Converting DIN to Yoke for traveling?

[Biodiversity_guy]

I am getting an Oceanic Delta 4 reg, DIN. I was reading that rather than using a DIN to Yoke adaptor when we go down to Bonaire for 2 weeks, that I can have the 1st stage "converted" to Yoke for a slight fee by my LDS? Having to not deal with the adaptor for 30+ consecutive dives is worth prior proper planning! And then, converted back once I return. Is the conversion a skill I can acquire or best left to trained professionals?

 

[Thalassamania]

Unless I'm mistaken the conversion involves screwing on an adaptor that is held in place with a large nut. Can you handle it? I'll bet you can.

OTOH, the adaptor is not much to deal with.

 

[SmileMon]

I've heard the DIN-Yoke Adapter is annoying because it gets it closer to your back/neck.

I agree with Thalassamania, if you can screw that thing yourself, just get the kit and enjoy your dives.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Unless I'm mistaken the conversion involves screwing on an adaptor that is held in place with a large nut. Can you handle it? I'll bet you can.

OTOH, the adaptor is not much to deal with.

To do it properly requires a yoke nut socket (regular sockets are too thick to fit between the nut and yoke) and a torque wrench to ensure it is not over torqued.

To convert it back to DIN will require a long reach allen socket of suitable size and a torque wrench.

Scubapro took a lot of heat for recalling their MK 20 as a few were discovered to have cracks in the body due to being over torqued by techs and or end users. It's a case where the recall was do to the design not being idiot proof and being vulnerable to cracking if badly over torqued for an extended period of time. The thing is, many other reg designs from other companies have the same basic design in the yoke nut area and are also prone to cracking if over torqued. I suspect the diffeerence is that they do not remain in service as long as SP regs and the fault does not catch up with them and/or they are quietly retired when it happens.

In short, doing it yourself is not a good idea unless you have the knowledge and tools to do it right.

A DIN to yoke adapter is not all that bad. It stays attached all through your trip as you just screw your DIN reg into it once and just use the yoke after that. The big downside is that with the adapter attached the first stage reg is between 1/2" and 3/4" closer to the back of your head and many divers bump it more often than when the adapter it not attached.

 

[victor]

Get the shop to do it for you, at most it might be $10, plus the cost of the yoke spare.
I have both for mine and it only takes a couple of minutes to switch between them.