More info on DIN?

[LeFlaneur]

Funny, a search for "DIN" provided no results, even though I'm looking at another thread title with "DIN" in it.

I never considered going DIN until I started visiting this board. Somebody please describe to me the type of diver who dives DIN in the US. Is it primaily better for mixtures? (I doubt I'll be anything beyond standard Nitrox... at least for the foreseeable future.) Is it just plain macho?

I know DIN is better for a variety of subtle reasons. I know it is easier to buy a redi-made adapter that converts a DIN to a yoke than to do the opposite.

I know that DIN is more widely available in Europe, and yoke more in the US, Central America and Caribbean. But what about SE Asia, S. America, Australia, and N. Africa? Chances are far greater that I'll dive in these regions before I'll dive in, say, Denmark.

Don't most dive shops rent both kinds of tanks anyway?

 

[MyDiveLog]

The tanks most shops rent, at least in the US, Fiji, Jamaica, Cozumel, and the Bahamas (where I've dove) are AL80's with Yoke connections, primarily because these are the least expensive to buy (you can buy a new one for about $95, which is darn near the cost to the shop!).

DIN connections are used mostly for higher pressure tanks for two reasons that I know of: 1) The DIN can withstand the higher pressure better than the Yoke valves and 2) the O-Ring can't slip out of a DIN like it can a Yoke if it gets bumped underwater, although I've personally never heard of this happening.

I have HP80 tanks with DIN valves and you'r eright; it's easier to screw on the yoke adapter than to do the reverse.

 

[Scubaroo]

and 2) the O-Ring can't slip out of a DIN like it can a Yoke if it gets bumped underwater, although I've personally never heard of this happening.

See here:

Yoke o-ring

Happened to me about three weeks ago, without a bump.

 

[Lemonade]

For pressures above 3442 psi DIN connection is a requirement, for lower pressures it is a choice.

My regs are DIN, but I own my tanks. Rental tanks more often than not are Yoke (A-Clamp), so if you are renting your tanks, Yoke is the option to start with.
I suggest you buy a reg that has swappable connection. I know Apeks does, higher end Mares too.

When I go on vacation and dive with rental tanks, I take DIN fitting off the reg and put Yoke on.

In addition, there are DIN to Yoke adapters, but they are generally bulky and introduce another o-ring.

 

[Mako Mark]

You can get a DIN K valve and put a doughnut when you have to put a yolk screw reg on it.

This is much easier and safer than yolk to DIN adapters for the reg.

.

 

[MechDiver]

Funny, a search for "DIN" provided no results, even though I'm looking at another thread title with "DIN" in it.

There is a letter count limit on searches. If you don't get hits on something you know is there, and suspect your search string is too short (the system should tell you this), just expand it using something appropriate. "DIN valve" or "DIN regulator".

MD

 

[LeFlaneur]

There is a letter count limit on searches. If you don't get hits on something you know is there, and suspect your search string is too short (the system should tell you this), just expand it using something appropriate. "DIN valve" or "DIN regulator".

MD

Good to know... I think I'll stick with yoke for now for the first purchase. It seems like the changeover when the time comes does not involve buying a whole new first stage. That was all I was worried about. I am guessing that if I'm diving in the Canary Islands or somewhere I'll be able to find a place that rents "tanks for yanks."

Isn't there an Aussie on this board who can give me the tank lowdown in their country? It's a highly likely destination for me.

 

[Lemonade]

They had Yokes on a liveaboard in Thailand

 

[Scubaroo]

Isn't there an Aussie on this board who can give me the tank lowdown in their country? It's a highly likely destination for me.

It's a big country

Down in NSW/Vic, many shops have some DIN tanks for rent. I'm not sure what the situation is like in Qld on liveaboards though, one of the more common diving destinations for visitors.

Mind you, in Australia, "LP" and "HP" is meaningless - the typical steel tank is a 232 bar fill, or 3442psi. Yoke fittings are very common on these. There are also 300 bar tanks, which are about 4410psi. The most popular rental tank is still the AL80, which are either 3000 or 3300psi as a rule.

 

[frogfish]

I have been diving in most of South East Asia and yke is the name of the game here, except for some tekkies