Another "Which Regulator to Buy" Thread

[Ontario Diver]

OK Ladies and Gents

Yet another Newbie is searching for the vast mumifance of knowledge and experience accessable only through the august personages that frequent this most worthy board.

WWhat I'm looking for is a requlator/oct/gauges etc. set up that will meet the following requirements:

1) Dive Deep
2) Dive Cold
3) Dive Wrecks
4) Nitrox Capable
5) Reasonably tough (See 1,2,&3)
6 a) Good (Global?) availability of parts and service
or
6 b) Simple enough that standard "field" repairs are possible
7) Good/High performance
8) No useless bells and whistles
9) enviromentally sealed (silt, Zebra Mussel babies, etc...)
10) should cost less than a case of Molson Canadian Beer, cause me to lose 20 lbs, stop me from being an air hog, and make me even more attrative to the opposite sex.

I will admit to confusion over piston vs diaphram (The best seems to be what the LDS seels) but balanced, cold water and environmental sealing are essential.

Primary dive sites will be the Great Lakes and the Carib. Cold sea dives (BC and East Coast of US) are probables.

So far I've looked at Mares and Sherwood.

Any Takers or should I read Rosedale's some more and pick the prettiest colour that matches my eyes?

Matt

 

[Iguana Don]

I'll jump right in here and be the first on my block to be crucified by the masses.

OD,

Look no further. Get yourself an Apeks DS4 first stage and the TX50 second stage, and TX20 Octo.

As for the console, I would just get me a Suunto Vyper wrist mount and a ScubaPro SPG.

Go ahead, got my asbestos underwear and lead lined suit on........Flame away!

ID

.

 

[GP]

Yep...I'm with Iguana Don, I got an Apeks TX-50 and a Vyper and I'm real happy with them both.

 

[DivingGal]

Originally posted by Ontario Diver
... What I'm looking for is a requlator/oct/gauges etc. set up that will meet the following requirements:...

10) should cost less than a case of Molson Canadian Beer, cause me to lose 20 lbs, stop me from being an air hog, and make me even more attractive to the opposite sex. ..

I'm just going to address this last bit.

• Anything costing less than a 24 - I'll buy it for you
• weight loss - if that all it takes, I'll buy one too
• more attractive - how can you improve ?

as for the computer... you know my opinion, for the reg, you know what I have (US Diver Glacia) and that I'm very happy with it

 

[Lost Yooper]

Apeks DS4 with either the Apeks TX50 or TX100 second. Set the IP to 130psi or so for really cold water. These are renowned for their simplicity, durability and low maintenance. You can get them for under $350US.

Mike

 

[TexasMike]

Strong agreement with all of the above.

From what I have learned by talking to my technical diver friend, you can't miss with the Apeks line when it comes to the type of diving you are looking to get into.

--TM

(PS. LY, I fixed your boo-boo.......That will be 18.4 centavos)

 

[martinjc]

Gota support Don's recommendation on this one - I have the Apeks DS4 with TX50 second and TX40 octo. Love it!

 

[buff]

I would have said Poseidon Odin gut you got me with that "global parts availability" one and that "field seviceable". What is left is probably the best all around reg. and that's the.......well, what else, the Apeks. I have TX50 with the swivel first stage and a TX40 octo and it's the best. All the Apeks are excellent. It's Scubaboard members' number one choice I believe.

 

[Mverick]

Less than a case of Molson's. That's about $24 us. I'd suggest 1/2 hose. But I doubt you'd get very deep. If you want to spend a little more. Apeks. I use the tx100 myself.

 

[scorpiofish]

A piston reg can be kitted for cold water diving. I used to dive a Sherwood, which is a piston reg with a dry air bleed system, that prevents crud from entering. It also performs well against freezing. The Antarctic expedition used modified Sherwoods for the diving needs.

Other than the Sherwoods, I now prefer diaphragms, simply because you don't have to modify some of them to environmentally seal them. As others have noted, the Apeks is awesome. This is what I now dive. I have tried almost everything out there. At some point you don't notice much difference in performance from the top models of the leading brands. I was forced to buy Apeks, but couldn't be any happier. It's an environmentally sealed 1st stage right out of the box and performs incredibly well.

Parts are not that standard. Carry your own spare o-rings. Carry a spare hose and adaptor for the primary second stage, which is oversized or just plug it and switch to a standard 3/8" port.

Others that will give you what you want include Zeagle and ScubaPro MK14/250, or even a DX4/Delta 3 from Oceanic.

Servicing Oceanics and Sherwood in far off places is pretty easy, but again, it always pays to carry your own parts.

Get a standard octo, not a mini or combo. Most any brand guages will work, but the Suunto has the best compass out there. It allows a 30 degree tilt.