New Regs

[YMichelle]

Hello -
We dive about 2 weeks a year and we are diving with 25 year old regulators that we want to replace. I don't even know where to start with pricing and brands. Is $600 enough to get a reg set up? Any particular models you all can recommend? thanks!

 

[GrafCanuck]

Hi, lots of good reg brands out there. There are endless debates on the Board on which is the best. In the end the one (or several) that you buy are the best for you for multiple reasons. I strongly recommend that you seek a deal and DON'T pay retail price. Buy a name brand and shop around. Good reg brands, but not limited to, include Scuba Pro, Atomic, Aqua Lung, Zeagle, Mares, Deep 6, and Apex. I don't think you can go wrong with these brands and should be able to buy quality regs for under $600. This of course assumes you don't need a titanium made reg. Personally I shopped around and found a sell off on the Scuba Pro Gold edition S600 and MK25. Brand new and paid under $600 Canadian. In terms of finding the best models, consider searching on the Board and also googling. Then check out some prices online to collect some benchmarks. Go visit a number of LDS to see if they are willing to wheel and deal. Good luck in your search and make it a fun journey.

 

[almostDIR]

where are you diving? warm or cold water or both? which brands and models can your LDS service?
the 600 per reg set would be plenty if you don't need air integration or other fancy extra features.

you may want to consider using plain simple brass SPG instead of a console. if you need the depth gauge or compass you can use wrist mounted ones, they are more useful anyway.
here in northern europe one of the simplest basic cold water reg sets would be the Apeks DS4 + ATX40 set with a brass SPG and a boltsnap added. can be got for something like 350 - 400 or so. It is perfectly fine even for near freezing water (personally tested that )

the reg set needs to be:
- suitable for the diving conditions you experience. even the most extreme ones.
- easy and affordable to get locally serviced
- not too expensive to purchase (there may be variations on brand prices depending on where you live)
- not too complicated. For example the consoles may not be the most useful solution underwater like I mentioned

 

[runsongas]

wait for black friday, see what deep 6 offers

 

[CrumhornDiver]

If diving just two weeks a year, I'm guessing you're warm water vacation divers. You may want to look at the Deep6 Scribble series. Deep6 has them on their website under First Stages and Second stages and I'm sure they'd build you a set if you asked, even though it's not listed.

Alternatively, you can buy a package of the same regs from Dive Gear Express for $449
DGX Custom - Deep Six DGX Streamlined OW Reg Package | Dive Gear Express®

To answer your question, if you just need a warm water travel reg, yes you can get a set for $600.

 

[YMichelle]

where are you diving? warm or cold water or both? which brands and models can your LDS service?
the 600 per reg set would be plenty if you don't need air integration or other fancy extra features.

you may want to consider using plain simple brass SPG instead of a console. if you need the depth gauge or compass you can use wrist mounted ones, they are more useful anyway.
here in northern europe one of the simplest basic cold water reg sets would be the Apeks DS4 + ATX40 set with a brass SPG and a boltsnap added. can be got for something like 350 - 400 or so. It is perfectly fine even for near freezing water (personally tested that )

the reg set needs to be:
- suitable for the diving conditions you experience. even the most extreme ones.
- easy and affordable to get locally serviced
- not too expensive to purchase (there may be variations on brand prices depending on where you live)
- not too complicated. For example the consoles may not be the most useful solution underwater like I mentioned

We dive warm water and really good point on finding the brands that can be serviced locally!

 

[YMichelle]

wait for black friday, see what deep 6 offers

That's a good idea - although I need them by December 11th and black Friday is late this year....

 

[CrumhornDiver]

We dive warm water and really good point on finding the brands that can be serviced locally!

Having brands that can be serviced locally can be important. However, do note that Deep6 offers the first service free (you only have to ship to them). They also provide service kits with the regs, a service manual, and a course to service the regs. Not many other companies do that.

 

[runsongas]

priority mail shipping should be fast enough. local service is overrated for regs, most shops arent very quick with regulator servicing and if your local shop doesn't do a lot of regs, mailing to a specialist or bigger shop will get them done better/faster, just plan ahead. for big trips where finishing on rental gear isn't an option, spare gear is better than trying to get local service, even on the big brands with international presence.

 

[Diver below 83]

If diving just two weeks a year, I'm guessing you're warm water vacation divers. You may want to look at the Deep6 Scribble series. Deep6 has them on their website under First Stages and Second stages and I'm sure they'd build you a set if you asked, even though it's not listed.

Alternatively, you can buy a package of the same regs from Dive Gear Express for $449
DGX Custom - Deep Six DGX Streamlined OW Reg Package | Dive Gear Express®

To answer your question, if you just need a warm water travel reg, yes you can get a set for $600.

the dgx deep 6 regs are NOT the same as the deep 6 signature regs you buy directly from deep 6. While the scribble first is similar it is not the same as it doesn’t have the swivel. The 2nds are completely different units all together.