APEKS AT20/ATX40/ATX50 alternate??

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Initial reports that I have heard, from a lot of people who know more than I, have been less than encouraging. I guess the first stage is an over-balanced first stage that increases interstage pressure as you go deeper. Apparently this new first stage has introduced a few potential problems that are totally unnecessary.

Other first stages, such as the DST, Flat Head, and DS4 are capable of supplying an enormous amount of air, without any particular hassle or complexity. I don't doubt that the 200 is just as sweet a breather as the rest, but it doesn't seem worth it. You're paying a lot more money for a shnazzy looking first stage that only offers a 25% weight reduction (irrelevant for a first stage). On top of that, I hear the hose routing is less than optimal for doubles.
I think there's a fair amount of risk involved in buying that new first stage. Perhaps if you have a reliable tech on hand, it might be worth a try (if money wasn't an object). Personally, I don't think it's worth the money. I want to wait and see what happens with it. The second stages are nice though.

Take care.

Mike

PS. Keep in mind, that when you start getting into some of these high performance regs, it's hard to tell a difference (all things being equal) in the breathing performance. A machine can tell, but in reality, the differences are mute. The real strides are being made in the egonomics, IMO.
 
Yeah, really! :D One of these days they'll make some huge advancement in the hoses to enhance better streamlining, weight, and what-not. :rolleyes:

:jester:

Mike
 
Evidently, USD is impressed with the ATX200. The Aqualung "Legend" appears to be a direct copy of the Apeks reg. Wait, doesn't Aqualung own Apeks now? Maybe that's Seaquest I'm thinking of. Darn, I liked it when things were simple, USD was owned by La Spirotechnique, was owned by Air Liquide...
 
Originally posted by Lost Yooper
Yeah, really! :D One of these days they'll make some huge advancement in the hoses to enhance better streamlining, weight, and what-not. :rolleyes:

:jester:

Mike

Nah, they got hoseless spg's and hoseless AI computers

I'm waiting for the next DEMA so I can see those new hoseless regulators :hehe:
 
I believe Sea Quest is only the distributor for Apeks in the US, not the owner (I haven't paid much attention).

Mike
 
Seaquest and Aqualung go together. One owns the other or something like that. On each of their websites there is a link to the other.
(I think it is Seaquest that is owned by Aqualung)

As soon as we figure it out, it will change again!
 
You can't count on that. I was under the impression that Apeks still owned Apeks in England, but I could be wrong.

Mike
 
Originally posted by blacknet
However my statement of the 'cave diving equipment' was more intended towards the 'granny with a formula 1 car and driving 20mph' it's purely a waste of resources, equipment, time and money.
I’ve been rolling this around in my head for a couple days now, and I’ve come to the conclusion that the “Formula 1” analogy is flawed. So is my NASCAR analogy that I've used in the past.

If you want to talk about the Formula 1, or even NASCAR of the diving world, you’re talking about something on the level of saturation diving from habitats. Where the equipment costs millions. Just like a Formula 1 or NASCAR team costs millions.

All the “recreational” technical divers (to come uncomfortably close to PADI’s terminology) are not Formula 1 types. At best they’re SCCA types. Equipment-wise there’s not that much of a delta between the normal car on the road and an SCCA car that might be used in local races. Maybe better brakes or a better chip for example. As a “normal” car driver if I was looking for a little better performance, I might talk to an SCCA racer to discover maybe some better calipers to replace my old ones on the front of my car.

The delta in price we’re talking about here makes the “step up” to parts that might be found on an SCCA car affordable and within reason.

Same with the so-called “technical” gear. There’s little, heck, there’s no difference between my Mk20/G250 combination that I used for cave diving and the Mk20/G250 you can buy and use recreationally. I just happen to use two Mk20s when I’m in a cave. There’s little difference between a pelican light and an EE Scout. So what LY, myself and others may suggest is a piece of equipment that may cost the same, or marginally more than a “recreational” piece of equipment and save the diver some bucks down the line.

Buying a cheap regulator for $200 and having to replace it later with a $250 regulator is one heck of a lot more expensive just spending $250 the first time and being done with the process.

I saw a great quote the other day that I’ve never seen before: “Buy the cheapest piece of equipment that exceeds your requirements.”

We’re just trying to help point out what equipment exceeds their requirements.

Roak
 

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