Do it all regulator???

[kschache]

Hello everyone... I'm looking for a regulator that will do it all in a number of environments. First of all, I live on Lake Michigan, where at least 50% of my diving is (cold deep dives). The other diving will be in Carribean locales. I would also like to do some EANx diving (which I think means buying even a third reg - I already own an old Oceanic Unbalanced Piston circa 1994) Given that information, is there a good reg for me...

- Cold water (possibly switching to dry suit next year)
- Deep dives ~ 100ft.
- Some vacation diving in warm salt water

Any recommendations on a reg???

Also, could I convert my old Oceanic Unbalanced Piston to Nitrox since it is not really for deep diving anyway?

 

[Scubaroo]

They're a favorite on this board - but take a look at the Apeks (www.apeks.co.uk) line of regulators. ANY regulator for cold water will function perfectly fine in warm water - many cold water regs are the same basic design as the warm water regs from the same company, with a heat exchanger or other cold water features added. Apeks regs are also good for up to EAN40 out of the box. I have a TX40/50 I really like, but owners swear by the new ATX200 for easy breathing beyond 100'.

 

[JDostal]

I do a lot of cold, deep diving as well and find that the Poseidon Jetstream/Odin is one of the best for this. I no longer trust ScubaPro regs, but the Jetstream has never failed me and delivers air like you wouldn't believe. My friends also use it for Nitrox (I'm still waiting to do my certification on that....) and I'm not sure if they had to have them cleaned for O2 yet or not but I don't think that they did.

And while many other regulators have this feature also, I like how the Poseidon first stage comes as a DIN w/ a Yoke adapter, allowing me to use any tank I encounter.

 

[DiveTub]

Is the best cold Reg on the market, not a cheap piece of kit but you will find it magic at depth and in the cold. They come Nitrox cleaned with Vitron ORings.
I was lake ice diving with mine in New Zeland last year. The First stage had a thick coating of ice on it after the dive, and there was no change in its performance.

Cheers
Chris
PADI MSDT
http://homepage.mac.com/sydney_diver

 

[SDAnderson]

I live and dive in Chicago year-round and several times each year I trade bathtub diving for bathwater diving in some salty warm-water location. I also dive high O2 mixes with some regularity. After 30 years, all I want from you is money...

Relax - you don't need 42 sets of regulators. One will do nicely, at least until/if you ever start diving doubles & stage bottles. Many of the high end regulators will handle the temperature extremes and O2 content up to 40% that you're looking at without difficulty.

Steer clear of the budget lines - you need flexibility and that means quality. Steer clear of the cheapest and the most expensive in almost any line. Forget the Air2 type gizmos - they only seem like a good idea. Titanium is not worth the money and high O2 exposure may cause it to burn. Happiness lies somewhere in the middle of a high quality line, to paraphrase Buddha.

I dive Apeks (DS4/TX50 & TX100) and ScubaPro (MK20-25/G250) regularly (as well as a couple that I won't recommend) and can tell you from experience that they can take a beating and handle the extremes you will subject them to. There are others out there as well - Oceanic, Mares & Genesis all make some good ones, but I don't have personal experience with them.

Steven

 

[Scubamedicjoe]

personally thew new apeks atx 200 would do you right all the time in all the envirments

 

[buff]

I dive with either my Apeks TX50 DST or Poseidon Odin. The Odin is "different" kind of reg. but I trust it more in very cold/ice water.

The Odin also breathes like a dream at depth. The Apeks is certainly easier for a dive shop begginer to repair-and it's probably got better parts distribution worldwide. TX50 breathes well and is very reliable in all cicumstances. You can get the TX50 with a DS4 first stage from www.DiveInn.com. I think it's your best choice for the money. The Odin tends to cost more.

But nothing breathes in cold, deep water like the Odin.

 

[NINman]

Here is another vote for the Jetstream reg set. Same reasons as others have stated.

 

[deepocean]

One vote more for the Apeks. I have 4 of them.

Xerxes

 

[Ranz]

Apeks has my vote also

Ranz