CJ_Albertson
Registered
I want to narow down the list or regulators to look at.
Any suggestins on what to look at? I know it's easy to recommend a top of the line brand like Atomic or Apek but I have a list of criteria, one of them being price. My preference is for a mid-level or low-endl model from top-end company.
Here is my critiria in approximate order of importence
1) Sealed first stage. I intend to do about 50% beach dives and I've
been told by experianced Atomic Reg owner that he had to buy a
second reg becaue sand was causing his Atomic 1st stage to require
a lot of service. Everyone says the rental Reg I use is "very robust".
It's an Aqualung Titan. I figure I want something at least as "sand proof" as the Titan.
I'll be on sandy beach 50%, off my sailboat in
clean water 40% and remainer (I hope) at resorts.
2) Of course I want it to breath well. However I don't plan on diving below 100. OK I might get into wreck diving some day and want to go deeper but mostly 60ft is the limit. I do want at least a noticeable up grade in breating over the "Titan". You know pruely phycological - after spending the $$ I don't want the feeling like "Hey the rental unit was better".
3) I'll likey get Nitrox certified some day but I think all regs will
handle 40% O2 so nitrox may be a non-issue??
4) Of course I don't want to spend money. But I'm targeting an "Internet price" of about "the 300's I can be talked into going up or down from this target. (Notice cost is #4, not #1 on my list)
But if I decide I need to go over "around $300" I will have to delay
the purchace.
5) Don't expect to do any cold water diving. The coldest will be
our local (So. Calif.) winter water of about 55F
6) I'm In So. Calif. Finding service and support is not hard to find on any brand. There are more dive shops than anyone could ever have time to check out. However I will stick to major brands that can be serviced world wide and likey buy from Internet from Authorized dealer only.
Any suggestins on what to look at? I know it's easy to recommend a top of the line brand like Atomic or Apek but I have a list of criteria, one of them being price. My preference is for a mid-level or low-endl model from top-end company.
Here is my critiria in approximate order of importence
1) Sealed first stage. I intend to do about 50% beach dives and I've
been told by experianced Atomic Reg owner that he had to buy a
second reg becaue sand was causing his Atomic 1st stage to require
a lot of service. Everyone says the rental Reg I use is "very robust".
It's an Aqualung Titan. I figure I want something at least as "sand proof" as the Titan.
I'll be on sandy beach 50%, off my sailboat in
clean water 40% and remainer (I hope) at resorts.
2) Of course I want it to breath well. However I don't plan on diving below 100. OK I might get into wreck diving some day and want to go deeper but mostly 60ft is the limit. I do want at least a noticeable up grade in breating over the "Titan". You know pruely phycological - after spending the $$ I don't want the feeling like "Hey the rental unit was better".
3) I'll likey get Nitrox certified some day but I think all regs will
handle 40% O2 so nitrox may be a non-issue??
4) Of course I don't want to spend money. But I'm targeting an "Internet price" of about "the 300's I can be talked into going up or down from this target. (Notice cost is #4, not #1 on my list)
But if I decide I need to go over "around $300" I will have to delay
the purchace.
5) Don't expect to do any cold water diving. The coldest will be
our local (So. Calif.) winter water of about 55F
6) I'm In So. Calif. Finding service and support is not hard to find on any brand. There are more dive shops than anyone could ever have time to check out. However I will stick to major brands that can be serviced world wide and likey buy from Internet from Authorized dealer only.
