Question Streamlined (longhose) regulator sets for Europe?

[Antonios (Holy Diver)]

Hi to all fellow Scubaboarders

I am a casual, inexperienced rec diver from Greece (<70 dives) who dives locally with a single tank (max.15 dives per year in warm blue waters). I am interested in buying my first regulator set, and after finishing the first part of GUE Fundamentals course, I favor the "streamlined", Hogarthian configuration (primary longhose/secondary on necklace along with BP/W vs. traditional octopus with a jacket BCD). It seems there are not many budget choices for a casual open water diver, apart from this set from DGX: DGX Custom - DGX Gears D6 Single Tank Reg Package.
Nevertheless, and althought the DGX client support assured me that their regulators can be serviced almost anywhere, I cannot find any dive shops in my region nor in Athens that can service that brand of regulators, so I feel a bit reluctant to purchase it. Also, I would like to find a European manufactured brand due to high import fees for any item outside EU. Do you have any suggestions? Maybe I should buy a generic, easily serviceable brand like Aqualung and then convert it to long-hose with a kit like this? Halcyon Dive Systems
At first glance such a conversion seems relatively easy, judging by those videos:
Thank you in advance

(P.S.: Mods, feel free to move this thread to another category if you deem it necessary)

 

[Mobulai]

Aqualung parts do have better availability (and shop support) over here in the EU (there seems to be a lot of backorders happening in the US), and so do many other (major) brands like Apeks, Scubapro, Mares…
I personally use a mix of Scubapro (mainly), Aqualung, a cressi (that I started with for my 1st set) and just recently Sherwood (but Sherwood is also tough to service in the EU). I mainly do DIY service so only parts availability is what concerns me.

What do the local shops around you (and that you feel trust towards) deal in? i remember when I went diving in the Agean Apeks was everywhere

One interesting suggestion, that’s based in Greece, is the Scubagaskets new regulators; they offer also self service options if that would be interesting for you later on
They also got great review and analysis here Scubagaskets getting into the Reg business

 

[Antonios (Holy Diver)]

Aqualung parts do have better availability (and shop support) over here in the EU (there seems to be a lot of backorders happening in the US), and so do many other (major) brands like Apeks, Scubapro, Mares…
I personally use a mix of Scubapro (mainly), Aqualung, a cressi (that I started with for my 1st set) and just recently Sherwood (but Sherwood is also tough to service in the EU). I mainly do DIY service so only parts availability is what concerns me.

What do the local shops around you (and that you feel trust towards) deal in? i remember when I went diving in the Agean Apeks was everywhere

One interesting suggestion, that’s based in Greece, is the Scubagaskets new regulators; they offer also self service options if that would be interesting for you later on
They also got great review and analysis here Scubagaskets getting into the Reg business

Apeks along with Aqualung and Scubapro are the most common brands here. I mentioned Aqualung because local dive shops can service them.

 

[Mobulai]

Apeks along with Aqualung and Scubapro are the most common brands here. I mentioned Aqualung because local dive shops can service them.

Then if I’m in your fins, I’d go on refining my choices from these
I’d say a mix of price and “features” would make the final decision
Here’s a great intro guide for choosing your 1st reg
(Link coming)
Thread 'How to Choose a Regulator'
Info - How to Choose a Regulator

If prices and availability is all the same, I’d choose Scubapro; but my choice is definitely specific to:
Cold water, swivel turret(for sidemount), environmental seal, don’t mind heavy regs , (and a big stash of parts/kits)
Your preference might be very different

 

[Mobulai]

Once you have some choices, feel free to come back with questions

One more thought

Maybe I should buy a generic, easily serviceable brand like Aqualung and then convert it to long-hose with a kit like this? Halcyon Dive Systems

Unless a kit/package gives you tremendous savings factor, just mix and match your own configuration (given that the tuning is compatible)
That’s what I did with my 1st set; bought a traditional rec setup from cressi amd then bought extra long hose, and switched the 2nd stages to Mares ones

Oh and btw Halcyon regulators are essentially rebranded Scubapro regs (50D is the mk17; the 75P is the mk25; both older generation not the evo)

 

[BoltSnap]

Hello

I live and dive across the Med from you in Libya.

I recommend that you go with Scubapro brand with either the MK17evo 2/S620Ti (or s600 or g260 or c370 second stage) or the MK11 Evo with c370 second stage.

Stay clear of aqua lung or apeks. These two brands belong to the same company which is going through extreme financial issues right now casting serious doubts about their future.

 

[Scared Silly]

Most of us build our long/short hose systems. Buy a brand that is local that you can get serviced. Do not worry about the length of the hose that the regulator is sold with as that can easily be swapped out for a longer hose. A good shop should be able source a long/short hose and then credit you for the standard hoses that come with the regulators.

 

[Nemrod]

First off, regulators are not as complciated as it seems popular to think. They are very simple devices and anyone who claims to be a technician should be able to do the work on a DGX set since you can buy the parts and the manuals are on line.

I am no longer fond of AL/Apeks and AL is not popular for technical diving though Apeks has been. Too hard to get parts.

Secondly, the only difference between a "Hogarthian" streamlined set of regs and what is typically sold in stores is the hose lengths which you can swap out yourself. The other difference, at least for technical divers, is that both second stages are identical and neither are yellow. Regardless, some so called yellow octopus seconds are identical to their techie black versions and some are not.

The Scubapro G260 with a Mk17/19/25 first stage is an accepted technical/Hog reg set when configured with the proper hoses, which again, most people set up themselves. If you are doing a technical diving intro course, the G260 with the first stage of your choice is what you probably want.

Yes, it is true that Scubapro is more expensive sometimes and that they set themselves up as a premium brand. How do that justify and get away with that? Easy, Scubapro has been building premium and reliable and serviceable regulators with worldwide service and parts and long parts support (like a human lifetime long) for their discontinued models for over six decades. A G260 set bought today will be supported two decades from now when AL is gone and DGX is something else from somewhere else. Pay more now to get something that is serviceable in the long run or pay less for immediate gratification and worry about tomorrow when tomorrow gets here. Tomorrow, well, there are no guarantees.

 

[Mobulai]

anyone who claims to be a technician should be able to do the work on a DGX set since you can buy the parts and the manuals are on line.

I agree, had a bit similar experience with a cressi reg in Dahab 3y ago
The dude at the shop (I do know and have “mild” trust in) said, “if you have the HP seat, I can service it for you” ; that shop os a SP/AL dealer so no cressi stuff; eventually I bought service kits, and that started the diy interest in me (50+ regs later and I still never serviced that cressi.. IP still holds well tho )

But unless OP is ok with waiting 1-3weeks for the LDS to receive the part from the US (+costly shipping +~20%vat) so that the service actually starts…
Or stash up in advance on service kits, develop an itch to diy and… join the dark side :0neofus:
(Don’t scare the recruits, reel them in slowly )

 

[rongoodman]

I would avoid Aqualung due to the lack of a fifth LP port on their primaries, which makes long hose routing so much nicer.