First off, I may be a bit biased since I dive all SP gear, but let me say that I feel you can't go wrong with Scubapro. I dive a SP reg, BC and computer as well as other gear items. My boyfriend just bought a similar package. (The one that SP is pushing right now with the Galileo Sol and any SP BCD) I barked at him about the Air2 and the air integrated computer but he went with it anyway. Due to this I'm a little passionate and long winded when it comes to this, so I apologize in advance.:blinking:
The MK25/S600 is in my opinion a superior regulator system. You just can't go wrong. Props to you for looking at this reg. set-up.
The Air2 is a nice idea, but when it comes down to a real OOA emergency it's screwy if you're diving with someone who is not familiar with the set up who is also probably panicked and scared beyond all comprehension. I'm royally pissed at my boyfriend for getting it and even more pissed now that we have gone through Rescue diver with it. One more personal reason I hate them (especially after rescue diver) is because he's thinking about going through Divemaster certification (which won't apply to you at this time) with me and it's just going to cause problems when having to demo the OOA skills if he doesn't have an octo...especially if he ends up getting a moldable mouthpiece on his primary second stage which will make it extremely uncomfortable for the OOA diver who is already scared. Don't make it any more uncomfortable or frightening for them than it already is! Keep in mind that this is only MY reasoning for hating on the set up. I know people who love it and that's fine...I just feel that you have to look at the WHOLE picture and go over what-ifs when thinking about getting one.
While I don't know much about the Pro Plus, it looks like a nice all in one computer. My main bark about this is what if your battery dies? What if the computer is screwed up and tells you that you have 1000psi when you really have 800psi? The computer being off on how much gas you have is more of a concern to me than the battery because I have seen several air integrated computers in the past 6 months be OFF by at LEAST 200psi! If you want the air integrated great, but please consider an analog pressure gauge somewhere in your kit as a back-up if the computer fails. I have the Scubapro/UWATEC Aladin Tec2G and bought it as a console set-up which saved me money because I later bought the wrist mount holder so that I have the option to pop the computer out and stick it on my wrist for easier viewing and didn't have to go and buy a console with my compass and pressure gauge separately. When I have the computer in my console I have it on a retractable clip so that while not in use it is held close to my body and out of the way. Might be a thought if you do end up going with this set-up anyway so your console isn't dragging or able to hit things. All of this is again, your own personal preferance and just points to think about when thinking about buying an air integrated computer system.
As for the BCD I'm a firm believer that A) you once again can't go wrong with a Scubapro BCD and that B) you should try several different styles before investing. This package only gives you one option. Back inflate. I tried back inflates, jacket style and BP/W set ups and ended up with Scubapro Bella jacket style. I liked it's features better than anything else and it fit better than anything else. BP/W vs. other BCD style is an old argument around here and as I've stated many times before, it all comes down to what YOU feel comfortable in and what features YOU like best.
Final thoughts: Congrats on your OW and please think about renting your gear for a bit. I rented for about 5 months before buying my own gear. I tried lots of different regs, BC's and computers. Sure, I paid a lot for rentals and could have saved $$$ in the long run by buying my own gear right off of the bat but I also gained a lot of knowledge on different set-ups and made a well educated decision on my set-up when I went to buy.
Happy diving!
