Mares Abyss world record

[sbijou]

If my memory is correct, the US Navy used a Scubapro Pilot down to 1800 fsw.

 

[LUBOLD8431]

The previous record was held by John Bennett who was using Apeks regs. As mentioned before, the record was broken by about 15 ft, and any high performance reg could have been used for this dive.

All that being said, there are many reasons why I would never own a Mares piece 'uh reg....

 

[boomx5]

I wouldn't say he's an idiot - I don't think he could be and come through such an event unscathed.

and many of them survive horiffic car accidents with barely a scratch. This is the same guy who also almost died during a solo cave dive, so I would say he's not playing with a full deck or at the minimum taking very unnecessary risks with his life.

 

[Greg Barlow]

The previous record was held by John Bennett who was using Apeks regs. As mentioned before, the record was broken by about 15 ft, and any high performance reg could have been used for this dive.

All that being said, there are many reasons why I would never own a Mares piece 'uh reg....

To each his own (reg choice)....After 28 years of VERY active diving, I've come to highly respect their excellent performance with such a simple, robust design. I asked sometime back for anyone to give me objective data to "prove" that Mares regs are "junk". Sure, I heard a lot of subjective negative reports, but not one OBJECTIVE case. Perhaps you can enlighten me with yours?

I also have many years of having worked in the industry under a number of different positions, and learned from the true professionals that ALL MAJOR MANUFACTURERS PRODUCE HIGH QUALITY REGULATORS.

I've stated before, and I'll say it again...If I didn't have such great luck with Mares regs, then I would probably opt for the Apeks models. I've used ScubaPro regs in the past (amongst many others), but am somewhat disillusioned with the large number of problems that have materialized over the past ten years. I don't mean to bash them, but some of the changes have been poor in my opinion. They are regularly modifying their HP seats, and pistons to correct the IP creeping that is too common. They switched to a polymer based second stage tube, even though the brass one offered many advantages (except ease of manufacturing and costs). Plus, their second stages have been materializing with design flaws that have required some significant changes. Perhaps doing a little more R&D along the road would eliminate some of these production problems. The ultimate disaster has been the aluminum alloy first stage. The first run design of these were having major electrolysis problems and they had such a run of yokes literally cracking in half that many shops refused to place them on the store's shelves.

Even the most ardent ScubaPro fans in the industry are discussing these very same points. If ScubaPro isn't careful, then some of their most loyal customers could be swayed to other brands.

Mares, like all of the other manufacturers, has their problems too. The HUB is a joke, and the pneumatic cam tank band was another solution to a non-existant problem. I also don't care for most of their BCD's.

All, Apeks....They make wonderful regulators, and very good dry suit valves. However, their other gear certainly doesn't fit the "high performance" label. I don't even recall them attempting to import much of anything other than the regs. I remember before the AT series came out, that their regs were considered to be "sub par" compared to the other major lines.

So...Slamming Mares regs without some scientific data is akin to labeling all motorcycles other than Harley Davidsons as junk. Being a life long motorcyclist I love to converse with Harely riders as to why Harleys are "better, more technologically advanced" machines than the competition. The vaulted V-Rod is a prime example...Harley riders love to talk about how advanced it is. Right, the Japanese and Italians have been building engines with that level of technology since the early 80's. Well, actually, they've been building racing bikes with that technology since the early 60's.

Mares regs are one of the highest performing non-adjustable regs on the market. Their level of machining and finishing is amongst the best. They DO NOT have the lowest work-of-breathing effort due to the fact that you cannot adjust the cracking pressure to the point of just below a free-flow. Take a non-adjustable Apeks or ScubaPro design and run them on the ANSTI machine. The numbers are nearly identical to that of the best Mares models. I've worked with the computer printouts of these specific tests, how about you?

Apeks, ScubaPro, Oceanic, Mares, Poseidon, etc. They all make regs that can meet or exceed the needs of 90% of the world's divers and dives. Care for them properly, have skilled technicians service them, and you can rest assured that problems will be few and far between.

Once again...Do you really believe that considering Mares is one of the top three selling brands worldwide they are not going to not build a high quality regulator? They have had one recall on a reg in three years, and that was a newly designed crown on the Axis's second stage. They replaced them totally free of charge along with a total second stage rebuild regardless of whether it had proof of warranty.

Let me guess, Lubold, I bet that you only drive the "best" car or truck that is made. You probably also drink the best beverage that money can buy, and heck, maybe even ride a Harley.

It is kinda neat when a Harley with a 1,450 ci engine gets totally dusted by a Ducati 620 Monster. Unfair! They cry! Really, uhm...The Ducati has an air cooled V-Twin engine with but two valves per cylinder (kinda like a Harley). Throw a little Suzuki SV650 into the picture, and the Harley and Ducati are looking for a hiding spot.

Sorry to get so off track, but the analogy of regs and bikes isn't that far off in logic.

Oh, well...

Greg Barlow
Former Science Editior of Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine

Presently working in a better paying position to send the kids through school

Most importantly, never in any way shape or form, a Mares employee.....

100% certified Dive Nut for 28 years

 

[MikeFerrara]

Reg choice...

For many divers the choice of regs is between the two or three that are carried at the local shops. The shops choice of brand is usally more "political"...

If the shop down the street has aqualung and aqualung won't open another store in the area then you go with scubapro if you can swing the $18,000 opening order. If you can't afford or get one of the big names you start looking at some of the others. You know the ones that you can by into for a couple thousand bucks.


Technical divers usually go with one of three or four brands that are popular for technical diving.

 

[fins wake]

To each his own (reg choice)....

Greg, good posts. (Of course, I'm known to favour Ducatis, too.) :sappy:

 

[jplacson]

I've always wondered why Mares gets a lot of flak... although I ended up with an Apeks ATX100, I've still always wondered what has given Mares this weird reputation. So far, I've been able to figure that it's their weird BCs that taint the rest of their line-up. They make good masks, fins, wetsuits, and reg (well, the reg part is still debatable) ..but seems to me, the only part of their line-up that has gone belly-up is their BC line.

As much as I love my Apeks, I know that every reg has it's good and bad side. I've heard a lot of bad things about Poseidon & their design... same goes for Apeks... SP... Mares... USD/Aqua-Lung... hell, if we went by every single "in my personal experience, it sucks" review... we'd all be snorkeling on the surface... or freediving (but then some people think freediving is psychotic as well)

 

[Greg Barlow]

Mike,

I've noted your disgust with the industry in "establishing dealerships" in past posts. Yes, it is an injustice to the market to need a huge capital outlay to acquire the selling rights of a line. I worked for a shop that went through the same deal with DUI. The only other area shop that was a dealer threw a royal fit over another locale competing against them in price. That line of thinking more or less defeats the idea of a competitive market.

I predict that in ten years or less, there will be very few lines that aren't openly available on the net. If dive shops can't or won't compete in price then they will likely go the way of the Mom and Pop groceries.

Greg

 

[MikeFerrara]

In 2003 several brands changed their internet policy. Dealse policy remained pretty much unchanged though.

My point was though that the process that determines which brands are available locally (or from any given source) has little to do with which brands are better.

 

[LUBOLD8431]

To each his own (reg choice)....After 28 years of VERY active diving, I've come to highly respect their excellent performance with such a simple, robust design. I asked sometime back for anyone to give me objective data to "prove" that Mares regs are "junk". Sure, I heard a lot of subjective negative reports, but not one OBJECTIVE case. Perhaps you can enlighten me with yours?

I also have many years of having worked in the industry under a number of different positions, and learned from the true professionals that ALL MAJOR MANUFACTURERS PRODUCE HIGH QUALITY REGULATORS.

I've stated before, and I'll say it again...If I didn't have such great luck with Mares regs, then I would probably opt for the Apeks models. I've used ScubaPro regs in the past (amongst many others), but am somewhat disillusioned with the large number of problems that have materialized over the past ten years. I don't mean to bash them, but some of the changes have been poor in my opinion. They are regularly modifying their HP seats, and pistons to correct the IP creeping that is too common. They switched to a polymer based second stage tube, even though the brass one offered many advantages (except ease of manufacturing and costs). Plus, their second stages have been materializing with design flaws that have required some significant changes. Perhaps doing a little more R&D along the road would eliminate some of these production problems. The ultimate disaster has been the aluminum alloy first stage. The first run design of these were having major electrolysis problems and they had such a run of yokes literally cracking in half that many shops refused to place them on the store's shelves.

Even the most ardent ScubaPro fans in the industry are discussing these very same points. If ScubaPro isn't careful, then some of their most loyal customers could be swayed to other brands.

Mares, like all of the other manufacturers, has their problems too. The HUB is a joke, and the pneumatic cam tank band was another solution to a non-existant problem. I also don't care for most of their BCD's.

All, Apeks....They make wonderful regulators, and very good dry suit valves. However, their other gear certainly doesn't fit the "high performance" label. I don't even recall them attempting to import much of anything other than the regs. I remember before the AT series came out, that their regs were considered to be "sub par" compared to the other major lines.

So...Slamming Mares regs without some scientific data is akin to labeling all motorcycles other than Harley Davidsons as junk. Being a life long motorcyclist I love to converse with Harely riders as to why Harleys are "better, more technologically advanced" machines than the competition. The vaulted V-Rod is a prime example...Harley riders love to talk about how advanced it is. Right, the Japanese and Italians have been building engines with that level of technology since the early 80's. Well, actually, they've been building racing bikes with that technology since the early 60's.

Mares regs are one of the highest performing non-adjustable regs on the market. Their level of machining and finishing is amongst the best. They DO NOT have the lowest work-of-breathing effort due to the fact that you cannot adjust the cracking pressure to the point of just below a free-flow. Take a non-adjustable Apeks or ScubaPro design and run them on the ANSTI machine. The numbers are nearly identical to that of the best Mares models. I've worked with the computer printouts of these specific tests, how about you?

Apeks, ScubaPro, Oceanic, Mares, Poseidon, etc. They all make regs that can meet or exceed the needs of 90% of the world's divers and dives. Care for them properly, have skilled technicians service them, and you can rest assured that problems will be few and far between.

Once again...Do you really believe that considering Mares is one of the top three selling brands worldwide they are not going to not build a high quality regulator? They have had one recall on a reg in three years, and that was a newly designed crown on the Axis's second stage. They replaced them totally free of charge along with a total second stage rebuild regardless of whether it had proof of warranty.

Let me guess, Lubold, I bet that you only drive the "best" car or truck that is made. You probably also drink the best beverage that money can buy, and heck, maybe even ride a Harley.

It is kinda neat when a Harley with a 1,450 ci engine gets totally dusted by a Ducati 620 Monster. Unfair! They cry! Really, uhm...The Ducati has an air cooled V-Twin engine with but two valves per cylinder (kinda like a Harley). Throw a little Suzuki SV650 into the picture, and the Harley and Ducati are looking for a hiding spot.

Sorry to get so off track, but the analogy of regs and bikes isn't that far off in logic.

Oh, well...

Greg Barlow
Former Science Editior of Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine

Presently working in a better paying position to send the kids through school

Most importantly, never in any way shape or form, a Mares employee.....

100% certified Dive Nut for 28 years

Wow, long post just to say you like Mares regs. If you have been around here long enough, and read some of my posts you would see why I dont like Mares regs. I have said it over and over. Im sick of saying it. I have used the Abyss for a few years, and other mares regs. Ive dealt with the company in the capacity of being a store manager of a dive shop. I know them well. I also know that you were the science editor of Rodales. You seem to keep bringing that up. I dont care. All I have to go on is my own personal experiences with the company, the regs, and the service parts. I know what I dont like about them. I wont use them again!!!
Yes, we all know Apeks didnt have a good reputation before the TX series regs. But guess what??? Now they do, and they are one of the MOST popular for technical diving. Period...

No, I dont own the best of everything, and no I dont own a harley. I just like to have good quality equipment for diving that works well and can be serviced easily with readily available parts.


Also, I believe your last statement is 100% true. Just take out the "DIVE".