Atomic users

[El Diablo]

https://scubapro.johnsonoutdoors.com/regulators/systems/mk19-evod420-dive-regulator-system

Mk17 should save quite a bit but soon to be discontinued(more discount?).

Why would you say that? I don't think the Mk 17 will be discontinued any time soon... its a small size balanced regulator sealed from the elements and with a radiator suitable for cold weather.
The Mk11 is not environmentally sealed. Also, some folks dislike turrets and the Mk19 is basically a Mk17 with the turret from the Mk25.

I haven't seen Scubapro discontinuing good selling regs but only if upgrading them (EVO) or they are 'flops' (Mk21).

IMO the Mk19 is more of a Mk25 competitor for those divers that prefer a diaphragm reg specifically.

 

[Centrals]

Why would you say that? I don't think the Mk 17 will be discontinued any time soon... its a small size balanced regulator sealed from the elements and with a radiator suitable for cold weather.
The Mk11 is not environmentally sealed. Also, some folks dislike turrets and the Mk19 is basically a Mk17 with the turret from the Mk25.

I haven't seen Scubapro discontinuing good selling regs but only if upgrading them (EVO) or they are 'flops' (Mk21).

IMO the Mk19 is more of a Mk25 competitor for those divers that prefer a diaphragm reg specifically.

Not even feature on Scubapro own web page.

https://scubapro.johnsonoutdoors.com/regulators

Interesting read:

Rumor: Scubapro Mk17 to be discontinued soon?

I keep seeing comments on Scubaboard about the Mk17 being discontinued soon. We're talking about the Evo version, right? Seems strange it would be discontinued, but what do I know. Can anyone shed light on this rumor?

scubaboard.com

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

These discussions always make me think of Monty Python.

Follow the shoe!
No! Take off one shoe!
No! Follow the gourd!
Etc.,etc.

Atomic, ScubaPro, Apeks, Sherwood, Deep 6 and other reputable brands make solid regs.

The one question that needs to be addressed is who will service your reg? I will warn you that there are plenty of underpaid shop techs who will do sloppy work, put in comparable but not exact parts, etc.. I got tired of different LDSs screwing up my regs so I went farther by mailing them (just one trip to the Post Office to use the machine so more time flexibility rather than two trips to a shop with limited hours).

Forget the idea of "make sure you can get parts when traveling."

If you think shop techs are underpaid, it is even worse in tropical destinations. You DO NOT want these people servicing your reg and then jump off a boat into the blue. Either carry a spare, or spare parts and know how to service yourself, or rent in that case. It should be exceedingly rare.

The largest question is how much do you want to spend? Properly serviced you won't see any difference between regs. People will make claims but as long as there is no objective means to compare performance of properly tuned regs, it is personal bias and believe me there is personal bias. You'll see it here with comments like "I can't wait for hearing trip reports on how you like your fins."

So there are several factors of basic design, cost, and servicing.

Chances are you will be happy with your purchase. Don't let anyone urinate in your corn flakes.

Except don't dive split fins. You'll die. Consider yourself warned.

 

[rhwestfall]

Why would you say that? I don't think the Mk 17 will be discontinued any time soon... its a small size balanced regulator sealed from the elements and with a radiator suitable for cold weather.
The Mk11 is not environmentally sealed. Also, some folks dislike turrets and the Mk19 is basically a Mk17 with the turret from the Mk25.

I haven't seen Scubapro discontinuing good selling regs but only if upgrading them (EVO) or they are 'flops' (Mk21).

IMO the Mk19 is more of a Mk25 competitor for those divers that prefer a diaphragm reg specifically.

New Scubapro Dive Gear Coming To You In 2022 - DeeperBlue.com

Scubapro has announced the release of a host of new dive gear in 2022.

www.deeperblue.com

 

[rhwestfall]

 

[Centrals]

I totally agree on the first part, will disagree on the 2nd.

The difference is small but there is a difference between a piston and a diaphragm regulator nevertheless. If you get the chance to compare them on the same dive you will feel it as well. The flow rate indication vs your sac is a nice indicator if you are relaxed. Whatever issues one can have will appear under stress and at depth, like in an OOA situation were the buddy breathes erratically and in panic.

The Mk25 has indeed 8.500 l/min while the Mk 17 has 6900 l/min. That's quite a 'theoretical' difference there. Just mind that if there were no differences, we would all be diving the venerable Mk 2 and its 2.600 l/min flow rate

There are also other factors that make a reg better than other like inhalation / cracking effort, if it breathes wet, etc... as well as the 2nd stage performance (negligible but its also there).

2,600L/min!
Can your lung take that amount of gas in one minute?
The content of a standard 11L tank at 200 bar is about 2,200L.
Do you believe cracking effort etc etc would affect the performance of the 1st stage? Why 2nd stage has anything to do with the 1st stage? Two different issues.
If you breath from Mk 25 and Mk17 with the identical reg with you eyes shut? Can you tell the difference?

MK2 is still available after all these yrs!!!! "I haven't seen SP discontinued good selling regs....."

 

[johndiver999]

Aboslutely, I dive an Mk17 and Mk25 and can attest to that. I bought the Mk17 for travelling but it is actually heavier than the Mk 25. Diaphragm regs are heavier than piston ones (less moving parts).

However, I do feel a little difference when switching between the 2 (my 2ns stage on the Mk 25 is an S600 while on the Mk 17 a non-balanced R 395 so that might play a part as well at least at depth). This is an old video from Scubapro, their engineer seems to favor the Mk25, what's more interesting for me is the bore of the air channel within the piston vs the Mk 17. Very interesting.

I've played around with a lot of regulators. Based on what I have seen, with regard to performance (when the tank has more than 300 psi), there is no difference between first stages.

The tuning and attributes of the second stage account for 99.9% of any performance advantage/disadvantage that the first and second stage combo provide - at recreational depths. For example, I used an MK-2 as a primary first stage for a while, worked perfectly- no difference compared to a more expensive first stage.

I do kinda think a swivel can make a difference in comfort, but not performance.

BTW, my cheap dishwasher takes forever to run and it does not do a very good job.

 

[El Diablo]

Not even feature on Scubapro own web page.

https://scubapro.johnsonoutdoors.com/regulators

Interesting read:

Rumor: Scubapro Mk17 to be discontinued soon?

I keep seeing comments on Scubaboard about the Mk17 being discontinued soon. We're talking about the Evo version, right? Seems strange it would be discontinued, but what do I know. Can anyone shed light on this rumor?

scubaboard.com

Interesting... I live in Europe so maybe they are thinking of stopping it in the US?

https://scubapro.johnsonoutdoors.eu/regulators?_ga=2.121964750.452051598.1652697018-324481172.1646380865%3FUSPrivacy%3D&jo-page=4

 

[El Diablo]

New Scubapro Dive Gear Coming To You In 2022 - DeeperBlue.com

Scubapro has announced the release of a host of new dive gear in 2022.

www.deeperblue.com

Thanks man, as I replied above, in the EU site (I live in DE) there's no sign of discontinuing it...

https://scubapro.johnsonoutdoors.eu/regulators?_ga=2.121964750.452051598.1652697018-324481172.1646380865%3FUSPrivacy%3D&jo-page=4

 

[El Diablo]

2,600L/min!
Can your lung take that amount of gas in one minute?
The content of a standard 11L tank at 200 bar is about 2,200L.
Do you believe cracking effort etc etc would affect the performance of the 1st stage? Why 2nd stage has anything to do with the 1st stage? Two different issues.
If you breath from Mk 25 and Mk17 with the identical reg with you eyes shut? Can you tell the difference?

MK2 is still available after all these yrs!!!! "I haven't seen SP discontinued good selling regs....."

No
Yes
No & Yes (depending on what 2nd stage you use the breathing effort might vary)
Yes

Also yes, it is a workhorse.

As I previously wrote, there are differences between high-end and low-end regulators as well as between a piston and membrane first stages. There's a reason why more expensive 1st stages have higher flow than lower end and that is also reflected on the price (this is also affected by the n. of ports and other 'nice to have' features). In demanding situations is were the breathing effort will be more obvious, not in shallow relaxing dives. The 2nd stages that you pair with your 1st stage also affect breathing performance, they also have a flow rate and depending on if they are balanced or not, they will also perform better or worse at depth.

Performance will strongly vary depending on Depth and Breathing Rate / Activity.

When measuring regs, companies account for WoB, positive pressure, inhalation and exhalation effort, etc. All those parameters are determined by the quality of the reg.

Don't forget that the majority of parameters are set by the Navy. You mentioned your SAC rate, well go a few years back and check how many regulators could pass 62.5 RMV (Respiratory Minute Volume) at 60m [also a CE regulation].

If you can't tell the difference between breathing from a Mk2 and a Mk25 well... can't help you.
As I told you, I feel the difference between my regs.

This is the way Scubalab tests all regs, obviously NOT all regs perform the same.

• 37.5 RMV @ 132 fsw: This represents the maximum recreational depth at a somewhat aggressive breathing rate.
• 75 RMV @ 132 fsw: This simulates the potential demand at maximum recreational depth for a diver at an extremely heavy work rate, or loosely simulates two divers buddy breathing at a somewhat aggressive rate.
• 62.5 RMV @ 165 fsw: This represents the European conformance standard EN250. This is also the depth and breathing rate commonly used by manufacturers when determining a regulator’s performance.
• 62.5 RMV @ 198 fsw: This is the U.S. Navy’s Class A test depth and breathing rate (although the Navy uses a higher supply pressure).