New reg, $600 budget

[kidsdream]

My thoughts: If you travel a lot and will not be diving cold water below 45 to 50 degrees I would go with the SP MK25 and a S600 or the new 250 second stage. I have two and they are super easy breathers - and are adjustable for prevent free flows in current (or to tune down your octo so it does not free flow when you giant stride etc). This reg will work perfectly as deep as you ever need to breath. It can be serviced easily all over the world. The warranty is outstanding with free parts for life as long as you have it serviced yearly. My LDS has even replaced tge major metal fitting that seals against the 'O' ring on a standard yoke tank valve - after 300+ dives.

Now if you travel less (or plan to service the reg yourself, although the service method is same as APEKS FSR) or plan to dive in cold water regularly, I would look at the Salvo SR3 first stage and their SRX second stage. I just picked a couple of these up for my Doubles rig and they seem to work perfectly. You can not beat their value and Salvo sells the service parts freely.

I hope this helps. Just for the record I also have a couple of Mares Abyss regs and they breath fine, but I do like to be able to at least "tune" my Octo. The Abyss 2nd stage can free flow easily when you first jump in and it is not in your mouth.

 

[scubafanatic]

OK, the old Dacor finally passed the experation date.

I have had a Dacor for 17 years or so now. Bought new, worked good. The last service I was told that Dacor will no longer have service parts. So I ran it until it died. It needs servicing again, and a lack of parts leaves it a dead duck.

By chance the Government decided that I need to spend some money to help the economy. So I should have a $600 check to spend sometime soon. I will admit I have not stayed up to date with what s the latest and greatest. I am not a fan of the gizmo of the month either. So what I am looking for is

1) no more then $600, it can be less, don’t have to spend it all in one place

Aqualung Titan LX Supreme: even if you buy at an authorized dealer, pay full MSRP and add a new octo you'll come in at/under $ 600.

2) As I kept the old one for 17 years, I want something that I hope will be a functional item for many years. A reason to avoid the gizmo f the month. I want something that can be serviced and actually be brought back to life instead of being relegated to the scrap pile in a few years.

Aqualung Titan LX Supreme: this reg, especially the 1st-stage has been around a LONG time and is very mature/established/reliable technology. Aqualung is a very widely established brand worldwide, and the reg is a simple/straightforward design with no wierd/exotic servicing needs.

3) Diving conditions are usually colder, ocean, 100 foot

Aqualung Titan LX Supreme: the 'Supreme' comes standard with a 1st-stage dry-sealed environmental kit for cold water conditions.

4) Nitrox, I am considering getting a little training and might as well have gear prepared for it.

Aqualung Titan LX Supreme: like all modern regs, it's good out-of-the-box for up to 40% Nitrox mixes.

So what suggestions are there? I would prefer some actual thought and logic behind the choices. As for those of you who just bought something new and want to tell me about it, good for you. I don’t need to know that you got one, I want to know why you got what you did (I know how a lot of these threads tend to run on about someone being so happy with there purchase and no logic is provided why)

OK, I think I asked the question right, let’s see what you come back with…

...also, check out this recent 05/2005 'group reg test review' by DIVERNET:
Divernet | Group tests | Regs on the Rocks...

The Aqualung Titan LX Supreme tested out extremely well, and was considered quite a bargain, holding it's own with regs costing twice as much! (don't confuse the Titan LX Supreme with the 'plain' Titan...the LX Supreme has the 1st-stage dry sealed kit and Pneumatically balanced 2nd stage standard, you'll want these 2 'extra' features.

...for what's it's worth, I own/dive the following regs:

Poseidon Jetstream
Mares Ruby
Mares Voltrex MR16
Apeks XTX 200
Atomic B2
Aqualung Titan LX

...I won't go into detail as to all the pros/cons of all the regs I own...just get the Aqualung Titan LX Supreme and be done with it!

Karl

 

[catharine9]

You are not going to find many parts for Dacor. Very few dealers will even touch a Dacor related to no parts available.
Cat

 

[Swampdonkey]

I would recommend a GS2000 from Genesis.

Why, it is going to be around for a while ( 10 years min.) and for your needs it fits into your budget. In Canada it is 480 for a 1st stage and primary. Saving you 120 dollars on your budget and you get a reg that can work in cold water ( 36 degree was the temp reported last week in Lake Superior) and works extremely well at 100 feet. It also has been doven many times in 80 pluse degree water and done well also. I do also know that many people, that i know, have used it for nitrox as well and it works well. I think the best feature on the GS2000 is the "on the fly" control in the primary. That control allows you to adjust the way your primary breaths through out your whole dive.

From all the other posts, I hope you realize that you are getting peoples preferences, just like my above comments.

 

[Packhorse]

I would recommend a GS2000 from Genesis.

Why, it is going to be around for a while ( 10 years min.).

Is that all?
better get a scubapro. You can still get parts for 40 year old regs and will still be able to for a while yet too.

 

[squidster]

I love how people forget what I was asking for. The last 3 replys are completely worthless. I was asking for what to get and why. Now I just get people throwing names and pimping businesses. If you want me to consider what to get, you got to tell me why, not just what. I could hit any LDS and see names, they don't mean squat.

Now that I have looked it over a little I keep seeing Scubapro popping up. To be honest I never really considered them, but I have no reason not to. So they are now in my sights. Before posting this I did a quick search and had thought about some of the Dive Rite stuff. Maybe I will make it into town and see what is in the local shops this weekend

When people throw names out there, they leave up to you to do a little research.
You said that you wanted a reg for less then 600.00
I told you about the best Oceanic has to offer,for that price.
Instead of doing a little research you chose to be a AZZ.:mooner:

I have Scubapro and Oceanic,before i got them i asked some on the board about whats out there.
I didnt take every bodys word for it ,i studied them a little.
I guess what you want is some one to write a novel about a reg so you dont have to think!

 

[shoturtle]

I would recommend a GS2000 from Genesis.

Why, it is going to be around for a while ( 10 years min.) and for your needs it fits into your budget. In Canada it is 480 for a 1st stage and primary. Saving you 120 dollars on your budget and you get a reg that can work in cold water ( 36 degree was the temp reported last week in Lake Superior) and works extremely well at 100 feet. It also has been doven many times in 80 pluse degree water and done well also. I do also know that many people, that i know, have used it for nitrox as well and it works well. I think the best feature on the GS2000 is the "on the fly" control in the primary. That control allows you to adjust the way your primary breaths through out your whole dive.

From all the other posts, I hope you realize that you are getting peoples preferences, just like my above comments.

It is 250 US dollars. It is a good reg, the company is own by sherwood. The reg is made by oceanic. It is an environmentally seal piston reg. My wife uses it.

 

[Swampdonkey]

Is that all?
better get a scubapro. You can still get parts for 40 year old regs and will still be able to for a while yet too.

till they say no more. I mean I can still get pinto parts for a ford pinto, does that mean it is quality.

I am just being a realist and saying ten years on a reg min should be expected from this industry.

 

[D_B]

ScubaPro = Ford Pinto :huh:

 

[Cyclops_Diver]

ScubaPro = Ford Pinto :huh:

Naw...there is no equal to the Ford Pinto.

Definitly not Scubapro either...