I'm planning to buy a Tusa Duo Air IR3 in the next week or so. Anyone have any negitive experiances with these? I've heard very positve things, but just want a few final thoughts.
Duo Air?
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It is a third generation Scubapro Air 2.
Scubapro, like most other manufacturers out sources production of their regulators. It makes very good sense as a company can access state of the art production facilties that they would otherwise not be able to economically afford or efficiently utilize.
In Scubapro's case they send their designs to Tabata who then produces them under contract. As part of the manufacturing agreement, once Scubapro's exclusive rights expire, Tabata then produces a mechanically identical but slightly cosmetically altered version that they then sell through TUSA (Tabata USA).
SP and Tabata have a long history of doing business with each other going back to the Mk 5 (TUSA sold their own version when SP started marketing the Mk 10). Tabata did the same thing with the Mk 16, marketing a licenced copy while the Mk 16 was still in producton and has done the same thing with the Air 2 / TUSA IR3.
The Air 2 and IR3 have 100% parts interchangeability and I have serviced mine for years with Scubapro Air 2 annual service kits - which is no big surprise as the parts come from the same production facility.
In essence the Air 2 and IR3 are identical except for the case cosmetics and the shape and color of the buttons.
Scubapro, like most other manufacturers out sources production of their regulators. It makes very good sense as a company can access state of the art production facilties that they would otherwise not be able to economically afford or efficiently utilize.
In Scubapro's case they send their designs to Tabata who then produces them under contract. As part of the manufacturing agreement, once Scubapro's exclusive rights expire, Tabata then produces a mechanically identical but slightly cosmetically altered version that they then sell through TUSA (Tabata USA).
SP and Tabata have a long history of doing business with each other going back to the Mk 5 (TUSA sold their own version when SP started marketing the Mk 10). Tabata did the same thing with the Mk 16, marketing a licenced copy while the Mk 16 was still in producton and has done the same thing with the Air 2 / TUSA IR3.
The Air 2 and IR3 have 100% parts interchangeability and I have serviced mine for years with Scubapro Air 2 annual service kits - which is no big surprise as the parts come from the same production facility.
In essence the Air 2 and IR3 are identical except for the case cosmetics and the shape and color of the buttons.
IMHO, the overall ergonomics for the Air2/IR3 are horrible. You'll get a much better product if you get Atomic Aquatic's SS1. It feels better, it breathes better, it has a 2 year service interval instead of 1, it costs $6 more
jim T.
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I second the vote for SS1. Good as their Z2 breathing ease wise, and the ergonomics are the most natural I've tried. Now that I know more, I'd prefer an Octo 2nd for ease of inflation/deflation while using the 2nd, but I think it's the best inflator/octo combo out there.
I always wondered who designed the "standard" inflator which I personally think is
not very ergonomic. Now that I'm learning doubles I'm using one, but wonder why no deep divers/tech divers use an octo inflator WITH/in addition to a regular octo reg.
It would give a diver a 3rd reg in the astronomically small instance that a primary and octo didn't work and your buddy wasn't attentive or near by like they should be.
Is there some reason that more "in line" buttoned inflators like the SS1 design aren't manufactured for tech?
I always wondered who designed the "standard" inflator which I personally think is
not very ergonomic. Now that I'm learning doubles I'm using one, but wonder why no deep divers/tech divers use an octo inflator WITH/in addition to a regular octo reg.
It would give a diver a 3rd reg in the astronomically small instance that a primary and octo didn't work and your buddy wasn't attentive or near by like they should be.
Is there some reason that more "in line" buttoned inflators like the SS1 design aren't manufactured for tech?
Conceptualy, regardless of brand or model I don't get it.
http://www.scubaboard.com/showpost.php?p=1169848&postcount=3
Pete
http://www.scubaboard.com/showpost.php?p=1169848&postcount=3
Pete
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DA Aquamaster:
What is the difference between 3rd and 4th generation?
As I recall, even service manual is also shared between those generations.
rakkis:
So, SP introduced the new design.... However, who care about a design? It is an Octo. It should be barely or never used for a safe diving.
The reasons I brought the design up:
- Purging does not require putting your finger inside a hole. The SS1's purge is like a normal/whole-face purge
- The SS1 inflator/deflator buttons require very little force to activate and have a much faster flow rate should you need to inflate/deflate in a hurry.
- The 2 year service interval alone makes up for the tiny diference in price
- It just feels better in your hand. It's curvy like a woman I like feeling comfortable in my gear and the SS1 actually feels like it was made for your hands to hold.
- Purging does not require putting your finger inside a hole. The SS1's purge is like a normal/whole-face purge
- The SS1 inflator/deflator buttons require very little force to activate and have a much faster flow rate should you need to inflate/deflate in a hurry.
- The 2 year service interval alone makes up for the tiny diference in price
- It just feels better in your hand. It's curvy like a woman
I like feeling comfortable in my gear and the SS1 actually feels like it was made for your hands to hold.
Pete, as always, has made excellent points in the thread he referenced.
To be a bit more blunt, the deficiencies of these gizmos far outweigh their limited benefits.
It is unlikely you would ever see any technical or advanced diver using one of these things. There's a reason for that. 900 times out of a thouand you could carry this type of alternative air source without any problem.
Of course, we carry the critical back-up gear for that other time, the time we need it.
To answer your specific question, I do not have any specific information about any incident where Tusa Duo Air IR3 didn't work.
Jeff
To be a bit more blunt, the deficiencies of these gizmos far outweigh their limited benefits.
It is unlikely you would ever see any technical or advanced diver using one of these things. There's a reason for that. 900 times out of a thouand you could carry this type of alternative air source without any problem.
Of course, we carry the critical back-up gear for that other time, the time we need it.
To answer your specific question, I do not have any specific information about any incident where Tusa Duo Air IR3 didn't work.
Jeff
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OK... Let me answer!
rakkis:The reasons I brought the design up:
- Purging does not require putting your finger inside a hole. The SS1's purge is like a normal/whole-face purge
Almost 99.99% never requires pushing a purging button in UW except a pre-dive check.
- The SS1 inflator/deflator buttons require very little force to activate and have a much faster flow rate should you need to inflate/deflate in a hurry.
C'mon... Finger wresting helps your strength. Once you lost a buoyancy, it doesn't matter how fast you deflate air, especially for a newbie.
- The 2 year service interval alone makes up for the tiny diference in price
It is up to diver's decision. If we give a free part, we can have three year service interval...
- It just feels better in your hand. It's curvy like a woman
LOL~~~ You Won!! I should change mine soon,
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