Is this link credible? Choosing a Regulator?

[ONESPEED]

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.

Ditto what Sam said, too many new divers blindly purchase gear without doing their homework. It's great that you are already showing so much concern for your dive gear.

 

[Jupiter31]

Gotta agree w/ Sam and Onespeed - doing the research might - might - keep you from turning into a mini dive store via purchasing the "wrong" gear and replacing it - over and over and over.

Regarding the article, I thought it was well written, but could have done the following:

Used the "more accepted" terminology - 1st stage; 2nd stage for example

Spent more time on balanced vs unbalanced regulators/piston vs diaphram

But overall it was a well written, if slightly tech biased article.

Betty, my advice to new divers is to rent gear for your first dives from different places to experience the fit, breathability, comfortability et al - don't worry if the eq is the least expensive in a manufacturers line; if you like their basic stuff you will likely love their top of the line.

Also talk with divers about their equipment likes and dislikes - you will find them very up front about it and very willing to share.

IMHO, all that said, you are not going to go far wrong purchasing a balanced, mid line model of any of the major manufactures.

I purchased the bottom of the line Atomic 2 years ago - used - had been in the LDS' rental fleet and was a great buy b/c its been perfect w/zero issues -

I like Atomic b/c the insides/guts in their line are the same from my cheapie to thir top of the like $1500 titanium - they all breathe about the same.

Good luck!

 

[muddiver]

There are some differences in the use of ballanced first stages vs unballanced. I don't agree that unballanced is better for deep diving. The ballanced will reduce the effort required to crack the seat of both first and second stage at deeper depths because they are not affected by the ambient pressure change.

Changing the discussion a little on piston and diaphragm first stages might also be a good idea. I know a number of the popular regulators are diaphragm type.

Also, please define DIR for the non-ScubaBoard neophytes.

 

[herman]

Mike, I don't mean to be critical but you really need to learn a little more about regs, esp on what balancing means and what it does. Both first and second stages may or maynot be balanced. The role of balancing is to keep the breathing resistance of the second stage constant over the range of tank pressures. It has nothing at all to do with depth, that is depth compensation and all regs used for breathing in scuba are depth compensated. Balancing can be done at either the first or second stage and both piston and diaphram first stages can be balanced (or unbalanced although there has not been a nonbalanced diaphram first stage made since the early 60's). For what it's worth, I see a lot of post on balancing which are incorrect, it seems to be one of the most misunderstood subjects dealing with regulators.

If your intersted in learning about how regs work, I have 2 books you will find interesting.
"Regulator Savvy" by Pete Wolfinger and "Scuba Regulator Maintainance and Repair" by Vance Harlow. Both are excellent books. I find Reg Savvy a little more techincal and SRM&R a little more on the DIY side but both together will give you a very good understanding of regulators and how they work....lots of time is spent on balancing. You can find the books here:
Scuba Tools

Airspeed Press Homepage - Books For Serious Divers

Your post was a good attempt but it needs some work on the technical details.

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

1+ for the books Herman has recommended.

Even if you never intend to service your own regs, they should be "required reading" for all serious divers because they will greatly expand your understanding of how regulators work. This increased understanding will help you to know what to watch for as far as common signs and symptoms of a reg that is due for service or repair.

Best wishes.

 

[Jupiter31]

There are some differences in the use of ballanced first stages vs unballanced. I don't agree that unballanced is better for deep diving. The ballanced will reduce the effort required to crack the seat of both first and second stage at deeper depths because they are not affected by the ambient pressure change.

Changing the discussion a little on piston and diaphragm first stages might also be a good idea. I know a number of the popular regulators are diaphragm type.

Also, please define DIR for the non-ScubaBoard neophytes.

DIR = "Do/Doing it Right"

Its a tech/cave diving term for having the proper gear, gas mixture, and training

There is a "DIR" forum on Scuba Board for these questions and discussions

 

[JCR]

The reports of other divers are very useful, but so are regulator tests and the more objective the better. Everyone has an opinion about magazine articles about regulators or other gear, but they provide at least some comparison of specifications as someone else noted. Otherwise, the LDS and the experience of other divers is a starting point and useful articles such as the one noted by the OP are very helpful. I keep looking for objective tests as some way to understand how to invest in a regulator. I came across this link, which lists regulators that I have not seen elsewhere as among the "top ten." Any opinions about these guys: Scuba Equipment Buyer's Guide :: CYBER DIVER Scuba Diving Magazine

 

[BettyRubble]

Thank you everyone! Appreciate the feedback. Also appreciate how often everyone has said to "try them before you buy them" . . had a chance tonight to use a Scubapro reg (had been using an Aqualung) . . huge difference for me. I felt like I had a dry mouth all night and it seemed harder to "breathe". Could be old or something (rental equip), but I am definitely liking the aqualung better. Plus the setup used an air2 backup vs. the octo that I used before. Definitely prefer the octo. I got lucky and bought a Titan LX with octu from someone here on the boards and am looking forward to getting it!!!

 

[herman]

Thank you everyone! Appreciate the feedback. Also appreciate how often everyone has said to "try them before you buy them" . . had a chance tonight to use a Scubapro reg (had been using an Aqualung) . . huge difference for me. I felt like I had a dry mouth all night and it seemed harder to "breathe". Could be old or something (rental equip), but I am definitely liking the aqualung better. Plus the setup used an air2 backup vs. the octo that I used before. Definitely prefer the octo. I got lucky and bought a Titan LX with octu from someone here on the boards and am looking forward to getting it!!!

A few reg tech thoughts on this. Assuming a first stage is working as it should - IP is set correctly and there are no mechanical problems, reguardless of make or type, it has very little to do with the preformance of the reg. 99% of the performance of a regulator is dependent on the second stage and the tech who set it up. An old low priced brand X tuned properly can easily breath better than a new top of the line brand Y that has been set up incorrectly. Some second stages do breath better than others, just keep in mind that tuning of the reg is as important as the reg itself. The average diver has little control of how well it was done or usually no knowledge of when it was last done. The use of the reg- rental for example- also determines how a tech may tune a reg or even how well a tech knows the diver comes into play. None of my personal regs should be allowed out the door of most shops for regular customers or for rental, they are set too close to the edge and would likely be returned after a few dives due to freeflows. I like them set that way but I have the advantage of being able to tweek them if needs be and the customer (me) has no one to complain to.
My main point is don't write off any particular brand or model based on one particular reg, it may be a setup issue instead of an actual poor performing reg.

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

Herman, that has to be one of the best posts regarding regulator performance I've read on this board.

Folks seem to get so wound-up over brand "X" versus brand "Y" that they overlook the obvious: For most regulators regardless of brand it is all in the "tuning".

Best wishes.