Need everyones opinion!!!

[Quarrior]

I'm gonna buy a new regulator this weekend and I have a few choices. TEll me which one you would choose and why. OK here are the choices.

Tusa platina regulator

Scubapro MK2 regulator

Oceanic alpha7 SP4piston regulator

Oceanic alpha8 SP5piston regulator

I notice you are in NW AR. That means freshwater diving in pretty murky water at places like Bull Shoals and up in MO in places like Table Rock Lake.

I have dived both a few times, more in Table Rock, but either way, here are my thougts.

1. You want an environmentally sealed first stage. That means no piston regs, just diaphram.

2. You want a reg that will work well at 120' in 42 degree water because that's how cold it is at that depth pretty much year round.

My recommendation is Zeagle DSV with ZX second stage and ZX octo. The ZX second stage has a heat synch in to keep it from freezing. Another option is the Apeks regs.

Scuba Pro regs while they are high performance have to detuned (made lower performance) to keep them from free flowing in the colder water.

 

[hugedodge2000]

The MK2 plus has first and second stage balanced.......http://www.sportdiver.com/product.jsp?ID=736&product=&clientID=17030.
Thats the one I'm looking at but I'll check out the other regs mentioned. Thanks guys!!!!

 

[offroaddiver]

lets go by the specs....(as noted on LP)
Tusa platina regulator
There's 4 listed on LP
Platina RS-110 R-100 first stage ~$140
non-adjustable
2hp 4lp
piston style 1st

Platina RS-130 R-100 first stage ~$175
flowrate adjustable (upgrade from previous,only difference)
2hp 4lp
piston style 1st

Platina RS-230 first not listed ~$325
Flowrate Adjustable 2nd
2hp 4lp
balanced diaphragm

Platina Plus RS-240 with swivel first not listed ~$350
Flowrate Adjustable 2nd
2hp 4lp
balanced diaphragm


Scubapro MK2 regulator
4 listed on LP

MK2 plus first stage..
1hp 4lp
1st style piston with Thermal Insulating System

packages with regs...
MK2 plus/R190 ~$150
R190
VIVA adjustable

MK2 plus/R295 ~$200
R295
VIVA adjustable

MK2 plus/R290 ~$160
R290
VIVA adjustable
"R190 in a smaller package"

MK2 plus/R390 ~$175
R390
VIVA adjustable

sidenote VIVA stands for Venturi Initiated Vacuum Assistant

Oceanic alpha7 SP4piston regulator ~$125
non-adjustable flowrate
1hp 4lp
Unbalanced piston

Oceanic alpha8 SP5piston regulator ~$125
non-adjustable flowrate
1hp 4lp
unbalanced piston

With that information I assume you're in the range of $120 to $200 correct?
If so then my choices of these would be:
Platina RS-130 R-100 first stage
MK2 plus/R295
MK2 plus/R390

these fall into the price range just listed and they all appear to be good quality. I would also lean more towards the MK2 plus with either the 295 or 390 regs as they have the pistons that appear to be environmentally sealed to help with cold water.

There's the info collected for others to help in your decision.

 

[halocline]

MK2, plus or otherwise, is not balanced. This is not the grave problem some people think, it only means that at tank pressures lower than 500PSI the reg will start to breathe a little harder. It's really not that noticable; I've taken mine down to almost nothing on a training platform just to see what would happen. I could still breathe fine, very little effort, at 250 PSI. My MK2 was my first reg, and I've used it down to 130 ft with no problems at all. In terms of performance, it's not as good as my other reg, MK15/G250 (which probably breathes about as well as anything) but it's still pretty good and does make an excellent stage reg if you ever need one.

A possible advantage of the MK2 over the other regs you mentioned is the fact that it's been around for ever, is probably the most widely used rental reg in the world, and so it will be very easy to get parts and service no matter where you are.

 

[hugedodge2000]

Description:
MK2 PLUS

"Simple elegance" best describes the MK2 PLUS. It offers a combination of simplicity and reliability in a compact design that remains unmatched in today's market.

* Standard piston technology
* Thermal Insulating System (TIS)
* 4 low pressure ports
* Single high pressure port
* Available in yoke or DIN (not shown) system


R190
This is the legendary MK2 PLUS/R190 regulator.
Features include heavy duty construction and few parts for low maintenance.

* Classic downstream valve
* Reversible low pressure hose attachment
* Classic purge valve
* High flow exhaust valve
* Food grade PVC mouthpiece
* Fixed VIVA flow vane
* Available as Octopus Version



Specifications:
Year 2006
Color Black & Chrome
Stage Type 1st & 2nd Balanced
Num. of High Pressure Ports 2
Num. of Low Pressure Ports 4
Coldwater Ready Yes


THE MK2 PLUS IS BALANCED!!!!

 

[hugedodge2000]

Correction Sport diver magazine claims they are balanced.....but I just talked to scubapro and turns out they are not, but they are a good reg for beating up!!!

 

[hugedodge2000]

Is the cressi-sub xs2 any good????

 

[SHPWRCKDVR]

I've dove a Scuba Pro G500 Mk20 for the past 9 years without any trouble! Just my 2 cents worth.....

 

[hugedodge2000]

I think I'm gonna go with the tusa platina rs110. Anyone use this rig????

 

[JDog]

Not me