New diver - questions and thoughts on regulator setup
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halocline
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If you are in an area where DIN tanks are available, buy DIN regulators. Most modern tanks can easily transform into DIN by simply unscrewing a small piece. It is done in 10 seconds. DIN is much better than Yoke, dispite what most people think in the USA. Its a bit like comparing metric to imperial. . I do not need to expain, it is cover and demonstrated at lenght everywhere.
I would not go for a console with a computor, nor for AI.
I have Aqualung Titan. Cheap and very good for dives down to recreational limits. No need to spend an extra $
Hope this help.
This post has some real misinformation in it. The vast majority of rental tanks at recreational dive charters are yoke valves, not convertible valves. DIN is not "much better" than yoke in any real-world scenario involving rental tanks. First, yoke valves are much more durable with regards to being knocked around than are yoke valves. For an individual tank owner, this is usually not an issue as our tanks don't get tossed around by various tank fillers, DMs, boat crews, delivery men, etc... on a daily basis. But for a charter using rental tanks, it is an issue. DIN tanks would not stand up to the abuse of yoke tanks in this type of use. Many divers confuse rental yoke tanks with individually owned DIN tanks, and it's not a fair comparison.
Second, while a DIN valve in perfect shape does offer a very secure captured o-ring that can stand up to very high pressure, yoke valves hardly are problematic for recreational pressures and settings. They're used every day all over the world. Yoke does provide for a metal-metal contact between the valve and the regulator, it's just not threaded. It's a good idea for any diver on a boat to carry a few extra tank valve o-rings. This is true for both yoke and DIN users.
The real advantage of DIN is in entanglement hazards, and that's why it's used in technical diving. But those tanks are often handled more carefully than typical resort-use rental fleets.
You and I have completely different experience on this!
---------- Post added November 2nd, 2015 at 09:23 AM ----------
Take a look at this:
www.4thelement-diving.co.uk
Go to the ATX section and there is a set of ATX40 + DS4 & ATX 40 octo for GBP209.00(yoke)!!!
The 20% VAT should be exempted because you are not buying within EC.
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That price on the Z2 is from two LDS in Hong Kong. In general, the scuba shops here REALLY overprice things. Often double the online price for accessories. Their "special discount for you" price is still often 50% more than every online outlet.
Because it is "Hong Kong".
All the LDS play the same game. They pull out a binder of the "list price", and then a calculator. They then give a generous 20-30% off of list. The "trick" is that their binder of list price is something they printed themselves. So, it is a discount off a made up price. i.e. an Apex XTX50 has a "list price" of over $800.
All the LDS play the same game. They pull out a binder of the "list price", and then a calculator. They then give a generous 20-30% off of list. The "trick" is that their binder of list price is something they printed themselves. So, it is a discount off a made up price. i.e. an Apex XTX50 has a "list price" of over $800.
Noah,
Learning how to dive from an Internet forum is a standing joke.
You have been trained to dive with a particular setup by real physical people who were responsible for your safety and teaching you properly.
With 8 dives you are now taking the advice of total strangers who owe you no duty of care.
Contradiction the advice you have decided to take leads to long and boring arguments, so just because nobody have does not mean there is consensus on an appropriate set up for someone in your position.
Do some dives the way you were taught, get comfortable in the water and then think whether you need to change anything. Changing too much at once makes it hard to tell if you have improved things.
The difference in configuration is about hose lengths and other ancillary stuff. You do not need to decide on that before deciding on the brand of regulator to buy.
If you afford it do buy from a local shop. They will want to keep you as a regular customer and will, in my experience, give at least half decent advice. You will need those shops for gas fills, buying from abroad will not help keep a compressor available near you.
Learning how to dive from an Internet forum is a standing joke.
You have been trained to dive with a particular setup by real physical people who were responsible for your safety and teaching you properly.
With 8 dives you are now taking the advice of total strangers who owe you no duty of care.
Contradiction the advice you have decided to take leads to long and boring arguments, so just because nobody have does not mean there is consensus on an appropriate set up for someone in your position.
Do some dives the way you were taught, get comfortable in the water and then think whether you need to change anything. Changing too much at once makes it hard to tell if you have improved things.
The difference in configuration is about hose lengths and other ancillary stuff. You do not need to decide on that before deciding on the brand of regulator to buy.
If you afford it do buy from a local shop. They will want to keep you as a regular customer and will, in my experience, give at least half decent advice. You will need those shops for gas fills, buying from abroad will not help keep a compressor available near you.
Thanks Ken, but I respectfully disagree.
1) I don't just take advice from random strangers, but have spoken to several "real physical" dive instructors, including the one who trained me, and the one doing my next training course. I'm also more than capable of doing actual research, reading technical information, studying many dive resources, and coming to my own decision.
The overall advice in this forum tends to revolve around BRAND or regulator or hose length. Neither of which is a serious life-safety decision.
2) While it is lovely to support the LDS, there are reasonable limits. If a full setup was $100 more than buying online, I might consider that reasonable. If it is $250-$300 more, I consider that unreasonable. (Just my personal perspective.) I won't overpay just to be a "nice guy". They are a business and free to charge whatever they want, but as a consumer, I'm free to buy wherever I want. As a business, I have no doubt that they'll sell me gas fills whether I bought my gear from them or not.
1) I don't just take advice from random strangers, but have spoken to several "real physical" dive instructors, including the one who trained me, and the one doing my next training course. I'm also more than capable of doing actual research, reading technical information, studying many dive resources, and coming to my own decision.
The overall advice in this forum tends to revolve around BRAND or regulator or hose length. Neither of which is a serious life-safety decision.
2) While it is lovely to support the LDS, there are reasonable limits. If a full setup was $100 more than buying online, I might consider that reasonable. If it is $250-$300 more, I consider that unreasonable. (Just my personal perspective.) I won't overpay just to be a "nice guy". They are a business and free to charge whatever they want, but as a consumer, I'm free to buy wherever I want. As a business, I have no doubt that they'll sell me gas fills whether I bought my gear from them or not.
The setup can have a profound impact on your safety. Have a discussion with any non tech Rescuer Trained diver and see if they are trained anything other than 'normal' set-up. The long hose can be a problem particularly when used on a 'heavy' bpw. The rescuer needs to follow a pattern to remove the gear, GUI train for this PADI do not. I have recently been involved in refresh/training for a number of rigs, DIR, side-mount... The long hose proved to be one of the problematic areas.
None of us want or expect to need rescue, if you do then you will be relying on another persons training/skills. I do not know many dive masters who have actually trained at rescuing differing configs.
Just saying this may well be a serious life-safety decision, that your dive instructors have not mentioned.
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I travel dive a lot and very rarely encounter another person in a BP/W or long hose set up, should I switch back? Am I at risk?
---------- Post added November 2nd, 2015 at 06:24 AM ----------
Ah ok, sorry, I think I get your meaning, are you're saying that due to lack of knowledge/experience he may put himself at risk? Not explaining set up with buddy/DM before dive etc?
---------- Post added November 2nd, 2015 at 06:24 AM ----------
Ah ok, sorry, I think I get your meaning, are you're saying that due to lack of knowledge/experience he may put himself at risk? Not explaining set up with buddy/DM before dive etc?
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