DIN vs YOKE (USA)?

[TostitoBandito]

I'm in the US and just bought a pair of new regs, taking the opportunity to move to DIN. A few reasons:

• DIN is a superior connection. Threaded is just plain better than a clamp/pressure mounting, and this is why you need DIN for high pressure applications. There's no o-ring in the tank valve like for yoke, so you're not at the mercy of whoever is or isn't maintaining the tanks you're using. One more common point of failure that I can't control eliminated.
• I travel a lot to dive where DIN is commonplace, like much of the Pacific. And even in places where it isn't, pro valves are becoming more and more ubiquitous around the world. For any compatibility concerns, it's easy to carry an adapter to make a DIN reg into yoke, but the opposite doesn't really work (you're relying on pro valves, again on tanks you don't control).
• Smaller and lighter is a nice bonus, both for travel and also in the water.
• The majority of serious divers locally here are using DIN, though they don't necessarily tell you this when you get certified in the US. At least not when I was certified 20+ years ago.

 

[J12345]

Din. Most places I’ve been in US has provalves. Just bring a hex key in case the shop somehow doesn’t have one. Additionally, call ahead, and ask if you want to make sure.

 

[LanceRiley]

i use Din in all of my regs. even for family diving single tanks.

its a hassle to bring in a yoke adaptor everytime… but for those trips where they have din tanks its worth it. less leaks as din regs have the o rings with the reg. as compared to yoke tanks with their o ring…

 

[Moby Dickins]

I use yoke because I didn't know any better when I bought my gear, and it hasn't been an issue so far. If it ever becomes an issue I'll convert to din. Also the yoke screw on my reg is a really nice piece of metal that I enjoy using and looks great.

I'm on dive 40 something by the way, so my opinion is a novice opinion.

 

[bradlw]

I ended up buying a DIN regulator. Just wrapped up a trip with Quiescense in Key Largo. Of course I had my din adapter with me. They use yoles for their rental regulators but had DIN tanks available for me. Worked out well!

 

[LFMarm]

I think the landscape has changed a bit over past 5 years. I always bring 2 yoke adapters but have not had to use them neither in the US nor abroad. I still see plenty of divers with yoke regulators but have not been in a place where they only have yoke tanks.

 

[Almanac]

No problem with DIN in Florida (Gulf, Atlantic, and Keys). We went to Cozumel recently and had no problem getting DIN tanks. I carry a yoke adaptor when I travel and it came in handy when the tank knob was leaking when changing over gear for the second dive. The only other tank on board was yoke and we were glade we brought it.

 

[Mr_C]

I have all DINs regulators and have very rarely run into needing an adapter. Almost every dive boat I have been on in the last 10 years can easily unscrew the insert that is common on modern tank valves.

Saying that - I do carry a few yoke adapters just in case - but they seem to just add weight when I fly

 

[Chrisk919]

I converted to DIN a few years back.

I only had a problem once with travel/rental tanks in Belize, where I had to use a converter all week because they only had some tanks with convertible pro-valves and even those were corroded in place - but that was a problem with that specific dive-op, not a broader issue.

 

[Still Kicking]

Tanks with "pro valves" that can be converted from yoke to DIN with the removal of an insert are increasingly common in rental fleets. Pack an 8mm hex key to remove the insert and bring your yoke adapter just in case. I find DIN is worth the potential for a little hassle.

Assuming the insert isn't frozen in place. Always check at the time of rental.