New diver/Equipment set up

[halocline]

I suggested the high-end reg due to what he was planning on spending on a D9. Regardless, I still think a high-end reg is appropriate for any type of diving. Most divers will be seeing 100' depths within a year or two of their certification and it is so much more pleasurable breathing through a good balanced reg than an entry level reg. Besides, a regulator should last him for his entire diving career. There is no reason not to get something that breathes well.

I would be very surprised if most new divers could tell any difference at 100 ft between, for example, a MK25 and a zeagle envoy. I personally know that there is a subtle difference between my well tuned MK2/R190 and my (also well tuned) MK15/G250. Decent quality regs by reputable manufacturers these days are all really good; much better than regs used just a few decades ago for VERY demanding dives. This is why you rarely see a post saying "my reg sucks, sure wish I had bought X" I see divemasters in Cozumel diving to 100ft+ on the cheapest regs around, on a daily basis. There's nothing wrong with buying a high-end reg, but if you're looking to save money buying a bunch of new gear, you can easily do so by avoidng the high end reg, and maybe putting some money into something that will have a more noticable and immediate impact on diving comfort, like a perfect fitting wetsuit. It's hardly like the medium (and entry) level regs by SP, aqualung, zeagle, oceanic, etc... breathe poorly.

 

[loosebits]

Well, way back when I definitely could tell the difference between my Conshelf 14 and my DS4/ATX50 (even at 10'). Perhaps the Conshelf wasn't well tuned. I didn't know enough at the time to suspect that perhaps the LDS servicing it didn't know what they were doing.