Need your thoughts on regulators

[Lee Taylor]

Been using US Divers reg for 12 yrs and want a new regulator. Been looking at Divers, Cressi, and Sherwood. Any ideas suggestions, likes, dislikes on any of the regs out there. I do recreational diving in the 30, 60, 90 ranges.

 

[shoturtle]

You should provide alittle more detail on what you are looking for, dive condition and so forth, also the price range you are looking to spend. You will get all different opinions. But pretty much all modern reg all breath well, and preform quite well., it takes a machine to measure the differences now adays. It comes down to taste, and features you like.

Just for example in the sub 300 dollar catagory middle grade regs, the cressi ellipse titanium and alaska are a good diving reg. If you dive cooler water I would go with the alaska, it is environmentally seal. Regs on par with it are the oceanic gt3. All three are diaphragm regs. The genesis GS2000 and the Sherwood magnum are good piston regs. So is the Aeris A1. All three are good cold water regs also and Genesis own by Sherwood and Aeris is own by oceanic. All these are good regs, it comes down to taste.

And on the higher end regs you will have debates over which one is the best, but that is purely subjective. If I had the money to burn, I would most likely get a mares proton extreme ice or the proton v42. But for my diving it is really not worth the extra money. JMTC, good luck and have fun choosing a new reg.

 

[keyshunter]

Been using US Divers reg for 12 yrs and want a new regulator. Been looking at Divers, Cressi, and Sherwood. Any ideas suggestions, likes, dislikes on any of the regs out there. I do recreational diving in the 30, 60, 90 ranges.

No major manufacturer make a reg which is "bad" at those shallow depths. Your money-your choice. Just remember that convenient availability of competent service is very important.

 

[Jimmer]

Just for example in the sub 300 dollar catagory middle grade regs, the cressi ellipse titanium and alaska are a good diving reg. If you dive cooler water I would go with the alaska, it is environmentally seal.

I'd just like to toss in a quick report on the Ellipse Alaska. My shop became a Cressi dealer and brought in the Alaska. So far on 2 cold water dives, it has freeflowed. Once not so badly, and the other time very violently in 125 feet of water. I have read at least one other thread on here that relayed a similar experience.

 

[OldNSalty]

Like the OP, I have always used AL (Mostly) and I can't see any reason to change but its your money. Like others have said, your needs/limitations might result in a different model being a better fit but if I had the cash to buy a new one I would probably go look at the AL line again as they have never let me down.

 

[mkutyna]

No major manufacturer make a reg which is "bad" at those shallow depths. Your money-your choice. Just remember that convenient availability of competent service is very important.

What if he's talking about 30, 60, and 90 meters?

 

[keyshunter]

What if he's talking about 30, 60, and 90 meters?

Since he is from Charleston, SC, I assumed that he is talking feet. He also notes that he is interested in recreational diving. 60 and 90 meters are definitely not recreational depths.

 

[Couv]

Been using US Divers reg for 12 yrs and want a new regulator. Been looking at Divers, Cressi, and Sherwood. Any ideas suggestions, likes, dislikes on any of the regs out there. I do recreational diving in the 30, 60, 90 ranges.

Hello Lee,
The first suggestion I have is to have your regulator serviced if it is causing you problems-regulators last a long time. But if you are dead set on getting a new one, here is my usual cut and paste special:
Regulator buying advice

Shortly, you will be swamped with advise about buying a regulator, mostly by people who own a brand and are very fond of it. One thing to keep in mind about regulators is that most are great at what they do. So how do you separate the wheat from the chaff? That won't be easy, but it will be fun and entertaining. Soon you will find out there are quite a few gurus on this board in each section. It's helpful to pick out a few of them and read lots of their post and you will be off to a very good start. In the regulator section I can highly recommend the post of (in no particular order) Awap, DA Aquamaster, Captain, Pescador775 and Luis H …there are lots of others but that will keep you busy for a while.

At any rate, you want a regulator brand that has a good track record for keeping parts available for each model. Of course unless you intend to DIY, you also want a regulator that can be serviced by your local dive shop and lots of locations in the world. The two best companies in both regards are Aqualung and Scubapro.

My recommendation for the average recreational diver, i.e. not freezing water, 150 feet or less, is a simple non balanced piston 1st stage such as the Scuba Pro MK 2 (or Aqualung Calypso, Mares R2, Sherwood Brut and a few others.) This simple design is usually inexpensive, nearly bullet proof, easy to get parts for and easy and inexpensive to service. It is also easy to DIY because it requires only a few o-rings and a seat. Yes, the unbalanced design will increase the breathing effort at low tank pressure, but I view this as a good thing especially for new or inexperienced divers. See this thread: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/regulators/87374-scuba-pro-r190-2.html

Additionally, if/when one wants to start more advanced diving where high concentrations of oxygen will be used this type regulator can be moved to that application.

For a second stage I like an adjustable and balanced unit. This provides the ability to have the regulator tuned to minimum inhalation resistance with the option of the diver increasing the resistance it if he/she finds the need to. Having said that, a straight forward classic downstream design with a simple to replace set of o-rings and button soft seat can be highly recommended as it is a tried and true design, parts are usually available and almost anyone can service them.

It is a good idea to have the same manufactures 1st and 2nd stage to make getting service less complicated.
For more demanding diving and high end/higher performance (higher price) regulators see the following link for DA's excellent advice.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/regulators/181745-advice-regulators.html

couv

 

[shoturtle]

I'd just like to toss in a quick report on the Ellipse Alaska. My shop became a Cressi dealer and brought in the Alaska. So far on 2 cold water dives, it has freeflowed. Once not so badly, and the other time very violently in 125 feet of water. I have read at least one other thread on here that relayed a similar experience.

That is why I said for cooler waters not cold waters. The alaska is good in 55 degree water up to 110ft.

 

[Trimix2dive]

Been using US Divers reg for 12 yrs and want a new regulator. Been looking at Divers, Cressi, and Sherwood. Any ideas suggestions, likes, dislikes on any of the regs out there. I do recreational diving in the 30, 60, 90 ranges.

With the extreme little information given I assume 30-90 is feet, and not meters or fathoms. This being true and not ice diving or overly cold diving, any of the above would probably work.

I don't know your area of the country or local market, but for serviceablity there and in other place I would guess US Divers. My Dad now has a 20 year old set, of mine now and has had no issue with regular maintenance on them. Get parts & service just about anywhere.

Now what do I have Zeagle ZD-50, SP MK25/X650, Poseidon Cyklon, Jetstream, & xtreme - all for various reasons reck & tech. All have been in water of below / at 45 degrees F, and at / below 200 feet. (Sorry Ice and Cold Water Divers it just don't get that cold in Texas.) No service issues in N. Central Texas Area.