How many Regs do you bring on vacation ?

[JBRES1]

I ask because I am planning a trip to Cancun for spring break with the family.
I will be bringing 2 sets of gear, 1 for me and 1 for my 17 yr old daughter/ dive buddy (wife and 2 other kids have no intrest is scuba).
I have 2 more regs at home that I have set up on pony's , should I bring these a back ups ?
Thanks, Jim Breslin

 

[teknitroxdiver]

I take my primary regs, plus a first stage and 'octo' second stage as a backup. (Both the second stages on my primary setup are 'real' regulators, so I can switch in the 'octo style' and still have a real reg)

 

[TheRedHead]

I bring only as many as I intend you use. I flew to Cozumel with 6 regs between my buddy and me for deco diving with doubles and we had 3 overweight bags. Do bring a complete save-a-dive kit, but I would leave the extra regs at home.

 

[redacted]

I always carry one spare reg on the boat, ready to go. Spare regs provided by operators can be a little scary.

 

[rocketry]

Spare regs provided by operators can be a little scary.

Absolutely. If you have them, why not bring them? You'll be happy you lugged them when you have to sit the day out, due to some gear failure you cannot fix with your save-a-dive kit.

 

[TheRedHead]

We usually have 1 spare 2nd stage and 1 spg in the save-a-dive kit. It is highly unlikely that my Apeks 1st stage will crap out.

 

[keyshunter]

We usually have 1 spare 2nd stage and 1 spg in the save-a-dive kit. It is highly unlikely that my Apeks 1st stage will crap out.

Apeks makes a fine reg (one of my 5 is an Apeks), but, unfortunately, they are not immune to problems. I was on a trip when a diver had a serious freeflow (first stage) problem with his Apeks. Rather than let the local "tech" mess with it, he spent the rest of the week diving with one of the resort's Sherwood Bruts. A very wise move, in my opinion.

Personally, I carry a complete second regulator--1st, 2nd, octo, and spg. Also, tools, o-rings, tie wraps, etc.

 

[miketsp]

In addition to 1 full reg set per diver I always take an extra SPG, an extra second stage and a BC hose. I don't take a 1st stage even though I have a couple at home due to the high MTBF of 1st stages - I've never had (or seen) one fail.
In terms of usage the SPG heads the list - I found that the orings at the swivel never seem to last the yearly interval between services although this seems to be a consequence of getting a console with compass on the opposite side to the other instruments (never again). I do carry the small orings but in the case of a leak on board it's much faster and easier just to swap the whole SPG with hose.
Second stages - I once lost a faceplate UW and once had a friendly fellow diver slam his tank down on top of my second stage reg without looking - it was on the seat not on the deck.
BC hose - once got some sand in the quick release mechanism - again much faster just to swap it and then clean it back home.

 

[Rick Murchison]

I carry the number of regs I need for the diving I intend to do... +1. So, a minimum of 2, up to five for me. When family is along I take as many as we plan to use at once... +1. So, since they don't usually plan to dive while I'm off on one of my "special" dives, six could handle me & my four girls as well as doubles, a stage and deco bottle + a spare... Sometimes I'll carry an overhaul kit for each type reg as well, as those practically take no space and weigh nothing. I'll use a rental reg when necessary but don't like doing it.
Rick

 

[Charlie99]

For virtually all of my trips, I just bring 1 reg set. The rare exception is when I bring NONE.

In spite of the many posts about people bringing extra reg sets, you will find that the vast majority of divers bring just the ones they are going to use. And quite a few occasional divers (gasp) don't bring any at all and use rental gear (insert appropriate sounds of shock and horror here).

For run of the mill recreation diving, just bring the gear you are going to use. In the worst case, you end up with a rental reg.