Hamai Valves (Japanese Company)

[Vegan Shark]

Wondering if anyone knows anything about valves made by Hamai? Googling doesn't turn up much, but it seems that Thermo, who makes a lot of the valves in the US, is owned by Hamai? So are all the valves actually made in Japan by Hamai, and the Thermo name just gets slapped on when exported to the US?

Only non-Aqualung isolator manifold I've found for sale here is made by Hamai, but since I've never heard of them just want to make sure it's a trustworthy product.

 

[lowviz]

Be careful.

The latest Thermo manifold that I got from my LDS was laser marked "Air Only".

Thomas register shows a California company with 1-9 employees. Homepage says company founded in 1965 sold to Hamai in 1988.

 

[Vegan Shark]

Sadly there's not much way around that; it wasn't so long ago that Nitrox wasn't legal here except for commercial divers, and it's been slow in gaining popularity like in the US and elsewhere. No shops will give a Nitrox fill unless the equipment has all been Oxygen cleaned, and as soon as you get an air fill it's void....Not to mention Nitrox fills are hard to come by, and pretty expensive. So I'm stuck with air anyway.

HP tanks are also illegal here. 200 BAR (2800psi) fills are the maximum allowed by government regulation Pretty sure that mixed gasses are still prohibited unless you're a commercial diver, as well. Bah humbug.

 

[lowviz]

Sorry to hear.

Refused the Thermo for a Dive Rite, presently filled to 3600psi (EAN 32) awaiting favorable tides. Market pressure. Me doing my job...

 

[Leadking]

Hamai also used the name Thermo. They sold the scuba line of valves to XS Scuba and are now made in Taiwan, last I heard.