Help with my first Scuba gear

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Or it's what their instructor wore.

Because the shop they worked for sold/serviced that line. And made them wear it.

That's normal. One of the five revenue streams for dive shops is equipment sales. As long as the equipment isn't garbage (which we all agree is generally not the case), that is how it should be.

But yeah. Most gear works well.

Apeks, DiveRite, Deep 6, XDeep, Hollis .... the list goes on and on, all work quite well. It is really hard to discern the differences and you have to really look for them (and harder with personal bias). I'd say the biggest differences are in sidemount harnesses, but that's a specialty item, something that very few divers use.

 

[Jafo19D]

Stop, don't rush and buy gear. I rented for my first 46 dives and try out all kinds of gear. Try different gear at several shops. When diving with a shop you can request them to let you try one BCD vs another if that shop has several types or brands. You are fortunate enough to live in Florida where there are shops everywhere. Look online for reviews and customer experience, but remember to wipe off those complaining about color or how many D rings the BCD have. Take your time to evaluate what you really need/want and keep in mind the repair kits availability. For example all my regulators are Scubapro MK17 EVO. I can get repair kits for these, or buy the MK19 kits which are the same. You can always try and buy international (Italy, UK, Japan) and save some money now on purchase, but you will have to pay maintenance and repairs in US as warranty will not be honored.

If you were to buy now, I would recommend starting with a Scubapro MK11, C370, R195. Get a SPG used in great condition, and get a new computer that you can sell down the road before you go for the expensive one. The Mk11 First Stage Regulator is a good recreational regulator with a diaphragm first stage for use in temperate waters. Diaphragm-based first stages are environmentally sealed so that water cannot enter the inner mechanism.

Good luck in your trail,, and keep blowing bubbles.

I have the MK11 and love it but are you sure it’s sealed?

 

[Jake 10]

I have the MK11 and love it but are you sure it’s sealed?

Hi - Please feel free to correct me.
The following is a screen shot from Scubapro.com web page (link below); I too had the same observation, but it is what is written in their website. They could be referring to the C370 instead, perhaps a mistake on Scubapro site.

https://scubapro.johnsonoutdoors.com/regulators/systems/mk11c370-dive-regulator-system

OVERVIEW​

The MK11/C370 is a great choice for dive-trekkers. The balanced diaphragm MK11, with its chrome-plated brass body specially designed to reduce size and weight, is an ideal travel companion. Its system features internal parts that are sealed from the elements.

 

[Jafo19D]

Hi - Please feel free to correct me.
The following is a screen shot from Scubapro.com web page (link below); I too had the same observation, but it is what is written in their website. They could be referring to the C370 instead, perhaps a mistake on Scubapro site.

https://scubapro.johnsonoutdoors.com/regulators/systems/mk11c370-dive-regulator-system

OVERVIEW​

The MK11/C370 is a great choice for dive-trekkers. The balanced diaphragm MK11, with its chrome-plated brass body specially designed to reduce size and weight, is an ideal travel companion. Its system features internal parts that are sealed from the elements.

Well this is certainly better for me. I could have sworn when I was buying this set that it wasn’t environmentally sealed.

 

[lexvil]

MK 11 is not sealed in the sense that people mean by the term, the air side is sealed from the wet side but it has the open ambient chamber (area) where in what we call a sealed regulator the ambient area is sealed too so that no parts like sprigs are immersed in water.

 

[Jafo19D]

MK 11 is not sealed in the sense that people mean by the term, the air side is sealed from the wet side but it has the open ambient chamber (area) where in what we call a sealed regulator the ambient area is sealed too so that no parts like sprigs are immersed in water.

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[sea_ledford]

Titanium regs exist for two reasons:
1- To sell the next level down- "How would you like a reg that performs EXACTLY the same as this $1700 top of the line one for only $700? Only downside is that it is a few grams heavier. NO don't look at the $300 one, this one is just like the $1700 one! You are saving 1000 bucks!"

2- For the people that think that the most expensive = the best.

 

[BoltSnap]

2- For the people that think that the most expensive = the best.

It is the best in every aspect but isn't for everyone especially the frugal or cheapskates just like Rolls-Royce or Bentley aren't for everyone.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Titanium regs....

If I can't breathe 100% oxygen through a reg, I'm not interested.

 

[Ski_Lounge]

It is the best in every aspect but isn't for everyone especially the frugal or cheapskates just like Rolls-Royce or Bentley aren't for everyone.

What exactly about titanium makes it a better performing reg?