Newbie Regulator Question

[medic5]

I vacation once or twice a year and try to dive a few times during each vacation. With this low number of dives (I did 4 in Tahiti this past July) I don't know if it makes sense to spend $$ on my own regulator. I have a BCD as I am 6'4" tall and the rentals don't fit as well as a computer and mask/fins/snorkel. I am concerned not only about the price but of maintenance as I understand these should be serviced regularly (once a year? twice a year? cost?).

I'm heading off to Fiji in a few weeks and the place I am staying wants $25 F$ a day to rent a regulator, this is about $15 a day. If I dive for four or five days the rental fee starts to add up.

Suggestions about the cost of purchasing my own vs. spending about $100 renting for my trip??

 

[parzdiver]

There are many good, inexpensive regulators that will service your needs quite well. Even getting something used and having it serviced locally will get you a solid regulator and you'll know exactly what you will be diving. I rented for years and my experiences varied greatly, from great gear to stuff I look back on thinking I should have said "HE11 NO!"

My recommendation is get your own reg. The piece of mind is worth it.

 

[Zung]

The thing that bugs me is, unlike skiing where you can rent anything, from the lowliest cheapos to really highend stuff, there appears to be only entry-level stuff on rental at the dive centers, i.e. Scubapro MK2/R395 or their equivalent in other brands. The only exception I know is the one across the street from where I live: they do Apeks only.

So if you like regs that breathe really well, you'll have to buy them and deal with the service. OTOH, with the help of the gurus around here, I've gather sufficient data to state with confidence that a good set of reg will last at least a hundred dives or 3 to 4 years of storage, whichever comes first. So the service part isn't too painful.

 

[medic5]

What's an approximate price for a decent entry regulator with octo and gauges?

 

[scubafanatic]

...doesn't sound like $ is the real issue here, for someone who can afford trips to Tahiti AND Fiji within less than a year timespan (Tahiti is famous for being VERY expensive!) You'd probably blow more $ in tips on just one of those trips to afford a decent, new mid-range complete reg set....just sayin'.

 

[medic5]

Gotta be honest, the trips are expensive. It is more the relative worth of a regulator with the knowledge that it won't be used a lot. Also, while the quality of a rental is always questionable the maintenance (presuming they do any) is not my problem.

 

[Centrals]

Also, while the quality of a rental is always questionable the maintenance (presuming they do any) is not my problem.

The quality of the rental equipment is NOT a real problem it is the lack of maintenance that concern me.
I am using a 14yrs old Apeks DS-4 regularly and do not see any reason to get rid of it unless I cannot find the service kit.
BCD is dead easy to service and so are the 1st and 2nd stages, they are not rocket science!!!

Apeks DS-4 with XTX-50 should serve you well.

 

[Zung]

Side note: Tahiti is not as expensive as it sounds. I've been to Rangiroa twice, and the ballpark is about a grand for the flight (+ tax), and a hundred bucks per night if you can live with simple hotels they call "pensions" instead of the high luxury type. The sharks and the mantas are worth every penny it takes to get there.