Atomic Regulator Questions

[inquis]

You are a trusting soul.

Yeah, even for the "valet" dive vacations, I take my computers & reg back to the room with me.

 

[Mobulai]

Yeah, even for the "valet" dive vacations, I take my computers & reg back to the room with me.

I just bum out at the dive shop talking to everyone while they try to wash their gear in peace — till my stuff is dry, and into the locker it goes

(I mainly love watching all the tanks going in/out of the fill room so I give myself a reason )

 

[Guitarcrazy]

Yeah, even for the "valet" dive vacations, I take my computers & reg back to the room with me.

We take our computers and camera gear with us but typically leave regs with bcd and the rest. I guess I've been lucky in that over the past 8 years I haven't had an issue.

 

[Guitarcrazy]

I went ahead and ordered the Z2 1st and second from ScubaToys. $569 and they include a free SS1, which made it a pretty compelling buy. The B2 package also includes an SS1 for $950.

 

[BoltSnap]

$569 and they include a free SS1, which made it a pretty compelling buy.

Free ss1 at this price??

What an awesome deal, wow

Congratulations

 

[Rilelen]

As others have said, the only difference is the seat saver and it’s not a big deal. I have Atomic Z2s on my recreational reg set, and Atomic M1s on my doubles. Love them, they’re great regs.

 

[Geo7]

I can support what the previous posters wrote. The seat saving orifice had me worried at first, but I eventually found it to be ingenious. For a quick rinse during a liveaboard the seat saver does hardly let any water in because its a thin gap (you notice when trying to suck air through it). I soak my regs for hours and then blow some air through them, and it feels like only some drops seep in (and it's just freshwater). What is a far bigger problem on any reg, is someone pressing the purge button (on any brand) and let lots of water in, or throwing the reg in the rinse tank without the cap on the first stage. Although a piston reg will still function after such abuse.

The first stage is indeed based on the Scubapro MK10, but with the HP piston seal design like in a Mk20. It has an HP seat that is rated for 2 years, 200 dives (3/300 for titanium regs), which is more than other brands. It's a very bulletproof and easy to service 1st stage overall, yet compact and with excellent hose routing options.

For cold water (below 40°F) or in very sandy/silty water, I'd seal them. But if only diving in clear, blue water on vacation, I would not seal them. Just rinse the environmental chamber after every dive, and soak and rinse them well after the trip. If you have them sealed, it needs to be done right, by a good tech, and serviced in 2 years no matter what (to prevent corrosion in brass regs).

In a nutshell, these are among the highest performing regs that breathe very smoothly, and maintain performance for long service intervals. They are very well made, and last years and years if taken care of.

One theoretical downside I see is servicing while abroad would be easier with Scubapro, but in practice hardly anyone would get their regs fixed in time while on vacation and would need to rent a backup anyway.

 

[Geo7]

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.

These brands should be lower cost than Atomics, and should also have service intervals of 2 years (but usually 100 dives). They will also breathe more than adequately. I have not tried these brands but consider them similar to Apeks which I know very well. I feel Atomic regs breathe smoother (regs have evolved to the point where performance differences in top brands are subjective personal preferences), and 1st and 2nd stage are compact and comfortable.

Second stages need service after a while as the seat wears out even sitting in storage. With Atomic's seat saver, this problem is eliminated. Someone doing only a few dozen vacation dives per year could probably get away with very long service intervals for the 2nd stage, and also for a brass 1st if not sealed. Or, as intended by the manufacturer, enjoy peak performance between the mandated 2yr service interval.

The workmanship of Atomic regs is top notch, and if taken care of I think will last longer. But these are all good regs, so it is hard to recommend one over the other. Each of the regs mentioned have pros and cons that can be dealt with. Ideally, if you tried an Atomic and felt a difference in feel and quality, that would help the decision. What I can say though is that the potential problems concerning the seat saver you heard of are more theoretical in nature.

 

[OMyMyOHellYes]

I went ahead and ordered the Z2 1st and second from ScubaToys. $569 and they include a free SS1, which made it a pretty compelling buy. The B2 package also includes an SS1 for $950.

I am often in the Scubatoys shop (they're local). Good folks and free tank fills for the one-time $35 cost of joining their Aquaholics club. 10% off across the board on all purchases too.

 

[Belzelbub]

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.

Agreed. That is the only real difference between Atomic regs and other brands as it pertains to cleaning.

The best practice, IMO, is to soak the regs pressurized. But, that might not be possible if the regs get "cleaned" by the Dive Op staff. How much of an actual problem this is, remains to be seen.

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?

That's the main benefit. My regulators are all sealed, but I don't dive cold. My 1st stages are diaphragm, and the sealing is quite a bit simpler than sealing Atomic 1sts. The diaphragms seal with a flexible cover over the ambient chamber. With Atomics, they seal with the addition of christolube. That works fine, but does add some cost when the regs get serviced.

FWIW, up until earlier this year, I volunteered at an aquarium. The reg sets they used were all Atomics with unsealed 1sts, and the 2nds had the seat saver mechanism. I was probably the only volunteer that was careful when rinsing the regs. Most just put the dust cap in place and dropped them in the two sinks. They would hang up to dry, so if water got in the hose, it would likely drain out before the next diver used it. I never noticed the regs breathing wet or anything like that.