BC/Reg recommendations

[MidOH]

I prefer yoke regs for single tank. Because Caribbean.

The DGX wing is the best singles wing out there. But don't feel locked into the plate. Piranha Dive shop has some cool plates as well. And their plastic tank buckles save a bit of weight.

Ive.bern using single tank adapters with plastic DGX nuts. Because it's easier.

Backplates & Single Tank Adapters Piranha Dive Shop |

www.piranhadivemfg.com

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Thanks much Ken for the comments. Is it common to set up the kit with an identical reg. for the alternate? It would seem to make sense. Thanks. Ultra.

If you're smart you will. Think of what the backup reg is for. Why would you want a crappy reg that breathes any less easy than your primary in a stressful situation? Whether it's you or the other guy using it.
The less performing octo is a throwback to when single hose divers were resistant to adding a another second stage because they were trained on how to buddy breathe from a single second.
Mfg's came out with cheaper ones to get them to buy it.
And when reg tuning was not as easy to do as it is now, a crap reg was less likely to freeflow as it hung behind them banging on stuff because no one taught them how to properly stow it.
I always taught that the seconds should both be high performance regs. And with mfg's like HOG and Deep Six pricing them at reasonable cost, there's no reason to dive with a garbage second.

 

[Bloody Marvelous]

Backplate & Wing is the best type of BCD. It'll keep you in trim, and will size up with you.
If you don't like the rigidity of a DIR harness, you can get an adjustable harness from most manufacturers.

Get a cold water rated regulator, and preferably not one that's made from titanium. Titanium is needlessly expensive, and doesn't play well with high oxygen content (over 50%). There are plenty of light weight cold water regulators, and they're not that much more expensive.

If money isn't a limiting factor, these are the regulators I would recommend:
ScubaPro Mk19 or Mk25 with G260 or higher. (I do like the look of the G260 over the more expensive second stages).
Atomic Aquatics M1.
Apeks XTX-50 or better. MTX-R or MTX-RC if you're planning on ice diving.
Mares Atlas or Abyss.
Remember that the 1st Stage is the part that does all the work and provides the most versatility. Having a balanced or overbalanced 1st Stage, a 5th port, and a swivel turret, all improve the overall performance of the 1st Stage. After selecting the 1st Stage, pick the design of the 2nd Stage that appeals to you. There isn't much performance difference between the different model 2nd Stages. The ease of breathe is mostly set during the service.

Get a good quality secondary second stage. If you can, use the same second stage as your primary. Don't ever go for an integrated power inflator like the Atomic SS1 or the ScubaPro Air2. They're a solution without a problem, and only over complicate OOG emergencies.