Most Versatile Regulator

[JungleJoe]

Sherwood Maximus, much better than a blizzard, it's got underarm, it's sealed, I ice dive w/it all the time, it's got a switch for deep dives, adjustable inhale pressure, and it's warm water friendly too.

and parts are CHEAP to fix or overhaul, but they are so darn dependable, you rarely ever need to deal with that

The blizzard is a maxi that is teflon coated (whopee) and none of the extra features that the maxi has.

 

[Jimmer]

I'll give a secod nod to Zeagle, I dive ZX-DSV's (the current version of the DS4), I've had them deep and cold on a regular basis, and they are so smooth you hardly notice there is a reg in your mouth.

 

[Dive Right In Scuba]

Sherwood Maximus, much better than a blizzard, it's got underarm, it's sealed, I ice dive w/it all the time, it's got a switch for deep dives, adjustable inhale pressure, and it's warm water friendly too.

and parts are CHEAP to fix or overhaul, but they are so darn dependable, you rarely ever need to deal with that

The blizzard is a maxi that is teflon coated (whopee) and none of the extra features that the maxi has.

Yes yes I forgot about that.....great one to bring up......

 

[spectrum]

That is easy, the Phoenix converted Royal Aqua Master.

LOL, I almost posted the Phoenix Nemrod but mine is still in the works. I figured Luis or one of you would chime in.

Pete

 

[namabiru]

Yes, I looked at the Scuba Pro MK25 & MK 17 in the catalog I received. I might also pursue looking at Sherwood products. I already know I'll be going to the shop to purchase with assistance, as I've done quite a bit of reading--books, catalogs, SB-- and there's a lot out there to consider. I'm just doing a bit of preresearch so that I'm not hearing things for the first time. Always better to go in as a sort-of informed consumer, methinks.

Thank you all for your advice thus far--I always appreciate hearing what others are using.

ETA--I've used a Mares R2 Rebel once, it belonged to the instructor and we switched so i had a compass in my console for doing my search & recovery AOW dive, and I can confidently say that I didn't care for how it breathed. I was more than happy to switch back to the Aqualung Legend rental I had later on. Besides, I know that the R2 probably isn't suited for the conditions I'm considering--I believe it's more of a tropical reg. Perhaps it was me too...
Wish I could remember what I used for my OW training. It was... okay, but not memorable. I know the BCD was Scuba Pro, and didn't have a good fit. It was more like wearing a too-big life jacket. Ah, the memories I'm just ready for my own equipment, so i don't have to keep renting. But that's been good too, as I have been getting a better idea of what I like and don't like.

 

[spectrum]

Sherwood Maximus, much better than a blizzard, it's got underarm, it's sealed, I ice dive w/it all the time, it's got a switch for deep dives, adjustable inhale pressure, and it's warm water friendly too.

and parts are CHEAP to fix or overhaul, but they are so darn dependable, you rarely ever need to deal with that

The blizzard is a maxi that is teflon coated (whopee) and none of the extra features that the maxi has.

The Maximus is an is upscale Blizard but is not better in cold water.

Under arm routing has nothing to do with cold water. it's a novelty configuration that some enjoy.

The Blizzard is an Oasis with some teflon added and the second stage hose protector removed to improve heat absorbtion. (As cold as the water can be adiabatic cooling can make the 1st stage output even colder.)

What's a Maxi ,if not a Maximus? Did you mean Magnum? Magnum has no heat sink in the second stage, the same item that unplated relieves drymouth in the Oasis.

When I got my Blizzard the LDS actually played down the Maximis as having more to go wrong given the user adjustments is has.

Maximus is sealed? Last I knew all of the above featured the Sherwood dry bleed system to effectively seal the first stage.

http://www.sherwoodscuba.com/category.php?cat_id=1

Either one is a fine choice.

Pete

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Wow, no one has mentioned Apeks. They are by far the top choice of technical divers. Not the only choice by far, but the most common one. If you get the sealed version it is a great cold water reg from what I hear. I havn't heard much bad about Apeks.

I don't agree with "by far the top choice" of technical divers. It is true that Apeks is the current poster child of the DIR set, but largely for political reasons since the fall from grace with Scubapro. The fact is a large number of technical divers still use and prefer Scubapro regs. The Mk 25 is liked for it's brute performance as well as the hose routing options offerred by the LP port in the end of the swivel turret. The Mk 17 is relatively new but offers a fully sealed design - the only real advantqage the Apeks offerred over previous Scubapro regs in extremely cold water.

I also don't agree with you on the "never heard anything bad about Apeks". They have always marketed them as "Overbalanced" in that their definition of the term is that the relative difference between intermediate and ambient pressure is supposed to increase at depth. Something that is not really possible to do safely with a downstream biased balanced second stage poppet (also called a shuttle valve) without severely impacting inhalation effort at shallower depths.

As it turns out the shuttle valve in the Apeks second stages appears to not be designed with an adequate downstream bias as there are now reports of the second stages when fully detuned are not venting excess pressure until it is well over the service pressure of the LP hose and not until the excess IP is causing uncontrolled inflation of the BC when those parts fail. This can and has led to out of controlled ascents from depth for divers during deco stops.

Personally, I am hard pressed to find a reason to go with Apeks other than to satisfy the current DIR dogma.

I would also go with a Sherwood long before I would choose an Apeks. Sherwood has been in business for over 40 years and their designs, while not exactly sexy from a marketing perspective, breathe surprisingly well for the money and the cold water versions have a good reputation, although the ambient air bleed system drives you nuts on a bubble check and it does cost a few breaths over the course of a long dive from each reg on the post in a technical dive situation.

 

[namabiru]

Just did a bit more looking, and I'd also have to agree that statistically the MK17 looks to be a bit better than the MK25 because it has a dry chamber. However, I'm wondering if it would be better to have an adjustable breathing effort on the second state, or a vacuum assist. They both accomplish the same goal, although it seems that diver adjustable breathing effort would be easier to adjust mid-dive. An MK17 with X650 second stage allows for both DAIE and VIVA adjustment, while the S555 only has VIVA adjustment. But in reading the descriptions again, it seems that the S-number series (555 or 500) may offer more versatility than the X series. The X series is supposedly slated specifically for extreme conditions, and chances are at least 75% of the time I wouldn't be diving in extreme conditions. So I'm starting to come around to see how S-series may be a better choice for entry-level extreme times.

I also looked at the Sherwood site, and can see where the blizzard, magnum and maximus are all fine choices too. I'd want to see some more stats and explanations to compare.
Sure, the maximus has underarm, and I can see where that would be cool, but realistically you should also be able to streamline in other ways.

It's a process, this shopping.

 

[Dive Right In Scuba]

Well at least your taking your time and researching before you purchase!!! Goodluck in your purchase

 

[JessH]

I don't agree with "by far the top choice" of technical divers.

Bad wording in my part. I meant most common. That's what I get for posting right after waking up ;-)

I have nothing against scubapro and actually like piston regs myself. I use atomic for my main regs because I like them better than the scubapro and because I can get a comparable atomic for less than a scubapro (the z1 was cheaper than a comparable top performance scubapro piston reg). I now have a scubapro mk2+ (thanks to scubatoys) that I plan to use for deco/pony bottle use and possibly eventually dedicate it to 02 bottle use when I can afford a couple atomic z2s.

I don't do ice diving but if I were to do it I might consider a sealed diaphram reg such as one that Apeks makes. I would consider other regs as well but I have heard nothing but good things about certain models of Apeks regs. Of course they do make other regs and I have heard some bad things about certain models, but they are not the ones usually chosen by tech divers.

I actually did just read an incident report with an apeks reg involving the second stage not acting as an OPV when fully detuned. I am curious if this would be the case with other brands of regs as well. Until I hear otherwise I think I will make a habit of making sure I have at least one reg on a 1st stage that is not fully detuned at all times.

I actually read that since my last post in this thread, thanks to it and you I have now heard some bad things about them. I still have heard mostly good things about the Apeks DS4s and would not hesitate to buy them if I was looking for a solid cold water reg.

I personally do not like the ambient air bleed system used by Sherwood because it causes problems with the common tech diving practice of pressurizing a reg and then turning the valve off to keep a free flow from risking your gas supply. I know there are arguments both for and against doing this in different situations, but I like to have the option.

~Jess