need advice on my first regulator set please

[gesguerra]

hello masters and buddies. open water diver here from the Philippines, and i'm into buying my first rig. need your advice please.

i'm being offered by a certain reputable dive shop here this set:
1st stage - Mares MR12
2nd stage primary - Mares Proton (that non-metal one)
2nd stage secondary - Oceanic Alpha 8 yellow
SPG and Depth Console - can't remember the brand clearly, but I think it's "Mega Sport" or "World Sport", somethin like that; PSI/feet

package costs around 335 USD (or 16000 PHP)...

Mares and Oceanic are ok with me, but is it any good to have different brands for the 2nd stages? and i'm a bit unsure about the brand of the console too...

any inputs are very much appreciated

 

[Greg Barlow]

Gesguerra,

The Mares MR12 Proton is an excellent regulator, particularly for warm water such as your country offers. The Oceanic Alpha 8 is another high quality design, and yes, it will work perfectly fine with the Mares MR12. The shop should adjust the cracking effort of both second stages as part of the preparation service.

The gauge set is a new one to me. I can't help you there.

Greg Barlow
Former Science Editor for Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine

 

[gesguerra]

Gesguerra,

The Mares MR12 Proton is an excellent regulator, particularly for warm water such as your country offers. The Oceanic Alpha 8 is another high quality design, and yes, it will work perfectly fine with the Mares MR12. The shop should adjust the cracking effort of both second stages as part of the preparation service.

The gauge set is a new one to me. I can't help you there.

Greg Barlow
Former Science Editor for Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine

Thanks for the valuable input Greg. I'll remember to ask the shop about the adjustment of cracking effort. As my first rig (to be), I like the setup, and I was amused by the Mares proton's handy size. Although thinking ahead, should this rig be good if I decide to further my education? I was told that it can be used for those smaller mixes of nitrox, but I have no idea with that yet. Care to shed any light?

And yeah, the console, I just found out via Google that it's Italian-made - brand is Mega Sport - but can't find any reviews for it.

Thanks for your time, cheers.

 

[Greg Barlow]

Thanks for the valuable input Greg. I'll remember to ask the shop about the adjustment of cracking effort. As my first rig (to be), I like the setup, and I was amused by the Mares proton's handy size. Although thinking ahead, should this rig be good if I decide to further my education? I was told that it can be used for those smaller mixes of nitrox, but I have no idea with that yet. Care to shed any light?

And yeah, the console, I just found out via Google that it's Italian-made - brand is Mega Sport - but can't find any reviews for it.

Thanks for your time, cheers.

I am a big fan of the Proton design. In fact, I use two Proton Metal second stages on my cave/tech doubles. I use a V42/Proton Metal for cold water diving, and a V16/Proton for my single tank warm water dives.

They can be used out-of-the-box for nitrox mixes up to 40%, and can be converted to use mixes up to and including pure oxygen.

The Mega Sport is a new one to me. For the price you paid for the entire package, I would use it as is.

Here's a picture of me just after surfacing from an ice dive last winter. You can see ice forming on my dry suit just a few minutes after exiting the water. You can see my V42/Proton Metal reg.

One more plus to the Proton design is that it is very easy to rebuild, and only uses a few O-rings in the second stage.

Greg Barlow

 

[RAWalker]

Yes, you could use the set up described but my question is if the shop deals in both Mares and Oceanic why not a complete set from either?
Why the mix and match?
Is this used gear or new?
I don't find the practice of mix and match unheard of but generally this happens when a diver with experience has preference to particular gear or when someone is purchasing a used set not when a new diver get their first set unless purchasing used gear.

 

[dori fish]

Try seeing if You can get the abyss22, that is what i have with a rebel octo, breathes great in any condition. maybe you should you should look into a simple computer and a brass and glass spg. the computer mainly b/c of lack of experience, this is what i use.

 

[gesguerra]

I am a big fan of the Proton design. In fact, I use two Proton Metal second stages on my cave/tech doubles. I use a V42/Proton Metal for cold water diving, and a V16/Proton for my single tank warm water dives.

They can be used out-of-the-box for nitrox mixes up to 40%, and can be converted to use mixes up to and including pure oxygen.

The Mega Sport is a new one to me. For the price you paid for the entire package, I would use it as is.

Here's a picture of me just after surfacing from an ice dive last winter. You can see ice forming on my dry suit just a few minutes after exiting the water. You can see my V42/Proton Metal reg.

One more plus to the Proton design is that it is very easy to rebuild, and only uses a few O-rings in the second stage.

Greg Barlow

It's great to read a review like yours Greg. In that case, I guess I'll never go wrong with the Mares Proton. I might get the rig real soon. Thanks and happy safe diving to all of us.

 

[gesguerra]

Yes, you could use the set up described but my question is if the shop deals in both Mares and Oceanic why not a complete set from either?
Why the mix and match?
Is this used gear or new?
I don't find the practice of mix and match unheard of but generally this happens when a diver with experience has preference to particular gear or when someone is purchasing a used set not when a new diver get their first set unless purchasing used gear.

Thanks for the time man. The rig is brand new, but the mix and match is what the shop can offer to me at the most reasonable price, so they say. Although you're right, I'm also considering getting the rig with both Mares on the 2nd stage. Hmm, i'll check that option. Cheers buddy.