Atomic Regulator Questions

[Guitarcrazy]

A couple of years ago I was going to buy a set of Atomic regs. I was looking at a 1st, second, and octo. I was on a trip in Cozumel and we were speaking to other divers on the boat about their regs. I mentioned I was thinking of going to Atomic as my next reg. They said that Atomic was great, but you had to be more careful when rinsing the regs as it was easy to do it wrong and damage the reg. We do all of our diving in warm water locations where the dive operator keeps the gear, rinsing each day and returning to us for the next day of diving. They said it was likely the operator would do it wrong and possibly damage the reg. I didn't know if that was true or not, but when we returned I heard about Deep6 on Scubaboard, and ordered a set of those instead. I am now thinking of getting another set of regs so I can outfit my adult kids with their own gear. Is there any truth to Atomic regs being more easily damaged? What are reasons to go with Atomic regs vs Deep6, Hog, or other mid level reg? We don't do any tech diving and only warm water. Thanks.

 

[grantwiscour]

I have 300+ dives on my Atomic B2 and SS1...no issues with rinsing by me or dive ops. I don't take any better or worse care of it than I would any other reg. My Atomic regs only require service every other year which saves me a little money.

Currently, Atomic is giving away a SS1 with the B2 purchase. A nice deal for those that want that type of rig. I like mine set up with the SS1...many on SB prefer other approaches. The new SS1 would be a quick and easy sale on ebay if you didn't want to use it.

I can highly recommend the Atomic B2. I got mine from Scubatoys @ 2010 and have had gotten great service from them...most recent service it was returned with a new reg bag. The original reg bag was raggedy with busted zipper. I appreciated the quality service enough to mention it here.

YMMV on all points...

 

[Guitarcrazy]

I have 300+ dives on my Atomic B2 and SS1...no issues with rinsing by me or dive ops. I don't take any better or worse care of it than I would any other reg. My Atomic regs only require service every other year which saves me a little money.

Currently, Atomic is giving away a SS1 with the B2 purchase. A nice deal for those that want that type of rig. I like mine set up with the SS1...many on SB prefer other approaches. The new SS1 would be a quick and easy sale on ebay if you didn't want to use it.

I can highly recommend the Atomic B2. I got mine from Scubatoys @ 2010 and have had gotten great service from them...most recent service it was returned with a new reg bag. The original reg bag was raggedy with busted zipper. I appreciated the quality service enough to mention it here.

YMMV on all points...

Thanks for the reply. Good to know it isn't more delicate than the average reg. Do you think the 1st stages are any different in operation from Scubapro, or other quality piston reg? It doesn't seem like there is that much difference between 1st stages. I have been told the second stage is where Atomic really stands out. Is that your experience?

 

[grantwiscour]

Mine is a very easy breathing reg...I prefer it over any other brand. In reality...when you get to the $1k price point, the regs are all probably dang good. The swivel comfort features help make the Atomic a winner.

 

[Nemrod]

The issue which is really a non issue is the automatic seat saver function built into the second stage. The LP seat is retracted from the orifice when not pressurised and thus it is potentially possible for water to back flow into the hose. Then if the hose is raised up the water could flow into the first stage. Do not do that, pressurize the regulator when rinsing or keep the second stage and hose low during rinse.

The Atomic first stage is an evolution of the Scubapro Mark 10. It is a fine first stage. It uses a rubber boot and silicone grease for environmental sealing. That can be a bit of a PITA to service.

 

[Guitarcrazy]

When I look at the regs it appears the first stages are unsealed, and if you choose you can opt for sealed. Is that only a benefit for cold water, or is there some other benefit?

 

[Badger7]

I can't help but wonder if the person you were originally talking to was just comparing Atomic to Aqualung regs? The only thing that any current modern 1st stage regulator does much differently in the way of rinse requirements is that "Auto Closure Device" on some Aqualung regs, which I'm really not sold on being much of a benefit over any of the other modern reg brands that lack it, and I still wouldn't dump one in a rinse tank without capping off the reg (or at all really), even with an ACD.

For what you're looking for, as long as you're picking a quality regulator set from an established brand, you really can't go wrong with Atomic, Apeks, Aqualung, Deep6, Scubapro, pick your poison, they all make great stuff. If you're buying regs for your adult kids, I might suggest finding a cool scuba shop local to where they live and choosing the middle of-the-road model of the brand that they do the most service volume on, that will come in handy when they need adjustments or service.

 

[grantwiscour]

We do all of our diving in warm water locations where the dive operator keeps the gear, rinsing each day and returning to us for the next day of diving. They said it was likely the operator would do it wrong and possibly damage the reg.

I read, skipped over and didn't comment on this earlier but I feel deserves discussion. While this is the most common practice...I don't like other people to touch or otherwise mess with my gear. A good way to have gear issues is to have someone else touch your gear.

With the best intentions a DM may be familiar with the rental gear that they use at their shop but not your kit...weight pockets, zeagle weight bags/pulls, integrated weights are one example of similar but different.

The way I have my Atomic reg's first stage set up is kind of upside-down...I prefer it this way to keep from hitting my head on the reg. Almost every DM that sets up my gear will do it incorrectly and route the regulator hose across my body...should be the first sign that something is amiss.

It is a nice luxury to have someone set up the gear until I have to redo at the last minute while my buddy waits for me to square me gear away. Being a self-reliant diver it seems unnatural for anyone to touch my gear. We dove a bunch in South Florida when we were fairly new and noticed the salty divers there weren't interested in anybody touching them or their gear...now I get it.

I'll set it up. I'll break it down. Rinse, Inspect and Hang up in my Locker. I have my name on all of my stuff...down to the smallest item. Even with all of these processes items can be "lost" or "misplaced".

Allowing someone else to rinse, handle, etc. just adds another random bit of chaos to the mix...it'll be you that has to deal with the situation.

Typing this I had a flash of a memory of a really nice long-sleeved wetsuit top that I lost on a dive boat on Hawaii's Big Island...DM that was rounding up the wetsuits for the group pee/rinse can somehow lost mine...blew overboard evidently. It was my fault...I knew better that to let my gear get rinsed with everybody elses. I rinse my stuff at the harbor regardless but got talked into the group rinse.

Gear lost can be replaced...

 

[Mobulai]

They said it was likely the operator would do it wrong and possibly damage the reg

The only feature about Atomics other than other brands with regards to this (maybe the old g500/s600 as well) is a feature of the second stage: the seat saver; when regs are unpressurized the orifice retracts from the seat (so it lasts longer in tune, your reg needs to be serviced “less”)
Implication: when rinsing, water if free to travel through the open orifice up the hose towards the 1st stage; now that would be alright if you used an non-environmentally sealed piston, it blows right out (and the water was fresh)
Worst case scenario would be if you used a diaphragm 1st stage (if you mix and match, but I believe that’s not your question)

When I look at the regs it appears the first stages are unsealed, and if you choose you can opt for sealed. Is that only a benefit for cold water, or is there some other benefit?

You can get them sealed or unsealed
As @Nemrod mentioned, Atomic 1st are SP mk10s taken to their max potential - and then some; and like the mk10 they have the groove and the boot to seal it (mk10 SPEC boots are a thing of the past now, just like the g500 seat saver feature — one of the motives why SP former engineers started Atomic)
That would be very helpful in both murky and really cold water diving
And wven for just warm water diving, it’ll last longer and all you need is a quick rinse instead of a soak, no salt and sand sticking to the piston and grinding the ambient chamber
But it’s more of a hassle during service — either costs you more, or/and the trouble of doing it if you go diy
I’d vote sealed piston is mich more worth it

Edit: if you wanna dive off the deep edge a bit and wanna know why pistons are preferably sealed (by some): Christolube..

I hope that helps clarify a bit (and not have confused you more)

 

[Divin'Papaw]

We do all of our diving in warm water locations where the dive operator keeps the gear, rinsing each day and returning to us for the next day of diving.

You are a trusting soul.