I have sometimes taken summer DM/Instructor roles at dive shops in Mediterranean summer resorts. I always take two Apeks US4 first stages and three Apeks ATX50 second stages for my personal dive regs for the summer. I can check my IP and adjust it with just a hex spanner without opening the regulator. It is also one of the easiest balanced first stages to service. And a great breathing regulator, every bit the equal of Apeks’ top of the marketing line.
For a regulator rental fleet I think the modern Aqualung equivalent of the Scubapro MK2/R1xx, the modern Aqualung Calypso (also an unbalanced piston first stage), is as good as the Scubapro MK2 and by far the easiest to service “in the wild”… With no special tools needed for servicing both the first and second stages. I am always surprised that more dive shops don’t use it. I suppose Scubapro has more marketing muscle and appeal. If I were ever to be tempted to open such a resort dive shop then the modern Aqualung Calypso would be my choice for fleet rental regulator. And for the rest of the rental kit: bungee open fins and “farmer john” wetsuits with separate jackets and bottoms … I have learned that people, and their feet, come in all shapes and sizes and flexibility is essential
For a regulator rental fleet I think the modern Aqualung equivalent of the Scubapro MK2/R1xx, the modern Aqualung Calypso (also an unbalanced piston first stage), is as good as the Scubapro MK2 and by far the easiest to service “in the wild”… With no special tools needed for servicing both the first and second stages. I am always surprised that more dive shops don’t use it. I suppose Scubapro has more marketing muscle and appeal. If I were ever to be tempted to open such a resort dive shop then the modern Aqualung Calypso would be my choice for fleet rental regulator. And for the rest of the rental kit: bungee open fins and “farmer john” wetsuits with separate jackets and bottoms … I have learned that people, and their feet, come in all shapes and sizes and flexibility is essential
