Recommendations for DIR Regulators

[garyh]

Up here in the great white North use Apeks FST 1st stages and whatever Apeks 2nds for back gas, some of my stage regs are Halcyon piston 1sts with whatever Apeks 2nds. Keep a full set of gear stored down in MX for cave trips, all are MK 25 or Mk 20 1sts with G250 seconds. Am lazy with service and put my regs through hell, have yetto b let let down by any of the above mentioned 3

 

[Olariuas]

Thank you so much guys I do really appreciate your help. And if it's okay I will take the opportunity to ask a few more questions about regulators configuration.

A lot of divers do suggest to buy Shearwater Perdix (or Perdix AI) I won't go with transmitters and I will save the US$ 240 for better option gear.

If I understand right - once a diver start to go serious about training and dives it is highly recommanded to buy gears and forget about renting (except liveaboards or trips) knowning that I must buy everything.

Your cold water GUE DIR regulator should be Apeks DST with 5th LP port and XTX50 2nd stage.
[...]
Deepstop DIR XTX50 5-Port Set - Deepstop GmbH

About TwinTanks:
What is the difference between those products:
- TEST für Packs - Deepstop GmbH That's the one with the previous set 595 €
- DIR Twin Deepstop Edition - Deepstop GmbH 12L roundbottom 735 €

The bottles are thermally galvanized, polished, and the tan-bands are coated to avoid galvanization in salt water. The resulting zinc coating has proved to be optimal rust protection, and can really only be removed mechanically again. Superficial grates at the bottom of the bottles is no longer possible.

I am not running after few 200 ish € reduction (I do know Scuba diving will be expensive) but wanted to know if it might not be interesting to build myselt the kit with specific parts bought in other websites (who might be cheaper or with a nice bundle) and I will know from start how to build and rebuild it.

Must I met Apeks technician or Instructor to build it (make sure that everything is working safely ?)


Which desinfectant products do you use to clean up regulators / hoses ?

 

[rgdiver1]

I highly recommend that you consider the Apeks DS4 for your back mount doubles rig. The DS4 has at least one less potential failure point than the DST, and that is definitely a GUE thing. The DS4 hose routing works very well for a GUE style doubles configuration, and you really don't want or need the swiveling turret of the DST in this position. I have used Apeks DS4s for over 15 years, and they are bullet proof. I have also owned several DSTs, which I've used for stages and open water. DSTs are nice first stages, but they are not the equal of the DS4 in reliability.

 

[Olariuas]

I highly recommend that you consider the Apeks DS4 for your back mount doubles rig. The DS4 has at least one less potential failure point than the DST, and that is definitely a GUE thing. The DS4 hose routing works very well for a GUE style doubles configuration, and you really don't want or need the swiveling turret of the DST in this position.

I'm reading Apeks DS4 v DST and other related infos on google.
IF other do agree with rgdiver1 about that potential o-rings failure and mini-bubbles leak and the none needed turrets for hoses routing.
Will I have a different option about 1 LP missing on the DS4 ?
Should I use a mini-bottle for drysuit/wing inflation ?

As suggested earlier I will start with a Single configuration -
then <GUE Fundies> to switch into Doubles (and stay to dive with this instead of Single) -
then <Sidemount courses (from another agency)> -

1rstStage: DS4 or DST
2ndStage: 2x XTX50
*
Can easily be switched using the same regulator set ?

About Stage/Deco this is what I can found
Deepstop-Apeks Stageset DS4 oxyclean - Deepstop GmbH
Except maybe XTX40 vs XTX50 (this is less 50 € difference so ...)
I would keep XTX50

Maybe do you guys have alternative opinion about it ?

 

[AJ]

I'am GUE Fundamentals trained and have used and use Scubapro MK17 (nowadays my SM config) and Apeks MTX-R. Both are very reliable and perform very well. What I like about the MTX-R is hose routing with doubles. Due to the fifth port, the MTX-R routes a little bit better.

GUE does not care about brand or type, they do care about setting it up right. That's what you will be tought in a Fundamentals class. The Deepstop GUE config is fine to start with.

 

[Lobzilla]

Talk to your GUE instructor about the single tank idea and how to set that up.

I moved to double aluminum 80 tanks some time before the Fundies and never looked back at the hassle with all the hoses on a single tank.

One diver in my Fundies class was very wobbly with her single rig and did a lot better with aluminum doubles the instructor lend her.

I bought "baby" steel doubles for shorter dives. I have a set sitting in Dortmund, Germany that is for sale in case you live close by. Don't remember the metric designation right now but very similar to LP46 doubles. Easy to transport (compact and do not roll around) and same dive time as the typical single.

Mk25, Mk17, or DS4 first stages give you a nice, clean hose routing on doubles but talk to instructor about length of hoses.

I never noticed the difference when using Argon from a small bottle for the drysuit. This may make a difference later if you use trimix but don't hassle with another bottle, another regulator and the mounting for now.

 

[Olariuas]

In any case- those 2 brands offer great products

Apeks: DS4 or DST XTX50
Scubapro: Mk15 or Mk25 Evo G260

What was wrong with Apeks MTK-R ?

ls.
Also agree avoid the MTX-R. They're just gimmicky, and super expensive for what they are. (At least they used to be. I wrote them off a while ago)

 

[Olariuas]

I moved to double aluminum 80 tanks some time before the Fundies and never looked back at the hassle with all the hoses on a single tank.

I never noticed the difference when using Argon from a small bottle for the drysuit. This may make a difference later if you use trimix but don't hassle with another bottle, another regulator and the mounting for now.

So you are diving with Doubles AL 80 tanks where you can easily switch and use the same AL 80 tanks for Sidemount ?

same here:
Wonder if it's better to have Steel Doubles and Aluminium Sidemount (4x tanks)
or if you can just go with only 2x AL tanks who will used by both configurations - just need to re-route regulators and hoses and gogo.

 

[RainPilot]

So you are diving with Doubles AL 80 tanks where you can easily switch and use the same AL 80 tanks for Sidemount ?

same here:
Wonder if it's better to have Steel Doubles and Aluminium Sidemount (4x tanks)
or if you can just go with only 2x AL tanks who will used by both configurations - just need to re-route regulators and hoses and gogo.

To go from doubles to SM with a single set of tanks is not a quick change, unless you have a fill station right next to you. You will have to remove the isolation bar/manifold after emptying the tanks, and then put in plugs and then refill. Also, it can be fiddly to get your bands and weights etc etc perfectly trimmed out, destroying that weekly is not ideal. Can be done but likely to be rather frustrating. Once you are diving helium, the sound of Euros emptying into your garage is really loud...

If you are going to be diving mostly cold water in a drysuit, then a set of steel doubles in an appropriate size will be your go-to tank setup (less lead needed for dry diving). AL80 will probably be the next most useful tanks to purchase after that, they will be very useful as stage and deco tanks, as well as possibly SM dedicated tanks later on until you buy steel SM tanks (I dive 300 bar 7L steels for SM in drysuit and need no additional lead which is pretty nice).

As far as regs are concerned, the swivel turret first stages will make transition between SM and BM simple, the swivel is not essential for SM but does make life a lot easier. The fifth port on the bottom is not a must have for SM , but does make life a lot easier for BM doubles hose routing.

I concur with the Apeks as a bulletproof option considering your location and needs, obviously there are other options but you are very unlikely to ever regret buying an Apeks regulator.

 

[Lobzilla]

I dove sidemount a couple of times on demo dives. While it was neat to suspend myself in any crazy position in the water I continued with DIR back mounted doubles because of the way this system has matured and is standardized.

Do not nullify these advantages by obsessing about your individual solution. Follow the advice others have given you in this thread, throw this thing on your back, and dive.

What does the wise man do with a Porsche? Put some glitzy wheels on it, agonize over the floor mats, or enjoy driving a car that is the benchmark of performance refinement?

The aluminum doubles are great because they are easy to dive and cheap. If you ever do not need them anymore, take them apart und use the bottles for stages.

Most likely that's not going to happen. Even after getting big, honking steel tanks for cave diving that hold about twice as much gas I did not ditch the AL80 doubles. If there is strong flow coming out of a cave, the AL80s and a wetsuit get me just as far as the steel monsters and a drysuit. Never underestimate drag in the water.