mares abyss vs apeks ATX200

[jgiddings]

The Abyss is a good quality reg in my book. It is a little "old school" being that it is quite heavy, no adjustments at depth etc. but Mares is tried and true.

The hose is a bit stiff, but it doens't seem to bother me. Maybe it's because I have such a big mouth!

I have used it on 50 some-odd dives so far with no problems or free-flow. I did have to adjust my bouyancy though, since it is heavy. I went to a lighter reg for one dive and just couldn't get down! Went back to the Abyss with the same weight and I was just right.

I have an Axis Octo and it is "tempermental' with free flow, but nothing a good wack couldn't take care of.

Yiu- The weezing could be caused by the dry air. Mine weezes at the surface but fine at depth.

 

[mizzia]

finally heard something positive about abyss!!!, well here in malta mares is quite popular, i dont know why many apeks isint easy to find here. true that the abyss has excellent performance at depth..

 

[Lemonade]

I dive Abyss with Proton Octopus. Not a single complaint. Breaths like a dream, no freeflows, well made, solid...

As for being heavy... first stage is actually lighter than Apeks DST, second stage is a bit heavier than some other regs, but I don't mind. I like the fact that it's made out of brass not some flimsy plastic.

Can’t say anything about Apeks, never tried it underwater.

I do own Apeks DST+ATX40, it will ride the pony, unless next time I dive I like it better than Abyss...

 

[icebox]

With all of the talk on this board about Apeks, I am surprised to see this many people with abyss regs.

Anyway, as I said before I have an Abyss primary w/ an Axis octo. I have about 30 dives on that combo with dives ranging from 30 feet to 130 feet. I have nothing bad at all to say about my Abyss. I bought it took it out of the box, plugged in my computer went diving. (I am now aware that I should have had it serviced before I ever used it, but I did not know that at the time.) I was in Mexico for a week diving and it breathed like a dream.

My Axis is another story... For some reason (so I have been told since by the Mares Rep, at the local Seas exhibit here in Raleigh, he is also the one that told me that you are supposed to have them serviced out of the box) told me that the Axis is not tuned as well as the Abyss on the assembly line. With that said, I had problems with it leaking, not freeflowing, but leaking after I had used it for about 7 dives. It was not a dive ending problem, I just started using it to breath off of, so I would waste less air and used my Abyss as my octo. I was pretty dissappointed with its breathing characteristics. I thought it was very difficult to breath off of it.

Well when I got home I took it and had my reg and had the whole thing serviced. I have made 20+ dives on it since the service. It was working much better till last week when it developed its little leak again. Again not too serious, but still a leak. It is still not the easiest reg to breath off of either. I know it does not want to be too easy because you do not want it to freeflow on you, but still. Now I know why it is only about $90 at leaisurepro. It has been serviced again and it worked flawlessly last weekend. I have not decided if I think it was a bad service, or if the reg just does not like to hold a tune. I suppose either one is posible. I would like to spend the money and replace the Axis with an Abyss octo.

I do like my Abyss. So far it has been great.

Mike

 

[pt40fathoms]

I have the Abyss, and had the ATX200. The Apex would free flow when diving under the ice. It did it several times, and had to be adjusted right back to stop. Tryed the Abyss, was skeptical, however after 80 dives at recreational depths I have never had any problems.

Both are very smooth breathing.

If you never plan to dive very cold waters, or venture below a cold thermal for any lenght of time, the Apex will do just fine. If you plan on pushing the limits of cold waters, choose the Abyss.

 

[mizzia]

i too had the same feeling. apeks is very popular around here. i still have my thumbs up for the abyss though. Next week ill be trying both of them out. ill tell you how it goes...

 

[mizzia]

looks as though i should think of an alternative to an axis reg cause there is NO good about it at all evidently.....

 

[jbuchow]

I just finished 18 dives with my brand new ATX50, and I loved it. Not a single problem, and I found breathing to be much, much easier than on the rental regs I've used before. The only Mares regs I've used belonged in that category and they were not very impressive, but it probably was due to the fact that they were rentals.

 

[tyrell]

Hey

I have tried the Mares Abyss for TriMix dives and i didnt like it. It just kept "pushing" the air in an unplesent way in the deep.

Today i have the Aqualung Legeng and it does a very good job in any depth.

Mark

 

[mddolson]

I own a Mares Abyss.
It's been a great regulator even on Trimix.
I have an MR12-III octopus, which is essential the same second stage.
Call me old fashioned, but I prefer the metal 2nd stages.
Polymer is ok for warm waters, but I dive in a large range of temperatures 75°- 32° F, and the metal stays in tune.

Mike D
:blfish: