Need advice!

[booga_roo]

Hi! I need some advice as I have read all the reviews and am still bemused.

I wanna buy my first set of regs. I dive most weekends in the year cept winter (brrrrr!) in the UK. I don't do anything fancy when I dive, just watch the fish...... So...

1.Do I need a cold water reg? Will I be able to use it if I go to the tropics?
2.I dive in a dry suit. Will that affect the reg I buy?
3. I want something that is reliable (obviously)
4. I don't want some hugely complicated thing.

All suggections welcome.

Booga:cluck:

 

[nickjb]

To answer your points first:

1 Cold water regs are designed to work in water less than 10 degC. Some UK sites could be this cold all year round, It depends where you dive. A cold water reg will work fine in warm water. Generally a cold water sytem isn't much more expensive and the extra sealing keeps all the muck out.

2 Using a drysuit means you will have an extra hose so you will need 4 low pressure ports. The ports need to be arranged so you can route your hose neatly.

3 All regs will be reliable if maintained properly

4 Some regs have extra adjustments but these can be factory set and left alone. The only complexity might be servicing (Let your LDS do this if you are unsure)

There are two excellent reg comparison reviews at www.divernet.com.

My personal advice and preference would be for Apeks regs. In the UK they are easy to get and plenty of places will sevice them. From your needs I would suggest a TX40 2nd, TX40 octopus and a DST4 first stage. Reliable, simple and reasonably priced. Lots of good deals on-line

 

[dnew1973]

I don't know what your willing to spend but seeing that your in the UK have you looked at Cressi-Sub. The airtec (which is what i own) sounds like something you may want to consider.Plus it has all the options nickjb has stated. Its a diaphram which keeps out the grit and salts .Its recommended for cold water use but can also be used for warm water.The coldest Ive had it was 42F which is too cold for me.Also has an adjustable flow control.
Check out the cressi site see what you think.

 

[booga_roo]

Thanks guys, its always nice to other people's views on things. Wish me happy shopping!

 

[Scubamedicjoe]

you also might want to look at the apeks line too