Do most LDS sell ScubaPro Equipment @ MSRP?

[Phat_HC]

I suspect that is a bunch of crap. How about linking us to those reports of diver casualties due to failure to maintain gear IAW manufacturer recommendations.

I personally find the Manufacturer recommended service interval to be extremely safe-sided (profit-sided) for divers who take good care of their equipment. BUT, if you do intend to follow the mfgr service recommendations, it does make sense to pay a bit more (even quite a bit more) to obtain free parts.

Well everyone is entitled to their opinion but again I can only speak from my own experience. In just one example from last summer I had a diver free flow at about 100 feet in the Great Lakes in 40 degree water. I helped them back to the line and up luckily making it to the surface right as the last of their air ran out. When I checked the divers IP on the reg at the surface it was well outside of spec. I asked when the reg was serviced it had been two and half years. As lubricants are wore away and certain parts wear it changes how the reg functions.

Again everyone is entitled to their opinion but our sport takes place in an unforgiving environment and the more challenging the dive the tighter the window gets. I encourage people use common sense and make sure that they safe guard themselves by keeping their gear in good working order. Oh and if you haven't been trained to service your own specific model of gear don't. 80 feet down isn't where you want to realize you made a mistake.

 

[redacted]

Well everyone is entitled to their opinion but again I can only speak from my own experience. In just one example from last summer I had a diver free flow at about 100 feet on the great lakes in 40 degree water. I helped them back to the line and up luckily making it to the surface right as the last of their air ran out. When I checked the divers IP on the reg at the surface it was well outside of spec. I asked when the reg was serviced it had been two and half years. As lubricants are wore away and certain parts wear it changes how the reg functions.

Again everyone is entitled to their opinion but our sport takes place in an unforgiving environment and the more challenging the dive the tighter the window gets. I encourage people use common sense and make sure that they safe guard themselves by keeping their gear in good working order. Oh and if you haven't been trained to service your own specific model of gear don't. 80 feet down isn't where you want to realize you made a mistake.

Yes, at 2.5 years, rather than 1 year, that regulator sounds like it was ready to be serviced. Diver who opt to extend the manufacturer's recommended service interval do need to learn how to inspect their own equipment. This does mean they need to put about $25 into a suitable IP gauge. HP seat problems and incipeint IP problems are readily detected with this gauge.

In the dive fatality reports I have seen, I don't ever recall seeing a fatality attributed to a failure to service a regulator. While I'm sure there must be some somewhere, regulators that are starting to show problems due to lack of service tend to fail rather gracefully. That is, they tend to leak (gas or water) slowly at first giving plenty of warning of an impending problem well before it can lead to a catastrophe. Of course, if you don't heed the warnings, problems can escalate.

As far as leaving your service to that trained professional, the guy who is working in your local automobile oil change facility may well have more training that your regulator tech. Not that this is necessarily all bad; it clearly indicates how easy regulator service is for anyone with good mechanical abilities. And when you do make a mistake other than over or under tightening a connection, the reg will let you know during your final inspection or 1st shallow test dive. But if you would not dream of doing a brake job on your car, it would probably be best to leave reg service to a trusted tech.

 

[Phat_HC]

Again I can only speak from my own personal experiance but all of the service people I work with at my LDS attend at least one if not two service clinics a year to stay current.

I strongly disagree with the DIY "Junkyard Diver" with no formal training tinkering with their stuff.

 

[psychocabbage]

Working on my brakes then driving my car is going to be a higher risk item than taking my reg apart and going diving..

I have enough confidence to not only do my brakes but also about 90% of the work on my car.. From the oil pan up and all the way back. A regulator is by far a simple device.

I am an IT Consultant by profession, an accomplished custom computer builder by hobby and a BMX bicycle racer/mechanic.. so I dont think that the "junkyard diver" is the proper term here.

Some of us are smart enough to do the job and dont feel the need to pay people yearly to do so.

 

[redacted]

I strongly disagree with the DIY "Junkyard Diver" with no formal training tinkering with their stuff.

And that is exactly what I would expect from someone who wants to put my $$$ in their pocket in exchange for what is often unnecessary, and occasionally incompetent, service. I did not get into DIY until I had a number of bad experiences with Scubapro LDS techs.

What, exactly, would that 8 hours of formal training by some local rep teach me that I can't learn from numerous other sources including the network of DIYer on this and other boards?

BTW, phycocabbage, the "junkyard diver" phrase came from my profile so I take no offense. I dive a number of regulators that are older than some shop techs who might attempt to work on them. A number of them I got at very low prices because they were in such bad condition. Much to my surprise, I have not found one yet that I was unable to restore and dive.

 

[diver 85]

I wont buy scubapro regs from leisurepro simply because they dont stock or even offer DIN unless I want to buy the kit for an additional $50. So I turned to ebay and figured out how to service things myself but when you own a dozen regs it starts to be more cost effective that way any how.

you have any you want to sell??.....seriously....

A person can have too many.......