Decently priced regs

[Canadian_Diver]

I was just wandering what you guys would recommend for a decently priced regulator. I'm very new to the sport, and was wandering what makes a regulator better than another one? Also what brands are very good? I'm just so over whelmed with all the brands out there. Thanks

I just know most people are going to say Scubapro, Apeks, or Aqualung. All of which are excellent regulators.

I currently use the Genesis GS2000. It's an excellent regulator and offers excellent performance and features for the price. The other reason I use it, is because my LDS sells them. I do both coldwater (including ice) and tropical diving. No problems with it at all.

I'm not going to tell you to buy one though. Instead, do yourself a favour and see what's available locally. Nothing worse than buying something only to find out there isn't anywhere that it can be serviced locally.

Cheers and Safe Diving!!!

 

[Wayward Son]

I'm mostly going to be diving in tropical conditions. Might do some wreck diving as my experience increases. I prolly will never do any cold water diving, just because I'm not the biggest cold water person. Prolly the coldest I will do right now or until my experience grows is NC. I'm trying to get my dad to take me wreck diving later on this year, and maybe do the QAR. So if some of ya'll wouldn't mind giving me some links of regs that you think would be good to me based on that I would appreciate it. I don't really want to spend more than $275-300 for the reg. Also what other octopus's would you recommend? Prolly $150 tops on the octopus. Thanks

I bought my wife a Scubapro Mk2/R190 for $200. She didn't need an octo, I got her a BC with an Air2, but I did. A Scubapro R380 (old model, current is R390. Same 2nd, different model name) for $100.

The R380 is mated to my old 1978 Mk5. I did an entire dive at 75 feet breathing on it just for grins & it breathed fine. My wife is very happy with the Mk2/R190 I bought her. It is a workhorse of a reg. This LDS uses this combo for their rental & class regs.

The Aqualung regs have been around for a long, long time. I used to dive them in the early 1970's, and I think several models are the same basic design they sold then. Another LDS here is an Aqualung dealer, and they use these regs for rentals & classes.

I think the Zeagle Envoy is another that is in the price range you mentioned, you might want to look into those.

 

[Quarrior]

Internet wise, you should check out Scubatoys.com They are an authorized dealer for some good regs. ScubaPro regs are not warranteed if purchased off the net.

Now, as for a cheap good reg, to me that is an oxymoron. It's kind of like buying a Ferrari without a safety belt. Not a good idea. Your reg is a piece of life support equipment, you really want to trust your life to the cheapest? I'd suggest talking to the knowledgeable folks at scubatoys and take their advice. BTW, I am not associated with them.

 

[DivesWithTurtles]

I'd second giving Larry at ScubaToys a call for advice and maybe a purchase. He's been honest and forthright here on ScubaBoard. And at least you'd be buying in-state if not locally.

No one has mentioned Sherwood. I think they are bullet-proof and a good value. (I use an Apeks now. Great regs.)

 

[halocline]

Now, as for a cheap good reg, to me that is an oxymoron. It's kind of like buying a Ferrari without a safety belt. Not a good idea. Your reg is a piece of life support equipment, you really want to trust your life to the cheapest?

I don't mean anything personal about this, so please don't take it the wrong way, but this statement is a good example of the hype about regulator purchase out there. First, your analogy to a ferrari is perfect because it illustrates the misconception about reg price vs reliability and safety. Is a ferrari more reliable and safer than, say, a honda accord? Is it "better" to have a ferrari to drive around town, which is not a terrible analogy to the environment of warm water recreational diving? What would you say to a car dealer that told you "a car is life support in the sense that you can get killed in an accident, so you should avoid all inexpensive cars because they're not safe" or "Even though the speed limit is 70mph, you should buy a car that can go 180 in case you need it to escape some perilous situation" People don't buy Ferraris to be safer, or even go faster; (most, anyhow) they buy them because they want a prestigious, high image car. Maybe this is an extreme example, but I hope you get my point.

In terms of safety, probably the regs with the best record of reliability over many years of use, time and time again, are the conshelfs and the MK2/R190. These are cheap regs. Divers get duped all the time into buying expensive equipment for "safety" sake by working the fear angle, i.e "isn't your life worth an extra few hundred $" and trying to convince the buyer that it's irresponsible to purchase an inexpensive reg. What a racket!

 

[darylm74]

Try the Aeris Atmos Sport. I bought my from ScubaToys. I have enjoyed the reg and it is environmentally sealed. It is also one that ScubaToys recommends highly and it is relatively inexpensive. Frankly look online. I really don't think the warranties that the scuba companies have are worth anything....that is my personal opinion...it isn't like they have a 5 year/50,000 fin-kick diaphram to diaphram warranty or anything. I have an Apeks DS4 with some used SEA4 2nd stages that I picked up from Ebay.

and Mattboy............amen....I definitely agree with it all being a racket....though I'm sure if I had a ton of money I would buy the proverbial "best" as well

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I was just wandering what you guys would recommend for a decently priced regulator. I'm very new to the sport, and was wandering what makes a regulator better than another one? Also what brands are very good? I'm just so over whelmed with all the brands out there. Thanks

Lots of choices in the price range you mentioned. Three excellent performers off the top of my head in that price range ...

- Scubapro MK16/R390 (or even an S550 if you shop around)
- Aqualung Titan LX
- Zeagle Envoy Deluxe

Any of these regs will serve you very well and give you lots of room to grow as you learn more and want to dive more challenging conditions.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[cooleyjb]

Try the Aeris Atmos Sport. I bought my from ScubaToys. I have enjoyed the reg and it is environmentally sealed. It is also one that ScubaToys recommends highly and it is relatively inexpensive. Frankly look online. I really don't think the warranties that the scuba companies have are worth anything....that is my personal opinion...it isn't like they have a 5 year/50,000 fin-kick diaphram to diaphram warranty or anything. I have an Apeks DS4 with some used SEA4 2nd stages that I picked up from Ebay.

and Mattboy............amen....I definitely agree with it all being a racket....though I'm sure if I had a ton of money I would buy the proverbial "best" as well

I have the Aeris Atmos Pro and it has been great. The only thing I haven't liked about it is the way the regulator connects to the first stage. It has a swivel so it can flip around to the other side when it is out of your mouth. However when it is in you mouth it does take some of the strain out of it too. Darn double edged swords. I think it retails for 400 but I have seen them down to 350 in places. Also if you aren't going ot go too deep the sherwoods are nice regulators in my opinion. I have herad they dont' perform as well when you get really deep.

 

[Chris Sawallich]

I have the Aeris Atmos Pro and it has been great. The only thing I haven't liked about it is the way the regulator connects to the first stage. It has a swivel so it can flip around to the other side when it is out of your mouth. However when it is in you mouth it does take some of the strain out of it too. Darn double edged swords. I think it retails for 400 but I have seen them down to 350 in places. Also if you aren't going ot go too deep the sherwoods are nice regulators in my opinion. I have herad they dont' perform as well when you get really deep.

I Dive a SP X650 MK25 and absolutly love it, Bought off of the internet.. I know shame on me, but couldnt pass up the deal. No warranty, but what do they warranty anyway?..Parts only... a 20 dollar kit definately wont break me. But on the subject of AERIS. I have never dove an AERIS rig, but would reccomend AERIS to anybody. Just recently had a problem with my DC not linking to my Personal Computer. I called Jonathan at AERIS and have never received any better service, even from my LDS. I was extremly happy with the way the whole situation was handled (Ended up with a new DC and didnt have to pay anything, not even overnight shipping) So if they take care of their Reg customers the same way, My next rig will be an Aeris..

 

[ChrisA]

I do like that idea, but I really don't like any of the Local dive shops that I have visited in my area. That why I go to the internet.

The regulator will need service every year and sometimes service more frequently. So findout what your local shops can service and buy a brand they you can find local service for.

Buy over the Internet if you want but think abut how it will be serviced. You don't want to have to box it up and ship it out to some place where yu don't know the guy who is going to work on it. Also on a low end reg anual service can add up in a few years to more then the cost of the reg. If the local shop will offer disconted service if you buuy from them count that as part of the price. Just add up your cost over the first four or five years. "my" shop offers free service. I brought in the BCD and regs and there was no charge.