First Reg Set, Planning for the future

[Stand_Tall]

Hello all! Looking into getting into Scuba, and was set enough to start looking around to start budgeting for gear too, I think buy once cry once is the motto right? Anyhow, being in Canada and being one who enjoys the cold, I was looking into the threads on cold water regulators, and it seems the consensus is the Apeks MCX-R or Poseidon Xstream. are there any other thoughts on nice reliable regulators that would be reliable? if I happen to choose to go diving during the winter months? I haven't seen much about the Atomic M1. Reading on the Xstream does make me wonder how adjusting to such a different regulator may be too for a new diver. Thank you all for your input!

 

[Mobulai]

Reading on the Xstream does make me wonder how adjusting to such a different regulator may be too for a new diver.

I only tried a Jetstrem not the Xstream, and out of water…
the purge on these things is mad intense, I now use it to clear out my sinuses when they are blocked
So I hear purging underwater is something you wanna develop some getting used to
That said, the xstream 1st stage is the toughest coldwater proof 1st out there
(I leave it to actual users to give more useful input)

buy once cry once is the motto right?

yea and no…
Further on in diving, you’ll develop preferences that might change your choices; I for example (not a coldwater diver) dive mainly in sidemount so my preference is having a swivel turret on my 1st: I ended up with Scubapro mk19/g260s to “future proof” when I delve into coldwater diving as well

The Xstream (like the jetstream) 2nd is an upstream servo operated valve unlike most other 2nds; so some people avoid that for “safety”/DIR reasons (I know that the GUE crowd frown upon it)
Some prefer adjustment knobs to detune the 2nd stage (for coldwater freeflow avoidance for eg)
Try and visualize what sorts of diving you might seek in the future if you wanna have things future proof

Atomic M1

Great piston reg with siwvel turret, and sealable for coldwater with cristolube; but that’s also a preference (cost of packing it every service)

Have you looked at this resource:

Info Thread 'How to Choose a Regulator'

Mar 4, 2022

How to Choose a Regulator​

(an overview of features and their value)

One of the first pieces of equipment that every diver will acquire is a set of Regulators. This is one of the most critical pieces of your gear as it enables you to breathe underwater and are considered to be life safety equipment. A challenge for many divers is there are a huge variety of options to choose from. Beyond taking the advice of your dive shop’s sales staff, how do you make an informed decision? Cost is one factor, but is expensive always better? How cheap is too cheap? What...

• davehicks
• Replies: 109
• Forum: ScubaBoard Articles

• 
• 

Might help with pinning down features you want in a reg

Edit: just noticed that you said looking into starting with scuba
I’d say first try some regs during your intro classes and see from there
Getting some hands on experience changes a lot of preconceptions (and preferences)

 

[Cdncoldwater]

You can’t go wrong with Apeks. I would also recommend Dive Rite as they have cold water regs as well. If you don’t want to upgrade later then look at a set with a swivel on the 1st as you may want that feature in the future. I dive a Apek DS 4 in back mount (parts for life to service) and the Dive Rite XT set in side mount, cheaper initially but I pay for service part kits. I was a certified technician on Apeks/Aqua Lung, Sherwood, ScubaPro and Dive Rite. They are all good brands, no experience with Poseidon though but they are also well respected. Also recommend you buy what can be serviced locally, better than shipping them every time.

 

[Stand_Tall]

I only tried a Jetstrem not the Xstream, and out of water…
the purge on these things is mad intense, I now use it to clear out my sinuses when they are blocked
So I hear purging underwater is something you wanna develop some getting used to
That said, the xstream 1st stage is the toughest coldwater proof 1st out there
(I leave it to actual users to give more useful input)


yea and no…
Further on in diving, you’ll develop preferences that might change your choices; I for example (not a coldwater diver) dive mainly in sidemount so my preference is having a swivel turret on my 1st: I ended up with Scubapro mk19/g260s to “future proof” when I delve into coldwater diving as well

The Xstream (like the jetstream) 2nd is an upstream servo operated valve unlike most other 2nds; so some people avoid that for “safety”/DIR reasons (I know that the GUE crowd frown upon it)
Some prefer adjustment knobs to detune the 2nd stage (for coldwater freeflow avoidance for eg)
Try and visualize what sorts of diving you might seek in the future if you wanna have things future proof


Great piston reg with siwvel turret, and sealable for coldwater with cristolube; but that’s also a preference (cost of packing it every service)

Have you looked at this resource:

Info Thread 'How to Choose a Regulator'

Mar 4, 2022

How to Choose a Regulator​

(an overview of features and their value)

One of the first pieces of equipment that every diver will acquire is a set of Regulators. This is one of the most critical pieces of your gear as it enables you to breathe underwater and are considered to be life safety equipment. A challenge for many divers is there are a huge variety of options to choose from. Beyond taking the advice of your dive shop’s sales staff, how do you make an informed decision? Cost is one factor, but is expensive always better? How cheap is too cheap? What...

• davehicks
• Replies: 109
• Forum: ScubaBoard Articles

• 
• 

Might help with pinning down features you want in a reg

Edit: just noticed that you said looking into starting with scuba
I’d say first try some regs during your intro classes and see from there
Getting some hands on experience changes a lot of preconceptions (and preferences)

I will definitely look into it much more once I do finish my open water course, I just wanted to get a vague idea of opinions and perhaps more suggestions to put onto my list of regulators to look into once I had finished OW, to help budget for afterwords. Thank you for the input!