Cheap regs?

[cfdfirediver]

check your LDS for used rental

 

[james croft]

The first storebought regulator I purchased was the US Navy top performer. I am still diving it almost 30 years later. I service it myself for about 10 bucks a year. Do your research and buy the best you can afford. In twenty years you will realize just how inexpesive it was.

 

[dandrian]

I understand that most of us are somewhat cash strapped when it comes to spending money on scuba. But i can't say that I ever like to see the word "cheap" and regulator in the same sentence. Obviously your regs are your lifeline while diving, make sure you do some research and find a good value not a cheap one. If you have to go cheap, maybe your reel, or knife, or even a light would be a place to save a little. As was posted before, I think in the long run "cheap" will cost you more in the end.

 

[*Floater*]

Where might i find a cheaper reg? (besides eBay)

Shane

What type of diving do you do or plan to do? If you think you'll want to go below recreational depths sometime in the future then make sure your reg is good breather at those depths. Also I've heard that bad regs can increase your air consumption thereby resulting in shorter dives.

For good deals check out this thread: http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=135843

Apparently the Sea Elite Tek X can be had for relatively little. I still prefer Dive-Rite as I think it's safest to get the real thing even if it costs a little more - at least you can be sure the support structure (service kits, etc.) will be there. Salvos are also worth taking a look at. Apeks seems to be most popular among tech guys.

Of course I'm planning to service my own regs, but for most people it's probably best to pick something up at the LDS that they can get serviced there.

If you do plan to get into technical diving, then one strategy could be to get slightly cheaper reg now that you plan later on (after upgrading) to use as a stage reg. Something like the Salvo SR2/SRS - though if you shop around you can probably find the Dive-Rite equivalent of it (RG1208 first with RG1210 second) for the same price or cheaper.