1st reg

[voodoo0ne]

Hi, I'm new and about to buy my first reg and could use some advice..........

I can see that Apeks are very popular on this board but I've been warned by the most experienced divers in my club to stay away from them, so I will.

Also I live in Ireland, where the only other options are Scubapro or Mares. Therefore, I've narrowed down to these:
- Mares MR22/Abyss
- Mares V16/Proton
- Scubapro Mk25/S550
- Scubapro Mk25/R380

The S550 is a little expensive though, and I've been told that while the Mk25 is one of the best 1st stages ever, the R380 is not that good.

So I'd like to know which I should chose and why?

PS: Please don't suggest any other brands as I can't buy them here and if I get them on the net I may not be able to get them serviced.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Scubaroo]

Were any reasons given for staying away from Apeks regs? It's not just because of British / Irish rivalry or anything is it? They're perfect regs for diving in your neck of the woods!

 

[voodoo0ne]

Hi, I really don't think its the British/Irish thing - one of the guys was English (and also aren't Scubapro british?)

But they didn't give reasons, and I didn't ask!
Any advice anyway?

 

[greyface]

Scubapro

 

[voodoo0ne]

Which one (and why?)

 

[Goldminer]

Originally posted by voodoo0ne
Hi, I really don't think its the British/Irish thing - one of the guys was English (and also aren't Scubapro british?)

But they didn't give reasons, and I didn't ask!
Any advice anyway?

Scubapro is American, from California.

I'm really surprised at the negative comments about Apeks. They are generally regarded to be among the 3 or 4 best in the world. GUE seems to think they are the best.

Then again I shouldn't be surprised. When I bought my gear I did a lot of research. I must have gone to a dozen shops. During this process I was eventually told by someone that virtually every reg on the market was crap and had a poor reliability record and yet someone else would say that that particular reg was the best.

I would be careful about accepting a single opinion. Ask people to justify their comment, analyze the reasoning and maybe reject it. Then go with the balance of a broad range of opinion. Mares and Scubapro are both good in my opinion but I think Apeks should be on your consideration list. Availability of service where you live and were you will be diving is also important.

You might want to consider me as biased though. I bought an Apeks TX100 after my research.

Have you considered adding the Mk25/G250 to your list? The G250 has been around for a long time, has a good reputation and may be less expensive.

 

[voodoo0ne]

Really, American?
I would never have guessed! When I was in the States there was very little Scubapro gear in shops - mostly Mares (and various other names that I never heard of!)

Thanks for your advice.

Still haven't got a reply form someone who uses an Abyss/MR22 or R380/Mk25 though!

 

[redacted]

The Mk 25 is top of the line, but if you can find a Mk20 for less that would be just as good. The external IP adjuster is probably much more useful to the dive shop than to the owner. And I doubt if you will see any service discounts for the Mk25.

The 550 is just an S600 without the balance adjuster. Not a bad choice but, if the difference isn't too much, might as well go for the top of the line. Another option with top performance is, as goldminer suggested, the G250HP. This is the same design as the S600 but in a somewhat larger case. Price should be about the same as the 550.

The 380 is the same interior design as an R190 again with the difference in case size. A very reliable reg but not a top performer. I found that my 190 on a Mk2 was easy to over breath if I had to work hard. But that was probably more an air delivery limitation of the Mk2 which should not be a problem with the Mk25. The advantage of the 380/190 is you can't get much simpler - the service kit is the LP seat and 1 O-ring that goes on the venturi adjustment.

If money is the issue, a Mk20/25 with an R190 could always be upgraded later with a high performance 2nd if needed.

I thought the Scubapro regulators were made in Italy. I believe various items are produced in many different countries.

That said, if I were cost limited, I would be looking much harder at Apeks. The name just isn't as expensive yet. And they are probably more suitable for cold water.

Good Luck.

 

[srkdvr]

SCUBAPRO... I just got the MK20/S600 and love it.

Rich :mean:

 

[Goldminer]

Originally posted by awap
I thought the Scubapro regulators were made in Italy. I believe various items are produced in many different countries.
Good Luck.

They may very well be. The head office is in El Cajon Ca. and I believe the design staff are there to. Some of the guys who started Atomic are ex-Scubapro designers and they are in Ca as well.

The US website doesn't show the MK20 any more. Is it still available or only as old stock?