I'm Back!

[Victoria]

Hey - I was a regular on Scubaboard about 4yrs ago - then the worst thing happened. Rather than following my dream (at the time i was going to head off to start my diving career) I got sucked into the rat race in London. Anyway 5 years on I have well and truly got that out of my system and I am leaving the UK in 3 months (OMG I am so excited!) first stop Dahab - Red Sea to do my Divemaster then who knows! Was wondering if any of my old Scubaboard Buddies were still around? O-Ring? And of course any newbies...

I am contemplating buying an Atomic B2 and the Aqualung Pearl i3 before i go - anyone got an opinon on them?

Good to be back!

Vic

 

[El Orans]

:admingreet:

 

[Ber Rabbit]

Welcome back Victoria!
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[drbill]

Welcome back. Many of us are lured into the rat race by promises of "big money." The smartest among us (which obviously includes yourself) find it merely means long hours in cubicles (or fancy offices, which are just nicer cages), and that all the goodies the "big money" buys don't really give us the inner satisfaction we seek. Live poor (in a material sense), but live happy doing something you love. As mythologist Joseph Campbell put it, "Follow your bliss."

 

[Victoria]

Now there is a familiar name. drbill! How are you? Yes I got sucked in and for a time enjoyed the 'big money' and champers. I dont regret it as its taught me a very big lesson about what I do want and what i dont want - a long time in the making but Im more determined than ever now. Good to hear from you!

 

[Standingbear56]

Hi Victoria,
Welcome back!!! Glad to see that the Rat Race didn't get the best of you.
Sorry I can't help you on the Pearl i3, but the Atomic B2 is an excellent regulator. All Atomics have the same flow rates and perform the same. The biggest difference is the materials they are made from. For example, The T1 is titanium, S1 is stainless steel, the B2 is brass. It's the material that makes the difference, not the performance. You may want to also look into their M1. It's their mid line reg, but it not only has heat conductors for cold water diving, but also can do 80% nitrox, compared to 40% for all the others.
Since Atomic cannot be sold on the internet, you need to check with a LDS to compare and price.
Good luck with your reg and living your dream.
Safe Diving,
George
PADI MSDT

 

[Victoria]

Hey - Thanks for the tips on the Atomic. Im going to look into it a little more as Titanium sounds like the way to go. Atomic is sold online over here - directdivers certainly sell them and at a much better price than the dive shop down the road from my office. I also do not like the fact that stores are often loyal to one or two brands and if you ask them about a different one they talk it down - and i feel more to get a sale rather than because they know anything about them!

The rat race nearly got me - but luckily i fell in love with a fellow adventurer who can't take much more of the city life so its been a pretty easy decision to jack it all in! And I might add that the last two summers in old blighty have been less than perfect... in fact lets not go down that route as ill get into my rant about how much i dislike this country!

:no

 

[Victoria]

Actually just had a look at the M1 and it does not have the siwvel that sold me the reg in the first place! So think i may just stick to the B2 as when u start looking at the T2 the price doubles!

 

[Standingbear56]

Hi Victoria,
Yeah, titanium is very expensive. Lite but expensive. Let me know how you make out.
Take care,
George
PADI MSDT

 

[Standingbear56]

Hi Victoria,
I just tried to look up directdivers online, but couldn't find their site. Could you help me find it?
Thanks,
George
PADI MSDT