Mares Abyss 42 vs Scubapro G250v/mk25

[bryanj58]

Looking at one of these two. Mares Abyss 42 vs Scubapro G250v/mk25
I get bad cotton mouth and want to keep in the metal family of regulators in hopes that it will help.
Reading the Abyss looks to be a better setup, but the G250v seems to be tried and true.
the main two things I'm looking at is
1st help eliminate cotton mouth. (I've tried drinking plenty of water.)
2nd is plenty of air. I'm doing a lot of beach dives. and by the time we are ready to go under I'm sometimes winded and my current regulator will not keep up with my needs.

Thanks for in info/help

O yea the Abyss list that it's not able to use nitrox. what makes some regulators able to use nitrox and other not.

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

Looking at one of these two. Mares Abyss 42 vs Scubapro G250v/mk25
I get bad cotton mouth and want to keep in the metal family of regulators in hopes that it will help.
Reading the Abyss looks to be a better setup, but the G250v seems to be tried and true.
the main two things I'm looking at is
1st help eliminate cotton mouth. (I've tried drinking plenty of water.)
2nd is plenty of air. I'm doing a lot of beach dives. and by the time we are ready to go under I'm sometimes winded and my current regulator will not keep up with my needs.

Thanks for in info/help

These two regs are "apples and oranges" in design philosophy.

Mares: Balanced diaphragm 1st, unbalanced, non-adjustable "classic downstream" 2nd (no external adjuster knobs or levers... it is actually a two adjustment reg: orifice depth and lever height... but these are internal and set by the tech).

Scubapro: Balanced piston 1st, balanced, adjustable, barrel-poppet 2nd.

Both are great regs. Do you prefer apples, or oranges

Tuning by the reg tech will make the greatest difference.

I do own and service several Mares regs (including two MR-22 Abyss). They are great regs, but the tech needs to spend the extra 5-10 minutes at service time to tune them.... if he blindly follows the repair manual procedure and simply "swaps parts" and makes sure cracking effort is "within spec", you'll end up with a Fiat instead of a Ferrari (an "average" breathing reg).... if he takes the time to "do the dance" with lever height, spring preload and orifice depth, you'll get a very good breathing reg.

Best wishes.

 

[h90]

I have a Abyss and happy with it. Mine is able to use Nitrox. I think almost all regulator can use Nitrox, just in some countries Nitrox is in the law the same as pure Oxygen.

 

[hg frogman]

I have been using both (the Abyss with a MR22, not a MR42) for hundreds of dives. Both are proven regulators since a long time (the Abyss as much as the G250V). Both can use Nitrox.

Both are nice, but I prefer the Abyss. Why ?

a) Much more metal in the Abyss second stage. The G250V has a big metal barrel inside, but it's not a full metal second. So there is noticeably less "dry mouth" with the Abyss. In fact I have no "dry mouth" at all with it (I have with the G250V).

b) The Abyss is much simpler in design, more robust, less sensitive to dirt, salt and sand, and easier for me to service. Yet it delivers an enormous flow of air at any depth, thanks to its "bypass" (a patented Mares feature). The G250V may feel a bit softer to breathe from, notably in shallow water, but doesn't give more air.

c) Rinsing it thoroughly is paramount for a piston first stage like the Mk25. Not rinsing a MR42 or a MR22 first stage (diaphragm first stage => the important moving parts stay dry) isn't a big issue (but of course it's important to rinse the second stages in both cases).

d) The Abyss is better for cold water diving, even without a "dry chamber" (that I don't like because it prevents easy tuning of the IP). Cold water is not the main reason for my preference, I dive in cold Alpine lakes but that's not my main diving.

On the other hand, the G250V is easier to "harden" (by just turning a knob) if it begins to free-flow because of seat wear or for any other reason ; this tuning/hardening is easy to do with an Abyss too, but implies using a wrench and an Allen key (so that's not something one does underwater ).

Also there is more engraving of the seat with an Abyss second stage which is not used for some time, because more tension from the spring than with a G250V; to avoid this engraving, one can unscrew the seat connector of the Abyss second stage for long term storage in a clean, dry place (very easy to do but one needs to know what one is doing) and screw it again before use.

About routing the hoses ? Some may prefer the Mk25 but I prefer the MR22 or MR42 which have less O-rings and no rotating turret. The MR42, unlike the MR22, has no "proprietary" hose and is said to be at least as good than the MR22 (but I have no personal experience of the MR42).

Cave divers prefer the G250V because they can open it underwater (opening an Abyss second stage necessitates a screwdriver) but this is a feature I don't need.

Just my experience and opinion. As I said, both are excellent, proven, regulators that give lots of air.

 

[DeepSeaExplorer]

The ScubaPro is a better reg and it will have much greater resale value, not that you would ever need to sell that reg. I have 5 MK20/25 regs, including one with a 250, and it's definitely a keeper...

 

[hg frogman]

The ScubaPro is a better reg and it will have much greater resale value, not that you would ever need to sell that reg. I have 5 MK20/25 regs, including one with a 250, and it's definitely a keeper...

Why ?

Facts and/or first hand experience of both Abyss & G250V would be appreciated .

 

[knowone]

NO reg will keep up with your needs when you are WINDED.
You must STOP and de-wind, which is difficult in a MOVING ocean.


But my Fiat 124 had 4Wdiscs, 5 on the floor, taco, buckets, a couple of cams, when all the other local junk around the world had, drums, 3 on the tree, speedo? bench and a couple of strap handles for the passengers.
But putting Pirelli's on it still wouldn't make it a Ferrari.

 

[DeepSeaExplorer]

Why ?

Facts and/or first hand experience of both Abyss & G250V would be appreciated .

I have first hand experience with the MK25/G250. It's a reg you'll never have to trade-in for an upgrade no matter where your diving takes you.

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

I have first hand experience with the MK25/G250. It's a reg you'll never have to trade-in for an upgrade no matter where your diving takes you.

Which is exactly the same thing that can be said about the Abyss... which for a time held the "world record" (for what little that is worth) for deepest dive....

They are both excellent regs. Either will make you very happy for an entire dive career (with no need to upgrade... even if you attempt a world record ).

Best wishes.

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

NO reg will keep up with your needs when you are WINDED.
You must STOP and de-wind, which is difficult in a MOVING ocean.


But my Fiat 124 had 4Wdiscs, 5 on the floor, taco, buckets, a couple of cams, when all the other local junk around the world had, drums, 3 on the tree, speedo? bench and a couple of strap handles for the passengers.
But putting Pirelli's on it still wouldn't make it a Ferrari.

fftopic: My dad managed a Fiat dealership for a few years... Ahhhh, the stories, laughs and tears.....

So the "Fiat vs Ferrari" example I used was not made without a basis of first hand experience (and mostly fond memories of Fiats)... But no experience with a Ferrari, I just lust after one of those

Back to the discussion....

Best wishes.