Help me pick a regulator set for my 11 year old son, please

[Scared Silly]

A sidebar for the youngster, when I was his age and wanted to buy something, usually camping gear and did not quite have the funds for I would ask my parents if I paid half could they pay the other half? It usually worked as that meant I had to earn the money and was spending my money not just theirs.

Regarding gear, used updated gear, that is serviced should not scare you away. The majority of my regs are all used that I have rebuilt.

My only suggestion would be feel to post up or send PM to some of the more knowledgable folks on the board before buying so you know what you are or more importantly are not getting. @buddhasummer @rsingler and others are all good sources. I am an Atomic Aquatics user and work on their regs (shameless plug I just posted up two complete sets and have some 7' hoses).

Regarding 7' hoses. My preferences for open water is a 5' hose. Easily goes around my body no need to tuck it in or under. So much more manageable.

 

[lowwall]

I would recommend the 7ft long hose if going long hose. Might as well get used to it from the start. It gets tucked in the waist strap or you can get him a mock light stick.

7' is not needed for OW. I certainly understand cave divers using the same configuration for their OW dives, but an 11-year-old is a long way from the caves.

I do think a necklaced octo is superior, which leaves you with a couple of options for the primary. The 4' under the arm and straight up works well, as does the 5' around the back of the neck. It just depends on whether you prefer to deal with an swivel (or elbow fitting) on the hose or the neck wrap.

 

[stuartv]

I have used, love, and recommend the Atomic Z2 regs for single tank. I think they are about the best value on the market among top quality, name brand, mainstream regulators for single tank use.

I use 7' hoses on my back mount doubles regs, my side mount regs, and my CCR bail out reg.

I do not use nor recommend a "long hose" on a single tank reg set. There is just no particularly good reason to have it and it just (slightly) complicates diving in single tank.

I have watched too many tech students struggle just trying to remember the correct way to make the loop that goes around their neck. Too many long hoses that have "escaped" from being tucked behind a waist belt or looped under something on the belt and are just floating up around the diver.

Thus, I would suggest a 22 - 24" hose for his primary and a 36 - 40" hose for his secondary. But that's just me.

 

[lowwall]

Thus, I would suggest a 22 - 24" hose for his primary and a 36 - 40" hose for his secondary. But that's just me.

I left the stock hoses on my son's regset. If and when he wants to go to a necklaced octo, I'll swap it out for him. Stock matched what was in his training materials and also what he gets when we rent. We aren't taking full diving vacations yet and I don't take two full sets of gear for just a day or two of dives.

 

[rsingler]

He's a kid. He'd prefer new gear, not that he'd tell you. Have him buy a DGX First 1st stage and a pair of D6 2nds, with whatever hoses you like. An unbalanced Mk2 clone, it's indestructible and completely adequate for recreational diving with the balanced seconds.
Price is incredible, value is superb, and when he's ready to move up, you won't have invested so much that the $$ gets scary.
Plus, you now have a stage reg when he goes tech.

 

[lowwall]

He's a kid. He'd prefer new gear, not that he'd tell you. Have him buy a DGX First 1st stage and a pair of D6 2nds, with whatever hoses you like. An unbalanced Mk2 clone, it's indestructible and completely adequate for recreational diving with the balanced seconds.
Price is incredible, value is superb, and when he's ready to move up, you won't have invested so much that the $$ get scary.
Plus, you now have a stage reg when he goes tech.

The OP wants to put a transmitter on the first stage, so the DGX First won't work (only 1 HP port).

The DGX D6 packages at $449 are about the same price as building your own set with a DGX First and the same second stages plus you get an SPG thrown in. And you get a first stage that can handle everything.

DGX Gears D6 Regulator

These DGX Custom regulator packages are fully assembled and integrated by Dive Gear Express using our DGX Gears D6 first and second stage regulators together with our premium quality hoses, gauges, adapters, stainless steel hardware and other regulator accessories.

www.divegearexpress.com

 

[rsingler]

If you prefer a sealed regulator for less maintenance concerns for a child who may not be as religious about post dive rinsing, you can do just as well for $100 more than the First.
The Deep6 Excursion is $100 more, and is a sealed diaphragm (no turret). Their Excursion second stages are identical to the D6 above.
Once more, an incredible value and no compromise on performance.
New regs for$350 + hoses!!

Ah, I see @lowwall has a third option! Another good one.
We'll agree to disagree on the second HP Port. I only use one. Transmitter alone, or transmitter on a hose clipped to the traditional D-ring with a HP splitter and a button gauge.

 

[stuartv]

The OP wants to put a transmitter on the first stage, so the DGX First won't work (only 1 HP port).

All my transmitters only take one HP port....

 

[rsingler]

Oh, oh! Here goes the thread diversion, lol!

 

[Rob9876]

This is the (slightly updated) reg set that my teenage son and I have been diving for the last 4.5 years -- Sea Elite is Divers Supply's in-house branding of HOG/Edge products:

Buy Sea Elite Covert ENV Value Regulator Package | Divers Supply

Sea Elite Covert Value Regulator Package

www.divers-supply.com

Or you could pay $75 more and get the HOG branded version:

Buy Hog D2 Classic 2.0 Regulator Package at Best Price | Divers Supply

Hog D1X Classic 2.0 Regulator Package

www.divers-supply.com

Divers Supply makes sending away for maintenance pretty darn easy and fast, and the parts needed during maintenance are free for their Sea Elite regs; or you could take it to one of the 2 Nashville shops listed as HOG dealers. These breathe great at depth: many dives over 100 feet, 122 feet is deepest so far.

EDIT: If you sign up for a DS account, you can usually get a good coupon that makes these an even better deal.