First Regulator/octo

[knfmn]

Hello all! I'm in the process of buying my first set of equipment (as I'm sure anyone who reads all of this board knows, based upon my 500 threads! Sorry about that!). Anyhow, I used a ScubaPro regulator on several recent dives in Mexico and really liked it. I am thinking about purchasing a ScubaPro MK25 /G250v primary and a ScubaPro R395 octopus. Most of my diving will be in Massachusetts, with a couple of warmer water trips during the year. Do these seem to be good choices? I've seen great reviews, and was very happy with the ones I used. Thanks for all the help!

Kristopher

 

[Jimmer]

I'm assuming the water in Mass gets pretty cold, in which case I would suggest the ScubaPro Mk17 rather than the Mk 25. The 17 has better cold water resistance than the 25, but still an excellent performing regulator.

Jim

 

[herman]

The 17 would be a better choice if you intend to dive cold water, otherwise either would do. If cold water is not an issue, choose the less expensive of the 2. Contrary to what some would have you believe, 99% of the performance of a reg is determined by the second stage. There wll be no difference in breathing performance between pretty much any first stage when it is coupled with a good second stage.

 

[BoltSnap]

The 17 would be a better choice if you intend to dive cold water, otherwise either would do. If cold water is not an issue, choose the less expensive of the 2. Contrary to what some would have you believe, 99% of the performance of a reg is determined by the second stage. There wll be no difference in breathing performance between pretty much any first stage when it is coupled with a good second stage.

Would a SP S600 work with MK2 or a Brut FS as well as it does with an MK25?

 

[Jimmer]

Would a SP S600 work with MK2 or a Brut FS as well as it does with an MK25?

At recreational depths, yes, I believe it would. You're confusing gas flow with balancing. The Mk2 flows way more gas than a diver needs, but it's unbalanced.

 

[herman]

Would a SP S600 work with MK2 or a Brut FS as well as it does with an MK25?

Pretty much.
A MK-2 or Brute will keep IP within 15 psi and since the 600 is a balanced second stage the IP does not need to be held within close tolerance- that is the major reason to balance a second stage. Either first will flow more gas that 2 600s are capable of flowing so flow is not a limiting factor either. If IP and flow to the second stage is kept within reason and any modern first stage is capable of doing so, then the second stage will perform no different with one first stage or another.

I am not saying the 600s would not show some difference when pushed to the limits. A simulated very deep dive measured on a machine may show some difference but in the real world no one dives the regs to that extreme or even if they did, the differences are so small a diver would not be able to detect them.