Best bang for the buck?

[walkonmars]

I would recommend the Hollis DG1 (first) and 212 (second) combination from divegearexpress.com for $250.
It is a reliable, environmentally sealed (not using grease) fist stage regulator having the same manufacturer (American Underwater Products, AUP) as many other regs out there with similar internal parts easily serviced in the US. I gather from the fact you are not interested in buying used because you have been renting, anyway.
It has the 3 features I noted in a recent post below. Sorry for the long message length.
-T
Edit: Those HOG regulators at $270 are a good deal, also. Never owned one but has all 3 features, also. Thanks other contributors.
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Quote:
My opinion is to buy a good regulator at a very good price and don't worry about buying the "best regulator in the world", for now. Honestly, what is the best regulator in the world? (Who knows.)
My advice is to buy a regulator with three features:
1.) Balanced diaphragm first stage: This technology has been around for decades. Some piston regulators do not have the feature of being balanced for special applications (100% O2 service, stage bottle use.).
2.) Pneumatically balanced (barrel poppet) second stage: This has been more recent but improved nearly all brands of regulator performance tremendously (over the downstream valve design). Some argue Aqua Lung purchased Apeks to get their second stage technology. Nearly all brands offer some version of this design.
3.) Environmentalyzed first stage using a hydrostatic transfer cap, plunger and diaphragm: I feel this adds reassurance in case one gets careless about rinsing gear. Simple and effective feature to add.

If the cheaper of your regulator choices has all of these features, get that regulator (Using good sense/discretion, of course!). I see lots of regulators with these three features sold online for less than $290 new. Some less than $170 new.
I recommend you this because you are starting out and your diving style and type of diving will evolve tremendously over the next 50-100 dives. From my experience, your fun level will increase dramatically more after your first 25 or so dives and you will fall into a style and incorporate methods from buddies and ship/club mates. If you buy a regulator with the features above, it will be a fantastic and reliable back-up regulator (or pony bottle reg) later when you buy a second regulator (The "worlds best regulator", whatever that is. LOL). I also feel the three features above are the three most significant technology advances for regulators over the last 40 years (other can give your opinions.). Unless that used regulator is serviced and ready to go for a great price, I recommend not paying too much for a regulator that still needs service. This is your only regulator and you don't have time to experience problems, regrets while you should be diving and gaining experience. Atomic seems to be a great regulator from what I read but I have never used one. It shocks me that they cost 3 to 4 times the price of other regulators! (Are they 3-4 times better?) They seem to deviate from the traditional design of other regulators (intermediate pressure is higher) and other posters please let us know if servicing them is any different in cost and complexity from other regulators. Lastly, you have other gear/stuff to spend money on (wetsuit, drysuit, lights, camera, tanks, nitrox class, speargun, boat trips, etc.). I hope you find what you are looking for in your final choice and have fun diving.

 

[Jayfarmlaw]

I bought 4 sets of HOG regs for my family when I was in your shoes. No regrets and customer service was incredible when we had an issue. I have some other larger brand regs that I have bought used as package deals and can't tell any difference in one breathing better than the other.

Good luck,

Jay .

 

[Pao]

I'm a sealed diaphragm fanatic so my recommendation would be either 2nd hand Apeks regs or brand new HOG D1 Cold w/ the Classic 1st stages.

 

[tbone1004]

@walkonmars

Hollis doesn't have the option to user service, complete deal breaker for me, maybe not for everyone, but in terms of global support from most dive mfg's they do have an edge over Dive Rite and certainly over Hog. They are NOT manufactured by AUP however. AUP doesn't actually make any regulators, they are all produced in Asia. They do use the same OEM as HOG, and the same one as the older Dive Rites pre-XT, and it is a very good OEM, just not AUP. AUP is the parent company of Hollis, Oceanic, Aeris, Lavacore, and formerly PPS *now Aqualung fwiw*. They also own the BC manufacturer in China HIL which is pretty slick. There's a few other smaller companies in there, but those are the ones that matter.

 

[nh16]

If you are looking to save money, used is definitely the way to go, as long as you have someone helping you who knows how to evaluate regulators.

I had not really considered used, but that does make sense... If you've ever bought any on ebay is it common at all to get anything on trial (mostly just so I can bring it to a dive shop and have it looked at)?

I think all of the tanks we've seen have been yoke tanks... adapter isn't a big deal, but I'd probably just want to buy something that is the most common.

Thanks!

 

[tbone1004]

down in florida it's not uncommon for them to be convertible valves instead of straight yoke valves, you just make not have noticed if they had inserts in them.

Not common on ebay to get a trial period, most is sold as is, but it is highly unlikely that a reg bought on ebay would be non-serviceable. That said, by the time you purchase, and pay for service, expect minimum $150/reg set, it's not that much more to buy new and get the warranty.

Cave Adventurers - Dive Rite XT Sidemount Regulator Package - Marianna, Florida USA - Never Undersold!
This set is $700, and yes I understand it's a sidemount regulator set, however I recommend that all divers buying new gear consider buying a doubles or sidemount set instead of a singles set because the first stage is the one likely to fail, and in under 5 minutes with an adjustable wrench you can avoid having to have everything serviced in a rush, or having to rent, or missing a dive. It's cheap insurance. Alternatively if you decide to start diving with an H-valve or with a pony bottle, you don't have to buy anything else, which is very expensive to buy a first stage on it's own. The cheapest singles set from Dive Rite I found is $600, so for an extra $100 you get an extra SPG and extra first stage which is a whole lot cheaper than you can get them separately. You also get a free reg bag which is cool. If you want to try these regs, I know Mariana is a hike, but they have demo regs available to try. If you go this route, call them as they will be able to provide you with appropriate hose lengths for single tank diving. I believe CCDS who is local does a similar thing and will likely match the pricing on that, but you'd have to ask. They're local to you and would be my recommendation for your Local Dive Shop, the Bernot's are very good to their customers

Anyway, $700, you get an extra first stage and pressure gauge, a regulator set with a Lifetime Warranty that is NOT predicated on authorized service at regular intervals *THIS is incredibly important, and will save you a LOT of money*. Not that a regulator should ever need to go in under warranty, but it has happened. Many reg manufacturers, Hollis included require regular service, by an authorized technician to keep your warranty. The simple fact is that regulators do not have to be serviced every year, or even every other year if you are diving regularly and taking care of them. In technical diving we service our regulators when something goes wrong, typically the IP will start creeping. Buy a $20 IP gauge, use it regularly, and as long as everything is taken care of in terms of proper cleaning, the regulator passes a negative pressure check *Which you should do before every dive*, and the IP is stable, the regulator does not need servicing. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".

Average price of a used reg set is somewhere around 300 if you get everything. Service is minimum $150 for a singles set, and you don't have a warranty. It can save you money, but with deals like the one above, it's hard to justify, and some people like brand new stuff.

 

[Caveeagle]

I had not really considered used, but that does make sense... If you've ever bought any on ebay is it common at all to get anything on trial (mostly just so I can bring it to a dive shop and have it looked at)?

I would probably steer you away from used regs unless you are really inclined to learn how to trouble-shoot and test your own gear. It also helps to have a strong brand loyalty so you know EXACLTY what your looking for in used equipment. If you want a trouble free, "plug n play" experience, you are much better off just buying your regs new. Your not really saving that much (on most regs) after you have paid for service, and possibly new hoses. That's not to say, you can't get great deals on used gear. I just bought a used reg last week, but I service them myself, and have specialized in just two brands of regs, so that I can minimize the parts and tools that I need.

*If you have a favorite dive shop locally, you might want to see if they can service what you buy (new or used). However, there are several options for service. I am pretty sure that most of the Alachua county shops send their regs offsite for service anyway.

I think all of the tanks we've seen have been yoke tanks... adapter isn't a big deal, but I'd probably just want to buy something that is the most common.

Thanks!

You might have been diving DIN 'convertible' tanks. A convertible DIN/K tank valve has a removable plug that allows a tank to be used with either type of reg. This year, I have rented tanks from a Local (High Springs) shop and two different dive charters in S.Fla. In all three cases, their tanks were DIN/K convertible valves. With one dive charter (in W.Palm), all there tanks were ready for DIN, and he keeps the convertible plugs on the boat for people who have yoke regs.

I see this as a non issue. But the best type of reg you can (DIN), and a yoke adapter for the times where you might be able to rent a DIN tank.
Will you be buying tanks at some point?

 

[halocline]

I'm really surprised that a knowledgeable diver like tbone would make such a bad recommendation for a new diver. First, it's DIN, which means it won't fit yoke tanks, which are the norm for dive resorts in this part of the world. Second, it's a set for double tanks, with side mount hose length. This means that you would have to buy new hoses, and you're paying for an extra 1st stage, AND an extra SPG.

This would be a good recommendation if the OP were, like tbone, using double tanks, sidemount, in technical diving. But for a new recreational diver using a single tank on vacation dives (which is exactly how the OP described herself) it's completely wrong.

 

[tbone1004]

in this country at least, convertible valves are becoming the new standard, and as they mentioned wanting to dive locally as well as abroad, it's a valid recommendation. It comes with a yoke adapter IIRC and while not ideal, they aren't the end of the world if you're travelling.
Regarding hoses, not the comment that they will customize the hose lengths for you with no problem, just call and ask. Yes you are paying extra for the first stage and SPG, BUT it is $100 more than the DGX price for the streamlined OW kit, and $100 is cheap insurance compared to missing a dive due to a first stage failure, or having to rush service abroad, or having to rent regulators...

I stand by my comment. That kit, for a Florida native, wanting to do more local diving off of their boat, which means buying tanks, and in that case, DIN wins as I don't know of anyone selling tanks with yoke regs anymore... Granted I don't go to recreational shops often, but the ones up here are all coming with convertible valves as standard.

 

[beaverdivers]

I'm really surprised that a knowledgeable diver like tbone would make such a bad recommendation for a new diver. First, it's DIN, which means it won't fit yoke tanks, which are the norm for dive resorts in this part of the world. Second, it's a set for double tanks, with side mount hose length. This means that you would have to buy new hoses, and you're paying for an extra 1st stage, AND an extra SPG.

This would be a good recommendation if the OP were, like tbone, using double tanks, sidemount, in technical diving. But for a new recreational diver using a single tank on vacation dives (which is exactly how the OP described herself) it's completely wrong.

Isn't obvious the tbone is selling for Cave Adventures