Purchasing First Reg: Closest Shop is 3 Hours Away
- Thread starter Litefoot
- Start date
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That's a good question. I'll have to do some investigating. There was a dive shop here that closed about 15 years ago. I wonder if the fill station is still around the area. Has anyone ever had fills done at the local fire department using there SCBA equipment compressor? STA = Single Tank Adaptor?? Is that in addition to the normal package?
These are all excellent brands with very long history in the business.
From Scubapro, you probably should start with the MK11/C370 regulator (for sealed first stage, then look at the MK19 first stage).
From Zeagle: The F8 or the ONYX II, both are excellent regulators and environmentally sealed.
Atomic regulators all perform the same but differ in the material they are made from. The least expensive is the Z2. I'd start with a Z2 sealed first stage.
(NOTE: Atomic, Zeagle and Oceanic are brands that are all owned by a company called "Huish Outdoors")
The above represent some of the top models and brands.
MichaelMc
Working toward Cenotes
STA is an optional component. It can add stability from rocking, some weight, and a place to put even more weight if you get an insert.
Info - Beginners Guide To BP/W
Intro to Backplates and Wings This thread is to help beginners or those interested in backplates and wings (BP/W) understand the concept and design features. I will try to cover the majority of your questions in this guide. However, this guide is not fully inclusive and it is written to...
But fills seem your main issue. A thread on Fills with dive shop 3 hours away might be worthwhile.
Firestation fills depend on liability issues, station chief and outlook of station.
Other options include your own compressor, or maybe industrial medical gas outlets and/or a booster and rebreather for fewer fills. The later are not beginner things. Or possibly hookah/surface supply scuba, which compresses to lower pressures and uses an umbilical cord. Hooked on Hookah Diving
You also need a dive buddy...
You can practice many "scuba" skills in a pool with just mask, snorkel, weight belt and fins: Finning, weight distribution, mask drills, staying still/being in control of your body.
Hi
If you restore chainsaw, I think that, for you, regulator maintenance won't be a problem
Now, regarding brands, I would not go for this "boutique" D6 brand because, unfortunately, they don't bring more than major manufacturers and may be burst in a few years.
But like it has been said...the thing you should care more about is ...filling
Huh? Deep 6 is going to burst?
Anywho....
@Litefoot,
For cold water diving, if you are susceptible to FUD, go with a diaphram first stage like Apeks, not a piston design. I would recommend following @tbone1004 as he's one of the best sources of information and understands the ins and outs of regulator design. As I mentioned earlier, @rsingler is another person to follow. You may want to read some of Tom's comments in this thread: Is Poseidon worth it.
If you are not susceptible to FUD, then certainly consider Deep 6, as they have a quality design (per @rsingler has stated in his regulator servicing seminar, and he's quite fair talking about the pros and cons in various designs), as they provide great support and customer service. That's how I became friends with the founders @cerich and @LandonL. They operate with a lot of integrity and they do fill a niche in the industry quite nicely. Again, while there is bias from my friendships, that statement is what led to the friendship I have.
BTW, I started out with Apeks. I was teaching at a shop where ScubaPro was pushed hard. At some point I picked up an Atomic M1. These are good regs, but as Tom describes in that thread, they are not the best choice for cold water even though people do dive with them in cold water without issue (for them, not so much the tech). I ultimately sold my ScubaPro regs as I had 3 different LDSs screw up the servicing which is not uncommon based on my discussion with other people. That's purely on the tech being sloppy.
Good news! I found a place to do tank fills. It's an outdoor rental shop (paddleboards, kayaks, etc) that is owned by a diver who does fills. Not a LDS , but hey, it's 10 minutes away in the same direction as the lakes!
Kosta, thanks for the great info on Deep6. I'll give them a close look. But I do not know what "FUD" means. I was in the Army, so I know what FUBAR means, but not FUD. I'm guessing it has to do with freezing conditions?
Kosta, thanks for the great info on Deep6. I'll give them a close look. But I do not know what "FUD" means. I was in the Army, so I know what FUBAR means, but not FUD. I'm guessing it has to do with freezing conditions?
Fear, uncertainty and doubt.
@Litefoot
From Wikipedia….
“Fear, uncertainty and doubt (often shortened to FUD) is a propaganda tactic used in sales, marketing, public relations, politics, polling and cults. FUD is generally a strategy to influence perception by disseminating negative and dubious or false information and a manifestation of the appeal to fear.”
See this second quote for further detail.
“By spreading questionable information about the drawbacks of less well-known products, an established company can discourage decision-makers from choosing those products over its own, regardless of the relative technical merits. This is a recognized phenomenon, epitomized by the traditional axiom of purchasing agents that "nobody ever got fired for buying IBM equipment". The aim is to have IT departments buy software they know to be technically inferior because upper management is more likely to recognize the brand.”
From Wikipedia….
“Fear, uncertainty and doubt (often shortened to FUD) is a propaganda tactic used in sales, marketing, public relations, politics, polling and cults. FUD is generally a strategy to influence perception by disseminating negative and dubious or false information and a manifestation of the appeal to fear.”
See this second quote for further detail.
“By spreading questionable information about the drawbacks of less well-known products, an established company can discourage decision-makers from choosing those products over its own, regardless of the relative technical merits. This is a recognized phenomenon, epitomized by the traditional axiom of purchasing agents that "nobody ever got fired for buying IBM equipment". The aim is to have IT departments buy software they know to be technically inferior because upper management is more likely to recognize the brand.”
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