Is this link credible? Choosing a Regulator?

[BettyRubble]

In my continued quest to understand this new sport I'm now engaged in, I found this link and it helped me better understand how to choose a regulator. However, I am wondering what your thoughts are on its contents. Is it credible or is there key information not covered?

Finally, if the general consensus is it is credible and sufficiently thorough for us newbies, can it be posted as a sticky on the newbie or reg forum? Not sure what the copyright requirements are.

http://www.scubamage.com/files/Choosing_a_Scuba_Regulator.pdf

 

[Rhone Man]

I think it is credible, it just has an agenda. The repeated references to DIR and tec diving imply that this is a natural thing that new divers should think about. In reality, I would suspect that less than 0.5% of newly certified divers will end up going tec, and only about 1 in 20 of those will tread the "dark path" of DIR rather than other forms of tec training.

I can't see how a new diver selecting a regulator really needs to know about the differences between 200 bar and 300 bar DIN fittings.

 

[letterboy]

Why not ask the guy who seems to have written and hosted the article?

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/members/mikerault.html

 

[Rick Inman]

The author, Mike, is a long time ScubaBoard poster/member: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/members/mikerault.html

The article is very good. It is, however, one man's opinion, and several of his points are debatable, making it good information, but not the definitive regulator fact sheet, IMHO.

 

[Walter]

Some of the terms used aren't what you'll see in common use. He uses Primary instead of 1st stage and secondary instead of 2nd stage. Primary and secondary are usually used to refer to second stages. Primary being the one you use and secondary being your back up, octopus or safe second.

He refers to yoke or A frame. Not a big deal since he makes it clear exactly what he means by A frame, but it's not a common term.

His explanation of balanced vs unbalanced is not complete, but probably all you really need to know.

I don't know him, but judging from his profile, he appears to be an excited new diver trying to learn and share what he's learned.

 

[knotical]

It appears to be one persons honest attempt to do a service. However, I have some issues.

He says primary regulator, secondary regulator, and backup regulator where others might say first stage, second stage and alternate second stage.

He says the primary regulator <first stage> converts high pressure air to 125-145 PSI low pressure air, missing that it actually converts to (approximately) 125-145 above ambient.

I'm not convinced his statement that primary regulators will usually be piston type is correct.

Nor am I comfortable with his definition of balanced and unbalanced.

He mentions that he has "nearly three-years of diving"; so his experience is not nearly as much as many here on ScubaBoard.

His statement that "the benefit to using a regulator that is nearly or is identical to your primary regulator is that there won&#8217;t be any difference between using it and your primary" both mis-uses his own terminology, (he should have said backup and secondary) and misses the fact that alternate second stages are often not tuned the same as primary second stages

None of the above is in itself especially damning, but cumulatively, it leaves me cold. He appears to be making an honest attempt to provide information, but in my mind his credibility is shaky. I don't find his recommendations to be particularly poor, but neither do I find them to be either comprehensive or especially noteworthy.

I applaud you for doing your research and suggest you continue, with this article as one data point among many.

 

[mikerault]

Like has been said, I was just trying to pass along what I had learned at that point. It may be time to revisit the article and make some improvements! Thanks for comments guys!

Mike

 

[BettyRubble]

Mike - thank you for writing it to begin with. It has definitely been helpful in my understanding of regulators. It is good to see that many on the board point out it is not wrong, but may need some clarifications. When I found it I had not realized you were a board member!!! If you do update it, please send me a copy! I still think it is a valuable starting point for us newbies. Thank you!

Like has been said, I was just trying to pass along what I had learned at that point. It may be time to revisit the article and make some improvements! Thanks for comments guys!

Mike

 

[mikerault]

Will do Betty!

Welcome aboard!

Mike

 

[ScubaSam]

BettyRubble - I haven't read the PDF file in your post but you're getting some good answers here from everyone who has posted. I applaud you for asking questions and doing the research so that you can make an informed decision about your gear.