New Old Regulators for new diver.

[grantmac]

I'm a fan of used equipment, but for recreational diving I'd put regulators and tanks as the last things to get.

Good exposure protection, a good BCD (BP/W preferably) and a good computer all come first.

 

[lowwall]

I'm a fan of used equipment, but for recreational diving I'd put regulators and tanks as the last things to get.

Good exposure protection, a good BCD (BP/W preferably) and a good computer all come first.

Depends on whether you can count on a dive shop for rental regs. I've had some crappy rental regs on trips. Particularly in places that aren't normal dive destinations. For example my family went to Puerto Rico over Thanksgiving. It wasn't a dive trip, but we were close to a shop one day so my son and I took a 2-tank boat trip with them.

When I checked my rental reg before the first drive, it had a leak at the SPG spool. They changed it out. But the bigger problem was with my son's reg. It tested fine on the boat, but as the tank pressure dropped towards the end of the dive, it started to get difficult to breath. I could see the pressure reading on the SPG swing on every breath. It was acting as if the valve was almost closed, even though it was fully open. My guess is the filter was partially obstructed by dirt or debris.

I obviously stayed very close and we started a swimming ascent to the boat. We got to the mooring line and were just starting our safety stop when it locked up completely with about 500psi left. We shared my air for the stop.

 

[KenE]

The best advice I can give a new diver is to go very slow at getting your own gear. Upgrading scuba gear should not be your plan, but rather a symptom of the addiction we all suffer from. Scuba gear can last most of your diving career if properly maintained. So, rent a bit, this allows you to know what you want. What type of BCD, jacket or BP/W, do you understand the difference? Where are you taking your diving career, professional, master enthusiast, technical or cave? What do you have now? You should answer all of these before us on the internet can provide our recommendations.

I have found several items on the second hand market, but you need to know what you are buying and who you are buying from because that determines the risk you are taking. Regulators keep you alive underwater, so the risk I would take with those is minimal.

As mentioned before, there are basic recommendations as to what comes first. Mask, snorkel, fins, booties are first. Then gloves, hood, and wetsuit or drysuit. Next I would suggest computer, cutting devices, lights, compass, and any/all other needed accessories you need for your particular diving. Next is BC, then regulators, and lastly if at all, tanks. Tanks are really dependent of if you do any local diving.

You can search for each item above on SB and find many articles and recommendations for each one. The used market can keep the costs down, but know who you are buying from, or have it checked by someone you trust with the knowledge to know what they are looking at. I have found that if you ask the most basic diving questions about equipment the seller either knows what they have or they don't. If they don't, go another direction until you have more experience. I will caution about buying old wetsuits, they compress during diving and over time loose the ability to decompress and the insulation value drops significantly.

I hope this helps, again, go very slow, buy once and cry once. You likely will not "need" to buy again, not to say that you won't, again the addiction thing.

Keep diving fun!

 

[Timmyjane]

How much do you feel you want to spend, there are a lot of options.

It’s hard to say. Who knows if we will stick with the hobby. I’d like to start off with decent equipment to eliminate not diving because our equipment stinks but don’t want to put a lot out there either in the event it just sits and never gets wet. Don’t want something that isn’t sellable. Does that make sense?

 

[Timmyjane]

I want to offer an alternative view to the people who are advising against buying used gear. One thing you’ll soon discover is that there are always a range of opinions on every diving topic.

There is a lot of used gear sold here and I have yet to hear of someone being stuck with gear that was misrepresented.

Alternatively, FB Marketplace (local) with an agreement to have it serviced before payment, or perhaps just inspected (for a fee), can help you avoid scammers. Agree to meet at your LDS.

Lastly, cost conscious buyers can buy brand new gear shipped from Europe for ~50-60% of US prices. I’ve purchased half a dozen reg sets, multiple BCDs, and a dry suit, and I’ve never had a challenge with excessive US duties or import fees.

You might hear that so-called “gray market” (European import) buyers can’t access the free parts programs of some manufacturers, but that’s almost immaterial these days; manufacturers now tend to now require that you buy a full kit to access the program, and Mfc’s are making it increasingly easy to accidentally lose the benefit. in any case, those programs are more designed to create a continuing revenue stream for dealers than they are designed to save you money.

welcome to diving, it’s addictive.

Any suggestions of European suppliers?

 

[Timmyjane]

Another option for serviced used gear is Used Gear - Used Regulators - Northeast Scuba Supply Store . Give them a call and see what they recommend. You want to talk to John if possible.

I would suggest a wrist mounted dive computer, so you'll also need an octo, spg and LPI hose to complete your reg set. He can figure out the whole package.

If you want new, it's tough to beat the $450 DGX Gears D6 package (either single tank or streamlined). Again these come with SPG and LPI hose. DGX Gears D6 Regulator

I have managed to scoop up several computers. We have a Mares PuckPro+ a Hollis DG03 and a Hollis DG02.

 

[Timmyjane]

I have collected 1 nice jacket BCD and 2 BP/W setups. 1 is a HOG and the other is a Dive Right In (?). One set of Mares Quattro for me. 2 Farber steel tanks are at the dive shop now getting hydroed. One 3mm wet suit and one 3mm shorty. Some knives and another type of cutting device. Various other stuff from folks in kind of a grab bag situation. 3 Dive computers and 2 compasses. We seems to have compiled a decent starter pack.

We will buy masks and my wife’s fins from the LDS. Likely other things we didn’t even know we needed.

I have one SP MK18 with a G250 hp and some other type of octo. Snagged another old Oceanic Pre 1995 balanced 1st stage with Alpha regs but they are pretty old. For $20 I thought I’d take them apart and see how these scuba regs work. They seem pretty simple if you can get the parts to refurbish them. The regs need service and inspection if they are to be used. I intend to perform my own service at some point. I’ve built our house, boat, plane, pool, and a bunch of other junk. I will take the steps to learn how though.

Anyway, I’m a pretty good hunter and shopper but don’t know what I’m looking for in regs. (I’m currently at $865 spent). There is a huge range and so many brands that someone new wouldn’t recognize. I appreciate the advice so far. Lots of good info and things to consider.

 

[lowwall]

I have managed to scoop up several computers. We have a Mares PuckPro+ a Hollis DG03 and a Hollis DG02.

Those are fine. There are very few functional differences in recreational dive computers. Paying more gets you better screens, extra widgets and sometimes a more usable interface. But as long as it's nitrox capable, even the cheapest will do the core job of providing NDL guidance.

 

[lexvil]

It’s hard to say. Who knows if we will stick with the hobby. I’d like to start off with decent equipment to eliminate not diving because our equipment stinks but don’t want to put a lot out there either in the event it just sits and never gets wet. Don’t want something that isn’t sellable. Does that make sense?

It does make perfect sense, off the top of my head I would suggest Scubapro as hi quality with enough universal acceptance to be sold if you decide you don’t like diving, like a mk 25/s600. Don’t delve to far into the past with things like a G250 until you get deeper into the hobby, it’s an excellent second stage but you need to know what you’re doing to pick the right one. Find a mk 25 eco with an S600 or a G 260 and you’ll enjoy great performance and they are common enough to find used at great prices.

 

[lowwall]

I have one SP MK with a G250 hp and some other type of octo. Snagged another old Oceanic Pre 1995 balanced 1st stage with Alpha regs but they are pretty old. For $20 I thought I’d take them apart and see how these scuba regs work. They seem pretty simple if you can get the parts to refurbish them. The regs need service and inspection if they are to be used. I intend to perform my own service at some point. I’ve built our house, boat, plane, pool, and a bunch of other junk. I will take the steps to learn how though.

Take @rsingler's reg class if you don't know someone who can show you in person. On the DIY difficulty scale, I'd rank it similar to rebuilding carbs, but there's some theory and some specific techniques you really should know to troubleshoot and rebuild old regs without damaging them. For example a single scratch in the wrong place from removing an o-ring incorrectly can leave a piston first stage unusable.

He hasn't posted his schedule for 2024. But here's the 2023 thread: Regulator Technician Training - 2023