chasing M2 | 4,000 lm (2 × 2,000) | Port for gripper and light (according to retailer) | Floodlight 1.0 and 2.0 |
| Chasing Dory | not checked | none found | none found |
All information according to the manufacturer or retailer. More on the individual drones: FIFISH V-EVO: a closer look, FIFISH V6 Expert: a closer look, Chasing Gladius Mini S: a closer look, Chasing Dory: a closer look.
More light: lamps and mounts
Before you retrofit: more light is not automatically a better picture. Suspended particles throw it back. More on this in Colours underwater: why everything turns blue, and what helps.
- QYSEA External Lighting Mount (V-EVO, V6 Expert, according to the FAQ also V6, V6s, Pro V6 Plus): A nylon mount, 100 g, for external lamps. Price €69 or US$69. According to QYSEA, normal diving or video lamps fit there. They have their own battery and draw no power from the drone. In return, you switch them on with a button on the lamp head, not in the app.
- QYSEA V6-Series Flood Light Set (older V6, V6S, Pro V6 Plus): according to a retailer 3,800 lm in normal mode (up to 90 minutes), 7,600 lm in turbo mode (up to 45 minutes), 350 g underwater, with its own 18650 batteries. Retailer price US$679.
- Chasing Floodlight 2.0 (M2, M2 S, M2 Pro): according to retailers 4,000 or 5,000 lm (the figures contradict each other), 432 g, power from the drone. Retailer price US$499.
- Chasing LED Floodlight 1.0 (M2 series): with its own 3,500 mAh battery, 776 g on land, 363 g in water, down to 100 m. The retailers' lumen figures are contradictory.
For the Gladius Mini S we found no official extra light.
Fitting and operation
The manufacturers only describe fitting lamps briefly. What is documented:
- QYSEA mount: It is made of nylon and weighs 100 g. The diving torch runs on its own battery. It is switched with a button on the lamp head, not in the app.
- Chasing Floodlight 2.0: According to retailers, the power comes from the drone.
- Chasing LED Floodlight 1.0: It has its own 3,500 mAh battery.
For accessories on the port, the manufacturer's instructions apply. For its gripper, Chasing explicitly warns that fitting it with the drone switched on can cause a short circuit. We would therefore switch the drone off before plugging anything in. Keep connectors dry and clean after diving, because salt and moisture attack the connectors.
What extra light does to trim and battery
Trim and buoyancy
Extra lamps are much heavier than a gripper: according to a retailer, the Chasing Floodlight 1.0 weighs 363 g in water, and the QYSEA V6 light set 350 g. A weight at the front or side makes the drone tilt slightly, and the thrusters have to counteract it. How strong this is on which model, and whether buoyancy bodies are needed, the manufacturers do not say.
Battery run time
- Light with its own battery (QYSEA mount with diving torch, Chasing Floodlight 1.0): does not load the drone battery, but has its own, shorter run time.
- Light powered via the drone (Chasing Floodlight 2.0): costs run time. Chasing does not give figures.
- On top of that: more weight and drag mean more work for the thrusters.
More on looking after the battery: Battery care: keep your drone going for many dives.
DIY: third-party diving torches
Home-made accessories are a risk for seals and warranty. For light, however, one route is officially provided: using the QYSEA mount, normal diving or video lamps can be fitted to the V-EVO and V6 Expert. Which lamp fits depends on the mount. According to the QYSEA FAQ, it also fits the V6, V6s and Pro V6 Plus.
If you want to get deeper into building your own: Build your own ROV instead of buying: what works under €1,000, under €2,000 and with the BlueROV2?
Is extra light worth it?
- Yes, if you regularly film in dark, murky lakes or at greater depth and the drone's own light is not enough.
- Rather not, if you mainly shoot holiday videos in clear, shallow water. Then the money is often better spent on a better drone. See Buying an underwater drone: what to look for and Underwater drones under 1,000 euros: the best models of 2026.
If you also want to recover something, take a look at the article Underwater drone with a gripper arm: what you can retrofit on FIFISH and Chasing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I fit a normal diving torch to the drone?
On the FIFISH V-EVO and V6 Expert, yes, using the official mount for €69. The lamp runs on its own battery and is not controlled via the app.
Which extra light is there for the Chasing M2?
For the M2 series, Chasing offers the LED Floodlight 1.0 with its own battery and the Floodlight 2.0 powered by the drone. The retailers' lumen figures contradict each other.
Is there extra light for the Chasing Gladius Mini S?
We have not found any official extra light.
Does extra light shorten battery life?
Lamps with their own battery do not load the drone. Light that is attached to the drone needs power, and extra weight always costs some run time. The manufacturers do not give figures.
Try new lamps in shallow water near the shore first. Check whether the picture really gets better or whether more suspended particles simply light up. That way you find out while you can still reach in.
You will find reactions and comments on this article in the Unterwasserpilot forum (in German, English posts welcome). Built your own accessory? Show it there!
- QYSEA, FIFISH V-EVO product page (70 N, expansion interface, 5,000 lm)
- QYSEA Store, FIFISH V-EVO (2 kg payload, 97.2 Wh, 2 × 2,500 lm, Arm Pack)
- QYSEA, FIFISH V6 Expert product page (22 tools, Q-IF, 6,000 lm)
- QYSEA Store, FIFISH V6 Expert (5 kg payload, 156 Wh)
- QYSEA Store, External Lighting Mount (US$69, 100 g, nylon, third-party lamps with their own battery, not via the app)
- QYSEA Store Germany, External Lighting Mount (€69, compatible models according to the FAQ)
- WREKD (retailer), QYSEA V6-Series Flood Light Set (3,800/7,600 lm, 350 g underwater, US$679)
- Adorama (retailer), CHASING LED Floodlight 2.0 (2 × 2,000 lm, 432 g, M2/M2 S/M2 Pro, US$499)
- GlobalDroneHQ (retailer), CHASING Floodlight 2.0 (5,000 lm, power from the drone)
- Adorama (retailer), CHASING LED Floodlight 1.0 (3,500 mAh, 776 g/363 g)
- Chasing, Gladius Mini S Specs (2 × 1,200 lm)
- Chasing, M2 Specs (2 × 2,000 lm)
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