This is my 1st post and it's prompted me to sign up in support of Cressi.
While I'm currently in the process of taking the PADI Open Water class (
I had to take a break for surgery), I do have a handful of aquarium dives w/ a hooka under my belt since I own and operate a very high end reef aquarium design and maintenance company.
Because I have a client with a 1000g system that can only be cleaned from the inside, I've been pushed into diving as a business necessity.
While researching the lightest weight regulator that I could find for under $500, I stumbled across the Cressi Ellipse Titanium MC7. Due to the negligible cost difference, I went ahead and purchased the "Alaska" cold water version.
The LDS sold me a DeepSee mask that never quite fit properly, so I once again did some researching and ended up buying a Cressi Focus w/ corrective lenses.
At this point i decided that I was going to "dive in" completely, and then added the Cressi Ellipse Octo, and just this past week found a Cressi S116 on eBay in brand new condition for only $125 shipped... I bought a tank locally when I ordered the Ellipse Titanium reg, and bought Tusa Platina-III gauges because I didn't see the need for a computer just yet. Based upon numerous recommendations from others on a reefkeeping forum, I bought Slingshot fins.
I'm now looking at a Cressi 5mm wetsuit, because I figure if it's anywhere near the quality of what I've received so far, it will be a winner.
I have a half dozen "dives" ranging between 1.5 & 5 hours per dive using my regulator w/ a 25' hose connected to a tank, and the Elipse Titanium is so lightweight that it's never left my jaw feeling overly fatigued.
I can't wait to finally be able to get my first pool session in, so I can try diving in something large enough to actually be able to do something more than just breathing air underwater.
-Tim
