Decision time - Atomic or Mares?

[pcheney]

elan - agreed....i'm just looking for one that works well....i've tried a few i liked, including some mid-line Scubapros, and the Atomic M1 - I did a dive with a Sherwood Brute in really cold water to 115 ft, and I had to suck so hard it was ridiculous.... I have also experienced the "air-pusher" phenomenon, and didn't like it either.... guess what I'm looking for are good, informed opinions about which of these two fine regs would be a better choice for a hacker like me....thanks, Pete of the North

 

[elan]

If you are stuck on these 2 I would go for a diaphragm one. General assumption here that diaphragm ones are better suit for the cold water. Though folks I know dive piston as well.
Also I once overhead a conversation in the shop that when you have the reg with crystolube inside you pay for this lube extra when you service it, and that's extra 20-40 bucks that was told. You might want to clarify this before you finalize the purchase as you will have to pay this if you want to keep your warranty and parts for life program.

Most likely you had Brut tuned wrong. My friend dives it all year around to different depth and more than happy with it. I breathed it as well and did not notice any prob.
Most of the regs on the market will perform nice if they are tuned properly.

I would advice you to go to www.ontariodiving.com and ask the question there. You will get very good answers from the locals who dive the lakes and cold water.

 

[300bar]

Evert:
Thanks for that. So there is a noticeable improvement in breathing effort with the Atomic compared to the Mares? Since you're a tech, what do you think of the mechanics and quality of the two?

Both are rock solid regs, The Atomic having less moving parts, is my # 1.
Other posts reffer to the cold water diving, well I am a coldwater diver
Watertemps being 5 C at the moment and winter just started.
Coldest my Ti1 has seen sofar is -1 C

Ti1 has not let me down ever.

Was there a improvement on the breathing effort. Yes there sure was and my Abyss was allway's in top shape

 

[Kunundrum]

I like a diaphragm first stage when diving cold water, I love my Legend LX Supreme and it has never let me down.

I have tried Atomics and they are great regs too. The service interval is also much longer on Atomic Vs. other Makes, however if a problem were to arise on vacation in some Caribbean destinations parts can be hard to find Vs. More common brands like Aqualung or ScubaPro.

Weight can also be an issue if you travel a lot, a smaller lighter reg that offers you all the performance of a "regular" regulator MK25 (Titanium) or Apeks Flight (Available Q1 2010) might be aslo something to consider.

Aquaquest Diving in Uxbridge Carry Atomic, Aqualung, Apeks & Scubapro. Talk to Steve or Frank the Resident Regulator Experts, and they can give you all the info you need, and it will be worth the drive out to see them.

Cheers

Kun

 

[elan]

I could never understood paying twice as much for the Ti version thing. Just through a bottle of whiskey out of the luggage and save the money

 

[M_Bipartitus]

Weight can also be an issue if you travel a lot, a smaller lighter reg that offers you all the performance of a "regular" regulator MK25 (Titanium) or Apeks Flight (Available Q1 2010) might be aslo something to consider.

I'd be careful with seeking out a lightweight reg for cold water diving. If you read some of the US Navy cold water testing reports, they cite regulators with too little metal as being potentially more prone to cold water failure. The premiss being that the lower metal content could lead to faster cooling during the breathing cycle and could get the regulator body cold enough for freezing more readily. If I remember where I read the report, I'll post a link later.

Personally, I've used Mares V42 protons for most of my dives previously, but if I were to buy new, I'd likely look into the new HOG tech regulators as the one I've tried breaths much better than my Mares (on the surface) and has the available adjustments. I'd like to try one underwater, but there aren't too many dives this time of year for me.

 

[Scott L]

I could never understood paying twice as much for the Ti version thing. Just through a bottle of whiskey out of the luggage and save the money

 

[Kunundrum]

I'd be careful with seeking out a lightweight reg for cold water diving. If you read some of the US Navy cold water testing reports, they cite regulators with too little metal as being potentially more prone to cold water failure.

The information I got is that the Apeks Flight (at least the Canadian version) will be cold water rated, and will be available in late January early Feb. It was supposed to be available in November but it did not pass Apeks Cold water testing and has been delayed.

If this reg is cold water rated as promised this would be the ultimate reg set.

Also it's funny you Mention HOG, I bought one of the 2nd stages during the thanksgiving sale and I have yet to test it, I do have to admit it looks and feel good. I'll find out in my next pool session or in Bonaire/Cayman as I will more than likely not venture below the ice this winter.

 

[tfsails]

Also I once overhead a conversation in the shop that when you have the reg with crystolube inside you pay for this lube extra when you service it, and that's extra 20-40 bucks that was told. You might want to clarify this before you finalize the purchase as you will have to pay this if you want to keep your warranty and parts for life program.

We charge $30 for the Christo-Lube we install in an environmentally sealed Atomic first stage. That stuff is EXPENSIVE! When a tube the size of a large tube of tooth paste costs upwards of $350, you have to charge for it or you won't be in business long.

For my two cents' opinion, I'd take a diaphragm first stage over a piston first stage. However, if you get 50 divers together, you have 50 opinions about regulators, so take that for what it's worth.

 

[Kunundrum]

I would advice you to go to Ontario Diving and ask the question there. You will get very good answers from the locals who dive the lakes and cold water.

Be careful on this site, it's a VERY tech based forum that may rub some people the wrong way, they are also more for the Kingston-Ottawa region. I check it from time to time but don't spend any real time on it personally