Any recommendations for a lower price good beginner reg?

[Angelo Farina]

Best bang for the buck is to get an old G250/MK20 or MK10 from ebay for around a 100 bucks or under and get it serviced. They are as good as any reg you can buy new today.

If it is a G250V with MK20 upgraded to MK25 and DIN universal kit, it will BETTER than most regs you can buy now today...

 

[MarkPorter]

@MarkPorter What kind of diving are you planning to do?

generally, pretty cold water, freshwater, though of course some warm water vacation diving.

 

[Dann-Oh]

OP, If you can wait a few months there will be some Black Friday sales coming up at the end of November. When I was starting out I was able to get a complete Sherwood Brute Pro regset (first stage, Primary and Octo Second stages, SPG, Profile 3 computer) for about $350-400 from my LDS.

Talk with your LDS, let them know you want your own gear so that you can further your scuba training on your own gear. They will do what they can to get you a better deal since they are going to try to get you as a long term customer as well as get you to join their dive family.

 

[scrane]

G250/MK20 or MK10 from ebay for around a 100 bucks or under .

Maybe in Germany, but not in the US anymore.

 

[berndo]

Maybe in Germany, but not in the US anymore.

The market for +20 year old regs isn't exactly red hot. I've bought used regs well below the asking price. I'm sure you can find really good deals on old SP regs in the US too when you look around for a bit.

 

[scrane]

Actually I have been looking for a G250. Not much luck. 108 and 109's turn up, but G250's w/o a first seem to bottom out at ~ $130. for decent shape. I have a bid in on Ebay on a unmentioned G250 tangled up with a bunch of junk, but I don't really expect to win it. Once you figure postage and local taxes you generally have to pay ~ 20% above the listed price. The G250 may be 20 years old, but it is still very much sought after. I understand ScubaPro products are cheaper in Europe.

 

[berndo]

Actually I have been looking for a G250. Not much luck. 108 and 109's turn up, but G250's w/o a first seem to bottom out at ~ $130. for decent shape.

That sounds very pricey. On the local used stuff sites like craiglists I see them all the time. At the time when they were new, they were super common. Usually offered for 150 - 250 Euros but they don't really sell for that price afaik. They don't really seem to be sought after here.

 

[MrVegas]

A little late to the party here, but someone else mentioned the Sea Elite regs, and, having to equip a family of cold water divers (in doubles), the Sea Elite coverts have worked well for me. I would recommend shipping them to Diver's Supply for service, though, when the time comes. (Although anyone that can service Hog\Edge should be able to service Sea Elite.) Probably if you want a reg that anyone can service anywhere in the world the Scubapro Mk2 is the one that I have seen the most in rental fleets. I also have an old Conshelf that gets used a lot.

 

[Nemrod]

People tend to fixate on perceived needs for performance beyond what is really needed or even actually available given the limitations of upstream things like valves on the tanks itself and hoses and fittings. I have now something close to 80 dives on a Mark 2 Evo with G250s and at depths to exceed 120 feet and am trying to figure out why I would actually need more for recreational sport diving. Some people want a Ferrari and no matter that the valve the regulator is attached to is closer to a Yugo. A chain is only as strong as the weakest link. Well, there is a bit more to it than that but still ----. Choosing on the basis of reliability, simplicity and serviceability might be a better strategy.

I prefer a later model G250 over the last of the line G250V and generally would recommend avoiding the G250HP that was sold between the G250 and G250V.

There are certain models of older regulators that command a following, the G250, G250V (with Mark 10, Mark 20 and Mark 11 and Mark 25) and the 109, 156 and CE156. The AL 1085 (with Conshelf first) also has a following. These are all relatively easy to get parts for or even use current parts and are basically very reliable and serviceable. The Mark 20 has a SB on it for cracking due to incorrect torque (and most likely also falling against the first stage impacts). The kit is free from SP and the Mark 20 can be upgraded to Mark 25 specification).

The Deep Six equipment is a solid choice no doubt.

 

[Rob9876]

A little late to the party here, but someone else mentioned the Sea Elite regs, and, having to equip a family of cold water divers (in doubles), the Sea Elite coverts have worked well for me. I would recommend shipping them to Diver's Supply for service, though, when the time comes. (Although anyone that can service Hog\Edge should be able to service Sea Elite.) Probably if you want a reg that anyone can service anywhere in the world the Scubapro Mk2 is the one that I have seen the most in rental fleets. I also have an old Conshelf that gets used a lot.

That was me, and yes, upgrading to the balanced reg on that Divers Supply package gets you the Sea Elite Covert balanced reg which any HOG/Edge dealer should be able to service -- but Divers Supply makes it easy to send back to them, and if you have them service it the parts needed for servicing are at no charge (can be $15 or more at other HOG/Edge dealers). And Divers Supply is pretty darn quick getting it done and back to you.

People tend to fixate on perceived needs for performance beyond what is really needed or even actually available given the limitations of upstream things like valves on the tanks itself and hoses and fittings. I have now something close to 80 dives on a Mark 2 Evo with G250s and at depths to exceed 120 feet and am trying to figure out why I would actually need more for recreational sport diving. Some people want a Ferrari and no matter that the valve the regulator is attached to is closer to a Yugo.

That's a very good observation, and something I've seen in many (most) hobbies -- some people just aren't happy unless they are spending a lot on something they perceive to be "the best" even if "the average" really does the job just as well. I've had my Sea Elite Covert reg down past 110 feet in Cozumel a number of times, and had it to 122 feet diving on the U.S.S Oriskany in Florida, and each time it breathes so smoothly I don't think about it. Not sure how a more expensive reg can improve upon that. To each their own, but I'll spend my extra money on more dive trips.