Din vs Yoke

[boulderjohn]

While it is true about the 300 bar valves, it is a non-issue with rental tanks in the areas where the OP is diving. I have never seen a dive operator with only 300 bar DIN valves on tanks in areas where tourists arrive with yoke valves. In fact, in all the places I have rented tanks with DIN valves on single tanks, I have yet to see a 300 bar valve. I don't even see that many on double tanks. Maybe it is common in other parts of the world, but not where the OP is planning to dive.

 

[kelemvor]

Thanks, Jcaplins! A picture is worth a thousand words.

I think then that my recommendation to the OP is unchanged. He's renting tanks in US/Caribbean. Why not save the trouble and get a yoke reg. If he later buys din tanks, he can get the reg converted at an LDS.

 

[boulderjohn]

If the OP will check my profile and see the list of places I have dived, then he will have a list of places where yoke valves will not be a problem. If he stays in that limited neck of the woods, he should be OK.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Shops on the NC coast have plenty of DIN tanks available, as many of their divers do tech dives, and those who don't are still serious-minded enough to see the superior engineering in DIN. But from what I have seen in the popular Caribbean destinations, the vast majority of tanks are yoke. You have to ask specifically for DIN if you need one, and they don't always have them on hand. A yoke-to-DIN adapter for your DIN regs is easy enough to use, but don't forget it and leave it at home. I have DIN regs, but most of my diving is in the Caribbean, and I have had to either use my adapter or do some asking in order to be accommodated.

 

[kwinter]

Just buy a DIN reg and a yoke adapter. Travel with a small set of Allen wrenches to remove donuts if you are renting tanks with convertible valves. Problem solved. You can use any tank, anywhere on the world. You won't have nearly as many leaks and problems because of the captured o-ring. I promise, you will never regret the decision.


Please pardon any typos. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[halocline]

Do NOT buy a DIN reg if your primary intent is to use it with yoke tanks and an adapter. The adapter puts the reg at least an inch closer to the back of your head AND the adapters add a failure point. It makes no sense whatsoever to buy a DIN reg if you normally use yoke tanks.

To the OP, if you do a search you will see that this topic, like many on scubaboard, has in fact been beaten to death. There's nothing wrong with yoke valves, every single day many many thousands of dives are done all over the world using yoke tanks and have been for decades.

DIN has its advantages, particularly for technical diving, but using an adapter removes every one of those advantages.

 

[dfx]

I think the back of the din valve has to have a notch where the regulator screws down on. Without it, it seems the reg might slip up.

Yes, that. Plus the size of the valve itself. Too big of a valve and the yoke won't fit over. That, plus the number of threads (related to pressure rating). You'll only find all of these requirements in valves that are specifically designed to be convertible. Get to a native DIN ("DIN only") valve, and you're out of luck.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Do NOT buy a DIN reg if your primary intent is to use it with yoke tanks and an adapter. The adapter puts the reg at least an inch closer to the back of your head AND the adapters add a failure point. It makes no sense whatsoever to buy a DIN reg if you normally use yoke tanks.

To the OP, if you do a search you will see that this topic, like many on scubaboard, has in fact been beaten to death. There's nothing wrong with yoke valves, every single day many many thousands of dives are done all over the world using yoke tanks and have been for decades.

DIN has its advantages, particularly for technical diving, but using an adapter removes every one of those advantages.

As one who bought DIN regs yet do most of my diving in the Caribbean, I completely agree. If I forget to bring the yoke adapter, the Allen wrenches, or whatever, I am at the mercy of the dive op. Sure, the dive op probably has a yoke adapter somewhere that they can dig out for me, but who wants to have to wait around while the busy employee tries to find a minute to go searching during the typical morning mayhem preceding the boat departing? The employee is probably shaking his head at this diver who does most of his diving at Caribbean resorts where yoke reigns supreme insisting on using DIN regs. There I am waiting around while everyone else is already gearing up on the boat, and I feel stupid for having left my yoke adapter in my hotel room.

I should add that despite this issue, I am not deterred. DIN is simply a better system, and more and more dive ops are seeing the light. DIN tanks are now widely available in the FL Keys, for example, even though just a few years ago it was only tech divers who used them.

 

[claymore]

I have mostly DIN regs, all my 8 tanks have PRO convertible valves, but I also have a couple of YOKE regs that I use if I am going to be renting tanks.
I prefer DIN but if I had one reg set it would be YOKE.

Another option would be to get the DIN conversion kit when you buy your regs then at some later date if you need DIN you can change the 1st stage to DIN, should not cost much more than a DIN to YOKE adapter

 

[scubafanatic]

Oxygen Compatible O-Rings, Lubricant and Tools - Dive Gear Express

[h=3]Polyurethane O-rings for SCUBA[/h]This milky white O-ring, sometimes called a 10,000 psi O-ring, is made of Polyurethane. Our experience with this o-ring is that it is nearly indestructible. If it's leaking, it probably just needs to be cleaned. Like Viton, it's suitable for Oxygen service. Polyurethane is very abrasion-resistant, but it is sensitive to UV light. You should not store spare Polyurethane O-rings where they are exposed to sunlight for an extended period of time. The 112 size O-rings work great in DIN regulators and the face of our Pro DIN/K valve Yoke adapters. We also offer the 014 size O-rings for standard Yoke only K-valves. Polyurethane costs a bit more but is well worth the price as the only reason we find we have to replace one is when it falls out and we lose it.

For better quantity pricing though : oringsUSA