Identify These Regs/ Recommend 1st Stage?

[Breakzilla]

Hi everyone, I just joined! Reading these forums has been a help in my knowledge level of Scuba gear and now I'm here to participate. I just complete my open water certification with PADI. I've also done one wreck observation dive (46ft) with a total of 6 dives.

I've decided to start piecing together some of my own gear and have acquired what looks to be an older model Oceanic Alpha. I'm also looking at an older Oceanic Alpha octo (yellow pictured).

Can someone possibly help me identify these regs, and recommend a suitable first stage? FYI both regs have been serviced.

Thanks for the info!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---------- Post added May 27th, 2014 at 07:28 PM ----------

Having trouble with Tapatalk I think.. but this may have worked now?

 

[ams511]

Both of these regulators are Oceanic Alpha octopuses. They are unbalanced downstream regulators. For ease of servicing an Oceanic PX2 first will do. The PX2 is a balanced first stage based on the Scubapro MK-5. These regs are usually pared with a unbalanced SP4 first.

 

[Breakzilla]

Any reason not to run them both, one as a primary one as backup (octo)? I have only bought one (orange) so I may purchase a new 1st/2nd set and use the orange as an octo...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ams511]

You can run either as your primary but it needs to be tuned as a primary not as an octo. Also an octo length hose is a bit longer than a regular hose. How much are you looking to spend? The reason I ask is that buying regulators piecemeal is not really a good strategy for a newcomer. By the time you pay for the regulator, service or tuning and shipping it may be cheaper to purchase a new regulator.

 

[Breakzilla]

Thanks for the feedback, that's what I'm starting to notice. I think I'm going to go for a new Alpha 8 or 9 2nd stage which comes with either the PX2 or SP5 1st and use the octo I already purchased as just that, an octo.

Now I'm debating balanced vs unbalanced. I'm not entirely sure which 1st stages I used during all my rental gear setups.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ams511]

I would always recommend a balanced first stage for your primary regulator. However, breathing performance is more dependent on the second stage than the first.

My recommendation is this, just make sure they have the yoke in stock. Hollis, Aeris, and Oceanic are all owned by the same holding company so your brands match for servicing. For the price this is hard to beat.

 

[Breakzilla]

Wow that seems like a steal for an environmentally sealed reg. it may be a good consideration considering last weekend we hit below 50 degrees while diving in a quarry.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ams511]

You can purchase a HOG first and second cheaper but they are usually DIN (not a disadvantage as long as you can rent DIN tanks) and you may have a problem with servicing because of the different makes on the rig (you need a dealer that services both). However it would not matter if you get into DIY reg repair.

 

[Breakzilla]

I'm planning on going DIY. I have experience in professional electronics repair and also maintain my own vehicles (everything from head rebuilds to oil changes) so I really prefer to maintain my own things. That way I know it was done right!! DIN may or may not be an issue, so I think I'll go for the Yoke Hollis. Are parts readily available for this model although it's discontinued?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---------- Post added May 28th, 2014 at 12:59 AM ----------

Purchased the Hollis DC3 212... I'll report back when I've got everything assembled and tested. Thanks again!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[herman]

A little off topic but if you plan on going DIY service, then you should find a reg you can easily get parts for. I have no idea how hard Hollis regs are to source parts for but something to consider. For a new reg, HOG/Epic are good choices just because of their parts policy. Used US Divers/Aqualungs and older Scubapro (MK-5 and MK-2s) are easy to find aftermarket parts for so they are good choices for the beginning DIYer, plus there is a bunch of us here that know those regs very well so good advise is easy to come by. If you plan to travel or rent tanks, DIN can be a problem, your best bet is to avoid them. They are little advantage to the rec diver.
As to the 2 octos you have, there may be another issue using them as primary seconds. I do not know for sure on these but some manuf used different springs in their seconds that were sold as octos. These springs are slightly stiffer than those sold for the same second stage that was intended for primary use. Even if service parts are easy to some by, the springs may not be.