New to diving and looking at equipment.

[BVickery]

Your gonna love your Atomics, I know I do mine. I think you both got solid packages.

 

[philly fresh]

You should have your fiance check into the Zeagle Lazer. Its the female version of the stiletto. My wife chose that one due to its features and outstanding customer service and warranty. We worked a deal on two bc's and she got in pink for the same price as a regular one from zeagle express. They asked for me to take her measurements and sent the right waist and shoulders for her size. I doubt you can get a better fit in a one size fits all bc. we are both using zeagle, scubapro mk25//a700 , mares mv octo, and aeris atmos ai. We both run the same gear, so in case of an emergency we arent trying to figure out each others setup. YMMV, I do not claim to be an expert, and good luck with everything.

 

[doctormike]

The only thing I am torn a bit on is the octo. I know that I want an actual octo and not an intergrated unit. There are obviously heated debates on a whether or not to get a cheap octo or a matching octo. Well this is the argument that stuck out to me the most being a pilot, one that has invested $1000's in a parachute.

I'm glad that you are considering my advice, but I think that you may be reading more into it than I meant... pretty much any modern, new regulator is going to work just fine for new divers in warm water. Unlike computers and BCs, there just aren't a lot of variables or features for you to worry about. A cheap modern new regulator will be fine for you if you take good care of it (washing after dives compulsively, and correctly), and bring it in for routine maintenance (once a year, or every two years for Atomics).

I was just saying that you shouldn't consider your backup regulator to be just window dressing, and buy something cheap from a garage sale and not have it overhauled. For two new divers doing warm water diving, I would get four entry level second stages, so that you can have them all serviced together at the same shop, and don't worry so much about the differences. I see no problem with getting matching regulators, although I have heard differently from one of my instructors (but that was more in the context of technical diving, so not sure it applies here).

The Atomic Z2s are a great choice, BTW.