how about a little input here...

[silverfish]

Oxyhacker, most of us, men and women alike are "drawn" to what works for us. If you happen to have a small mouth, a small second stage is more comfortable. I dove with a Sherwood Oasis for the first six months I dove and it is a fine piece of equipment.
The size would become bothersome after time and I would feel the desire to use my hand to hold it in and relieve some of the pull. And that was with a Seacure mouthpiece.
I now use a Valor,(which by the way Barb) is made by Genisis and am finding it much more comfortable. It makes a big difference if you are planning on doing multiple dives in a short period of time. When I was using the larger second stage, by the end of the second day my mouth would really be tired and often sore.
I cannot comment on how the Valor performs in cool waters as I don't plan on diving in any. There is an adjustment on the second,min and max. I haven't touched mine yet, it is set on min. So far so good. It is a mid priced reg and I am sure your lds can advise you on the durability for your conditions. Plus you can probably count on Oxyhacker to offer up some further words of wisdom.ut:

 

[barb]

I'm with you Silverfish on the smaller mouth piece on a reg.
However, Oxyhacker makes a good point about size of 2nd stage = potential problems (compromised, finnicky reg.).
I'm now, thanks to all the great comments on this thread and others, considering the Apeks with a custom mouth piece. I want comfort but not at the expense of confidence and safety in my reg..
I'll still check out the Genesis Valor if I can find a site or LDS that carries it.
Enjoy your new equipment, oh, yes, by the way I hope it's "pretty"!

 

[Stone]

Silverfish,

Originally posted by silverfish
I have only used my new Valor twice now. I find that it breaths wet.

Does your Valor continue to breath wet?

My wife and I have 100+ dives each on Valor regs without any wet breathing.

 

[oxyhacker]

Sorry about that - I didn't mean to imply that you were one of the "color" buyers, or a new diver, nor does saying that some women mean all women and especially any particular one. But since I'd already mentioned the hot pink woman it seemed appropriate to expand the point, beyond your individual case. And it is very common for buyers -- and once again I'm not saying you! - to be mislead by relative inconsequencials like color or appearance. Often the LDS is bears much of the responsibility, since the smaller/prettier regs are often more expesnive, so the LDS goes for the sale rather than taking time to make the buyer aware of the tradeoffs.

That guys don't have this trouble as much is due not to them having better priorities or understanding, but because their idea of pretty is usually big and black, and, coincidentlly, most big, black regs work pretty well.

Originally posted by barb

Originally posted by oxyhacker
women - new divers especially - to be drawn to small or pretty regulators
I could be offended but I'm not.
The Zeta was actually black - not a very pretty colour.
The reason I'm drawn to a small 2nd stage is comfort in my mouth and in the 1st stage it's weight related. I found less drag and tugging on my mouth with the Zeta 2nd stage than the Zeagle. I attributed this to the size - maybe it was just a better fitting mouth piece - I don't know - I'm not sure.
Oxyhacker, I really appreciate your input, thanks for taking the time even though you assumed women would be drawn to small, pretty regulators!!!

 

[WreckWriter]

I had an original Omega (not the II). I was very happy with it, breathed nice deep or shallow. I loaned it to a friend once and he complained of wet breathing but I never noticed it as wet. Oceanic generally makes decent stuff and the Omega design is time tested.

Tom

 

[Stone]

Oxyhacker,

Originally posted by oxyhacker
There's a certain optimum size for a regulator. Try to make it too much smaller, and it doesn't work as well. Either that or you have to do wierd stuff to it to try to make it perform, that makes it either act oddly (as with the Omega/Zeta) or be finicky to service (as with the Micras) or just plain bad ( the Triton).

A little off topic, but:

Can I assume the Valor and the Micra are the same regulator? And if so, do you find the Micra/Valor "finicky" to service even when using the specialty "preset" and in-line adjustment tools?

 

[barb]

Hey Oxyhacker:
I like your information "a mans idea of pretty is usually big and black". I'll keep this in mind next time I'm dressing up or looking to impress my husband!!!
Seriously though, I understand where your coming from I think and I really did'nt take it personally - I was just teasing you!
I really appreciate the info. your giving me. If I could go back in time, I would rent gear for a year and do more research before buying.
I agree with you that in a perfect world the LDS would educate the buyer rather than going for the buck. However, we live in a capatalist society and it really is a buyer beware market.
I was ignorant when I bought and Lady Luck was not with me - I made a poor choice. I don't think the LDS meant to lead me astray - I think they really felt that the product was good and a good fit for me.
Anyway, thanks for your time and suggestions Oxyhacker

 

[CapeFearDiveGal]

Hi,

I've got an original omega, and I've been very happy with it over the 9 or so years I've had it. I'm currently looking at an Apeks set up for cave/tech diving, but I'm still keeping my omega. It does tend to breath a tad wet sometimes, but you just tilt your head to the right and exhale. The water goes right out the exhaust. I've never had a problem with it in all the years I've had it. Also, mine must be tuned pretty good, as I never sense that air is being forced out the reg upon breathing. Mine breathes very naturally. Oh, BTW...lol...I'm a woman, but I didn't seek out this reg. I bought it from another woman who bought it, then didn't like it. FYI...My gear is all black, with a tad of blue thrown in for color.

-christen

 

[barb]

Maybe we need to poll and find out what colour of gear women/men would prefer?
Personally, I chose a forest green/black.
In rethinking I would now chose yellow/black for vis. or if I was being totally vaine I would chose red/black/yellow (someone told me sharks are attracted to red - probably a joke but hey why take a chance)

 

[deepocean]

Hi Barb

"(someone told me sharks are attracted to red - probably a joke but hey why take a chance)"

Damn some of my stuff are RED !:upset: (wetsuit has some red stripes) WHAT NOW? WHAT TO DO ? I am doomed! On the other hand i am lucky cause we dont have any sharks here... he he
Oef ..

Barb i agree with you that many lady divers are likely to buy coloured dive equip. Actually i think it is also partially the responsibilitie of the better reg makers to produce their stuff with a little bit variety in colours when producing stuff for rec divers. Although in this there is again a potiental danger! On the other hand too much colour is nt also everything and looking like a christmass tree is even less


Xerxes