Andrew Dawson
Contributor
I am a Scubapro fanboy [if you will ] through and through...I have found parts easy to come by and self-service pretty easy to do. So, if you want to go that route...you can service and tune them yourself. There is a good bit of ramp up time and there is some up-front tools cost...but after that, it is pretty cheap to maintain. I have found LOTS of help on this website
Otherwise, if you see yourself where the regs will see a good bit of abuse...then I agree the MK17 is a good choice...or any environmentally sealed reg for that matter.
I agree with the folks here that your choices will take you as far as you want to go...and there is nothing wrong with looking at getting regs that can serve you now and in the future when you go into tec diving. I did that and loved it as it was a big help having familiar equipment when I started to push myself...especially having familiar regs that I knew and trusted.
Personally, I dive the MK20s/S600 combo...but have serviced/dove the MK14, R380, R390, G250, G250HP, G200, S600, MK20s, MK25, S555, and some Dacors that I got when I first got into diving.
The MK20/S600 will be lighter above water than an MK17/G260...not much difference underwater...either will take you anywhere you want to go...but the MK17/G260 will give you more protection against ice-ups in very cold water [if you are even looking that far ahead based upon your original post]....but the MK17/G260 might be a bit more rugged [mainly b/c of the MK17].
I agree with the above folks that said search around and find the best package deal on what you want [of the choices you first listed] and you cannot really go wrong Good luck!
Otherwise, if you see yourself where the regs will see a good bit of abuse...then I agree the MK17 is a good choice...or any environmentally sealed reg for that matter.
I agree with the folks here that your choices will take you as far as you want to go...and there is nothing wrong with looking at getting regs that can serve you now and in the future when you go into tec diving. I did that and loved it as it was a big help having familiar equipment when I started to push myself...especially having familiar regs that I knew and trusted.
Personally, I dive the MK20s/S600 combo...but have serviced/dove the MK14, R380, R390, G250, G250HP, G200, S600, MK20s, MK25, S555, and some Dacors that I got when I first got into diving.
The MK20/S600 will be lighter above water than an MK17/G260...not much difference underwater...either will take you anywhere you want to go...but the MK17/G260 will give you more protection against ice-ups in very cold water [if you are even looking that far ahead based upon your original post]....but the MK17/G260 might be a bit more rugged [mainly b/c of the MK17].
I agree with the above folks that said search around and find the best package deal on what you want [of the choices you first listed] and you cannot really go wrong Good luck!