Atomic SS1

[nwflyboy]

I'm putting together a gear package for me and my wife. We're planning on Atomic regs - I figure you can't go wrong with these (and after all, if they're good enough for Kevin Costner and Anthony Robbins, that ought to be all I need to know, right? :sarcasm.

It'll be the Z2X for primaries (Kevin and Anthony no doubt can afford the titanium bling, I'll have to manage with zirconium).

For the alternate, I'm leaning heavily towards the Atomic SS1 (the non-titanium flavor).

Note: Yes, I know, some folks don't like the integrated octo/power inflators. Thanks for your advice, but I do want to go this route.

My questions are on the Atomic SS1. It does seem a bit large (even when compared to some of the competing units, eg ScubaPro's air2, etc.). I think I'll be OK with that though, as long as it's a quality unit - and from what I can find, it appears that most folks who don't have an axe to grind seem to like this gear - I often hear statements suggesting it rivals the performance of many primary regs. True?

I was at a dive event recently and the Atomic guys said that you could get an optional swivel installed on it, which made breathing off it easier (less twisting, less awkward). Any thoughts on that?

Also, according to the Atomic brochure, it can be fitted to just about any BCD (I'm planning to have it attached to a Cressi Travelight). They also say that it detaches quickly/easily for packing, which sounds convenient.

Anybody have any experience with this one?

Thanks.

 

[scuba_moron]

I often hear statements suggesting it rivals the performance of many primary regs. True?

I was at a dive event recently and the Atomic guys said that you could get an optional swivel installed on it, which made breathing off it easier (less twisting, less awkward). Any thoughts on that?

Save your cash - forget that swivel attachment. That said, my Ti SSI breathes as well as my M1 and B1.

 

[Wookie]

Save your cash - forget that swivel attachment. That said, my Ti SSI breathes as well as my M1 and B1.

+1. All of my bottom gas regs are T1/T2, all of my deco gas and rentals are M1, and I just bought my first B1 a month ago. I only have 1 SS1 because it switches so easily from Jacket to wing to wing. I love it.

 

[fnfalman]

I have three SS1s (one per BPW). Yes, it's bigger than the Scubapro or other equivalences, but it also breaths a lot better, vents and inflates better too. I feel like I have a lot better control of gas in or out with the SS1 than with the Air 2 (aka Dive Rite RiteSource).

Also, you can unscrew the SS1, screw on the garden hose and clean the inner bladder out with mucho ease. Or unscrew it and take it with you during travel.

The SS1 comes with an adapter kit that allows you to hook it up to most corrugated hoses' shapes and sizes.

As far as swivel attachment goes, just switch to Miflex hose and no problem. So, yes, save the cash on the swivel and just get Miflex hoses to replace the factory hoses.

 

[nwflyboy]

Thanks for the feedback.

I had not really been considering switching to Miflex right now. Me and the Mrs will be shelling out a good bit of coin for gear in the next couple weeks, then we're off to Raja Ampat for a stunningly expensive trip in the fall (not that I'm complaining...:cool2. The spending meter has been running fast and I'm probably going to start running into some resistance soon from she-to-whom-all-things-must-be-justified. Honestly, I'm not sure that I can justify swapping out 2 sets of brand new hoses, even if Miflex is better. I'm not debating that, from everything I've read, Miflex seems clearly superior. The question really is, is it so much better that it's worth it to toss 2 sets of brand new hoses and replace them with Miflex right now, when we're spending some significant bucks. In this case, I suspect the answer is probably "nope".

I assume that we can always trade up for Miflex all around anytime we have an extra hundred bucks to spend, no?

Regarding the HP hose to the Atomic SS1....with the premium one pays for anything nuclear, and assuming that I do want *something* to make reaching and breathing off the SS1 easier (the whole point of putting their swivel on it), might it actually be less expensive to just swap out that hose (and that hose only) for Miflex, than it would be to have the Atomic swivel mounted on the conventional hose?

And one more potential wrinkle: I'd like to put a DiveAlert on, too (maybe the double model with the horn for air and the quacker for underwater). Aside from adding yet another small gizmo on an already-crowded assembly, would that work any better (or worse) with the original hose + swivel, versus a replacement Miflex hose?

Many thanks for the help - much appreciated.

 

[ZzzKing]

The spending meter has been running fast and I'm probably going to start running into some resistance soon from she-to-whom-all-things-must-be-justified.

Just tell her it's "life support" equipment and it's for her. Problem solved.

Also, if you are buying a new hose anyway, get a 5' one for your primary regulator and you won't need a swivel for the SS1 (not sure of the purpose of that anyway). You donate the one from your mouth then breath on the SS1 yourself. Also, the SS1 takes a special fitting so you'll need an adapter on the end of any replacement hose.

 

[Splitlip]

i have three ss1s (one per bpw). Yes, it's bigger than the scubapro or other equivalences, but it also breaths a lot better, vents and inflates better too. I feel like i have a lot better control of gas in or out with the ss1 than with the air 2 (aka dive rite ritesource).

Also, you can unscrew the ss1, screw on the garden hose and clean the inner bladder out with mucho ease. Or unscrew it and take it with you during travel.

The ss1 comes with an adapter kit that allows you to hook it up to most corrugated hoses' shapes and sizes.

+1 !







..

 

[Scott L]

For the life of me I cannot understand the selection of regulator/power inflators. Longer than standard length primary hose and a bungeed octo. No limitations in performance...

 

[fnfalman]

For the life of me I cannot understand the selection of regulator/power inflators. Longer than standard length primary hose and a bungeed octo. No limitations in performance...

Why longer than standard length hose and bungeed octo?

People have been diving for decades without having long hose/short hose setup and they done just fine. Did Jacques Cousteau dive long hose/short hose?

Believe it or not, some of us actually dive for fun and not to manage equipment & gas underwater.

 

[fnfalman]

Thanks for the feedback.

I had not really been considering switching to Miflex right now. Me and the Mrs will be shelling out a good bit of coin for gear in the next couple weeks, then we're off to Raja Ampat for a stunningly expensive trip in the fall (not that I'm complaining...:cool2. The spending meter has been running fast and I'm probably going to start running into some resistance soon from she-to-whom-all-things-must-be-justified. Honestly, I'm not sure that I can justify swapping out 2 sets of brand new hoses, even if Miflex is better. I'm not debating that, from everything I've read, Miflex seems clearly superior. The question really is, is it so much better that it's worth it to toss 2 sets of brand new hoses and replace them with Miflex right now, when we're spending some significant bucks. In this case, I suspect the answer is probably "nope".

I assume that we can always trade up for Miflex all around anytime we have an extra hundred bucks to spend, no?

Yes. Save up or wait until your original hoses wear out or got damaged then switch to Miflex. But if you're not going to spend the $100 on Miflex hoses, then don't spend almost the same amount on hose swivel. Miflex isn't all that much more expensive than regular hoses.

Regarding the HP hose to the Atomic SS1....with the premium one pays for anything nuclear, and assuming that I do want *something* to make reaching and breathing off the SS1 easier (the whole point of putting their swivel on it), might it actually be less expensive to just swap out that hose (and that hose only) for Miflex, than it would be to have the Atomic swivel mounted on the conventional hose?

I think that you've confused the SS1 with something else. You don't put a swivel on the SS1. If you want to reach easier with the SS1, then make sure that your corrugated hose is long enough to reach your mouth. The HP hose doesn't go to anything but an AI computer or an SPG. You can use the Miflex LP hose that connects to the corrugated hose in lieu of the regular hose as well. And yes, it's easier to bend so in a small way, it helps getting the corrugated hose & the SS1 bend toward you easier.

And one more potential wrinkle: I'd like to put a DiveAlert on, too (maybe the double model with the horn for air and the quacker for underwater). Aside from adding yet another small gizmo on an already-crowded assembly, would that work any better (or worse) with the original hose + swivel, versus a replacement Miflex hose?

Many thanks for the help - much appreciated.

You will find that the Storm Whistle works really well and doesn't depend on air in your tank. And cheap too.

Also, all the additional gizmos will make cause your LP hose to bend (it doesn't have to extend all the way forward to the inflator connector now because of all the gizmos in the way). The regular LP hose doesn't like to bend really well, so it will start to push your corrugated hose into strange angles. If you're going to put all these gizmos onto your inflator, then it's best to get a shorter LP hose so that it won't kink due to the excess length. But if you're going to shell out money for an LP hose, then might as well throw a couple extra bucks for the Miflex.