Atomic regulator recommendations

[Scared Silly]

The old 45 yo DA Aquamaster I dive must be a Royals Royce.

Nah, that is just a well maintained Model-T.

To the OP, buy which ever one suits your fancy. Our tech regs are all Z2 first stages with our primary second stages being M1s on long hoses, the backs are Z2 second stages. Our rec regs are T1x that I bought used and rebuilt/updated completely. No way would I buy them new, but after doing the rebuild they are about as new as one could get. They suit our purposes. My only suggestion is that if you are hard on gear or a very frequent divers get the ST1 as they will hold up better to a lack of rinsing.

 

[eelnoraa]

What is your budget? And how careful of a person you are? All atomics are design the same except with different matel use, so they perform the same. If you are a reasonably careful person, brass will do just fine. If you don't raise gears, then you may want to consider ST1 or T2. B2 despite the 2nd stage metal being titanium, 1st stage is still brass, so if you let water get in to 1st stage, you will still have problem like any other regualtor. Personally, I will just get Z2. It is the best bang for the buck Atomics.

 

[Dr. Lecter]

I own M1s and an ST1. I recommend the M1.

The M1 is the more versatile regulator (handles cold water and Nitrox mixes better out of the box) that (in my experience) breathes just as well as the ST1 at least as far down as 260'. While the ST1's stainless first stage means it will likely be perfectly uncorroded and suitable for diving by my grandkids, that's unimportant to me considering I care for my M1s and don't expect them to corrode within my lifetime.

The $200 price difference doesn't hurt either. If you absolutely have to have the swivel elbow on your 2nd stage, buy it separately (in SS, not Ti) and have the shop add it to your M1. You still come out $100 ahead.

 

[Aqua-Andy]

You do have to love Atomic's marketing. For 40 years or more, manufacturers have been using chrome plated brass to build regs without any problems. Why do you need monel, stainless, titanium? For marketing reasons, they had to design something different to set there product apart from the other similar products in the market. Use different metals, tell your customers that your product is superior to the other products out there and you can charge more money for said product. What it comes down to is there have been very little advances in reg technology in probably 20 years or more so you have to start adding more gimmicks to the product to set it apart to the competition. The AquaLung Legend with the pink gold is a perfect example of this, add some new color to the reg and blow some sunshine up the customers backside and charge $1049 for it. sounds great from a manufacturing stand point. I would say if they all breath the same, buy the least expensive one and save the money for more gear or a dive trip.

 

[Dr. Lecter]

Weighing extra cost against real benefits provided is always a good idea, but Aqua-Andy's tone is a bit overblown. Seriously, gold trim on a reg being equated with all the differences in Atomic regs? Ha. The T2x does have that silly silver trim, though, I have to give you that one.

All Atomic regs don't breathe the same, at least not under all conditions. If he's only going to dive temperate and clear water, the Z2 is gonna be just as good as anything else. Cold waters and/or silted out wrecks in his future? Well, that changes things. Saying it's all a marketing scheme is as much BS as the pink gold trim is. Monel? Compare the O2 concentrations for which the various Atomic regs are "safe" -- the metal has its uses. Stainless? I dunno, some people might like the corrosion resistance vs. extra $100 for the 1st stage. Since I haven't sold the ST1 yet and still use it for vacation rec diving when I'm less likely to rinse regularly and unlikely to have the reg pressurized when I do rinse it, I guess I'm one of them. Titainum? Do I think the corrosion resistance and extra few ounces less is worth the extra $600 and inability to use higher O2 concentrations? Nope. But could someone reasonably justify the trade off? Sure.

 

[Six2Life]

All Atomic regs don't breathe the same, at least not under all conditions.

This guy sure thinks they all breathe the same:

Atomic Regulators - Revolutionary Scuba Regulator Technology - YouTube

 

[Dr. Lecter]

That's nice, but you'll note I said "at least not under all conditions." Z2 and M1 in Hawaii at 100'? Same difference. Z2 and M1 at 200' in 41 degree water and a silted-out wreck? I have a preference for the M1, but you let me know how that Z2 works for you.

 

[Scared Silly]

Ah a personal preference ... for intents and purposes the M1 and Z2 are alike. With only one functional difference the M1 first stage comes sealed from the factory and Z2 does not. However, one can seal the Z2 if one wishes. As such, your argument is specious.

For clarity the only other difference between M1 and Z2 is the piston monel vs stainless which monel is recommended for high O2 mixtures and the first stage swivel. Other than than there is no functional difference. The second stages have no functional difference just a different exhaust.

Not quite the hypothetical conditions above but I have no worries about taking my Z2 deep done that multiple times.

 

[Hatul]

I have the ST1, but they all breathe the same, just difference in materials. So either get the M1 for cold water diving or the Z2.

 

[Tejasmtb]

I dive a B2 and my wife has a Z2 and we couldn't be happier. I did most of my training on Suba Pro regs and I dove some Sherwood models and an Aqualung as well before deciding that the Atomic regs offered what I was lookibg for in a reg. I don't see these regs ever leaving our dive bags.