Atomic, to seal or not to seal?

[DiverInAk]

I'm preparing to purchase a new Atomic B1, spare me the lectures on Scubapro/Apeks etc., vs's costs.

What I'm interested in is whether to seal the first stage or not. My primary diving will be in 35F - 45f salt. I don't have any short term plans for fresh water ice diving, but it could happen down the road.

Is it worth the trouble to seal the reg, or just take the usual pre-dive precautions? My local dive shop is using some of the Z1's as rentals and on the student kits, and they've chosen to seal them all.

Any con's if I do? Other than the service tech having to mess with it.

Thanks, David

 

[Mario S Caner]

Hello DiverInAK, welcome to the boards. We're glad you're here. As for your question, I would seal it as well. Not only is there less maintenance worries for you, but there is also peace of mind when temperature drop as low as they do for you. Sealed regs typically have fewer headaches, especially those that happen because of contaminants.

The only people that hate dealing with the slimey mess is the service tech. no worries though, they get paid to deal with it.

 

[DiverInAk]

I agree, and have decided to go the route of sealing. Although I was speaking to the tech who services these things at my local dive shop. He said he does see some trapped salt water from time to time, like little bubbles trapped in the grease. It does cause some corrosion if left too long. This shouldn't be a problem if you're getting annual inspection/service.

Which brings me back to the MK20/S600... Free parts for life. That adds up after a while!

Still thinking on this one..

 

[Green_Manelishi]

I use atomics and dive year round in NE. Ice dives, etc
etc etc. The only time I had a problem was WITH a 'sealed'
reg. This year I have NOT had it sealed and so far no
problems and believe-you-me it's been freezing a** cold
on more than one occasion: you know it is cold when there
is ice in your mask between dives and on the deck all the
time.

Now, with that said, it is possible that this weekend I WILL have a problem but so far this year, nada.

 

[Mario S Caner]

David,
I would have talked about the ScubaPro before but you asked that we spare the lectures on them. I can tell you this. Whether you decide to go with the ScubaPro, Apeks, Atomic or even the new Abyss Explorer SuperFlow You won't go wrong. I own 2 of the above 4 and if I get my way, will be getting the other two soon enough. That's how I feel about them...

 

[DiverInAk]

Can you elaborate on the problem you had with the sealed Atomic? I'd like to hear about it.

Do you normally wait until the rig is submerged before cracking the tank, and did you in that case? That kind of stuff. What caused the problem and were you able to overcome it at the time or did you have to abort your dive etc...

Mario, I said spare me the info on the others, only because I wanted to make a damn decision. I didn't give the shop technician the same warning. :nono:

I like them both, and I like the Apeks too, but I've narrowed the field to at least the Scubapro or Atomic, which are almost the same thing as it is.

I am leaning a little more to Scubapro due to:

1. Parts warranty policy
2. 1st stage dry seal
3. S600 second stage. It just looks and feels as though it would handle travel better in the long run.

 

[Green_Manelishi]

the firsts were "sealed" with a silicone pack.

The problem was a slight first stage free-flow during
an ice dive (not enough to be concerned, I continued
the dive and monitored SPG)

Most of the time I rig gear in the environment I will be diving (that is to say OUTSIDE and it has been transported outside so all the equipment is at ambient temperature). The exception to this rule is boat dives: it is easier to set up the rig at home and place it in my car as one unit.

Regardless of where set up I always open valves VERY slowly
and leave them on until I am ready to dive.

I test breathe the reg at home if it is set up then; other-
wise my test is an INHALATION only. I do not exhale into the
second stage as it is EX-halations that carry moisture.

Hope this helps

 

[DiverInAk]

Interesting that it would have a problem like that. I appreciate the information. We rig in the environment, but if the temp is so low that freezing might be a concern, we manually inflate the BC and have the buddy crack the valve only AFTER the 1st stage is in the water.

Obviously this method is not without risk and is generally only used when shore diving. The risk is mitigated by adequate training.

 

[Hockeynut]

So give us an update, what did you finally do?

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

So give us an update, what did you finally do?

Yes. We've all been waiting for 10 years to find out....


Holy Old Thread, Batman