Poseidon 'Skinny'

[ScoobieDooo]

Hi,
A buddy and I have been thinking about getting a Poseidon Jetstream / Odin reg and we are pretty confused about whats the truth and whats opinion.

We'd like to know:

*Does the Odin use standard 3/8" fitting LP hoses?

*Is it true that the 2nd stage is 'fussy' to tune?

*Is it true that their are NO working parts IN the 2nd stage?

*Do they actually breathe ANY better than, say, a decent Apek's or SP reg?

 

[scubafanatic]

....well, I'm not a Poseidon Odin technical 'expert', but I now own 3 complete Odin reg sets, and enjoy them tremendously, so here's my 2 cents worth:

from what I can tell, the Odin does use standard 3/8" fitting LP hoses.....the hoses appear to look identical to those of my Mares regs, and the LP ports are labeled as 3/8" ports on the side of the 1st stage. Also, the hoses are rubber, which makes them immune to stiffening up in cold water...they remain flexible no matter what the temperature.

is the 2nd stage 'fussy' to tune....I don't think they're any fussier than any other brand of reg........they do use a 'servo-valve' design, so they are a bit different than a 'conventional' Apek or SP reg......so you do need a tech familiar with the Odin since their design is 'different'. (by the way, it's common knowledge that SP 2nd stages are very complicated--see the SP review in Divernet.com--which to me makes the SP 2nd stages 'fussier' than any Odin......and such un needed complexity compromises reliability too.)

not sure about what you mean by 'no working parts within the 2nd stage'.....I think there are working parts in the 2nd stage, among other things, that's where the servo-valve is located.

I've never dove Apeks or SP, so I won't compare them to the Odin......however, I've been tremendously pleased with my Odins, plus being side-exhaust there's none of the bubble interference so typical of 'conventional' regs like Apeks/SP.

Karl

 

[LUBOLD8431]

Ok, first of all, the Poseidon does not use a standard hose. The end that goes into the first stage is a 3/8 " fitting, but the end that goes to the second stage has a pressure relief built into the end. The hose is a little more expensive than a standard hose. However, you shouldnt have to replace them often.

Second, the second stage is a servo valve design and is not fussy to tune. If someone says that they are hard to overhaul, they do not know what they are doing, or havent gotten properly trained to repair them. In either case, make sure your service tech you bring them to, is a Poseidon trained tech.

The second stage has a servo valve in it and it is a working part. It is spring loaded, and when you breath in, the diaphragm gets pulled in and presses down on the tip (actuator) of the servo valve and allows air to come out and into your mouth.

The beauty of the Poseidon is it actually breathes better the deeper you go... But, its not the same as an APeks, because the Poseidon has a little higher cracking effort than the APeks. You have to get used to how it breathes, and then you will be fine...

I personally own four Odins, and I love them. I use them for technical diving and for single tank diving too. I also own two APeks ATX-200 and I love them as well. I use the APeks for teaching and single tank diving as well.

I guess, if I had to choose one over the other, I would have to go with the APeks.

No, I would go with the Poseidon... Ya, I think so..

Ummm... or maybe the APeks... ya, i think the APeks...

Hmmmm... thats a very tough question... I really like them both. But, please whatever you do, dont get caught in the Scubapro trap. You will pay more for it, because they inflate their prices, and you will pay more for service parts, and overhauls. And the thing is, the APeks or the Poseidon is a better reg than the Scubapro...

Oh, and P.S. -- go with a diaphragm first stage... Scubapro are mostly all piston regs...

 

[ElectricZombie]

But, please whatever you do, dont get caught in the Scubapro trap. You will pay more for it, because they inflate their prices, and you will pay more for service parts, and overhauls. And the thing is, the APeks or the Poseidon is a better reg than the Scubapro...

Oh, and P.S. -- go with a diaphragm first stage... Scubapro are mostly all piston regs... [/B]

ScubaPro's prices are very reasonable. Apex has higher prices than ScubaPro. I do agree that their parts should be a little cheaper though.

In my experience, the ScubaPros breath and perform better than the Apex line. The Apex regs are not all that bad, just not quite as good as the SP. I've never dove a Poseidon so, I can't comment on that.

Diaphrams for cold water. Pistons will work in cold water too, but take some extra work. In warmer waters, it does not really matter. ScubaPro has 1 diaphram reg, the Mk16. (Well 2 actually if you count the Mk18 that is not in the catalog, you have to ask for it.) The Mk16 is a great breather, probably the best diaphram around.

 

[LUBOLD8431]

Dude, you sound a little biased or something towards Scubapro... Have you ever used the Apeks ATX-200???

Have you ever breathed an Apeks and a Scubapro at 180 feet???

ALso, have you ever overhauled a scubapro and had to pay for the parts??? How about an APeks???

The APeks has a lifetime warranty on service kits, which means you do NOT pay for those when you get an overhaul, just LABOR...

Also, the Apeks ATX-200 is cheaper than the Scubapro Mk25 ultralight / S600 (retail price).

 

[chickdiver]

My .02 worth

I think Posiedons are crap.

Apeks v. Scubapro- I own 7 Scubapros and 4 Apeks. Performance wise I think they are comparable (easuily comparable). As far as maintenance goes- the Apeks are certainly easier to rebuild, with fewer annual replacement parts. Both have lifetime warranties, so as long as you keep the maintenance up you should not pay for anything but labor on annual overhauls. As for price- the Apeks are certainly mor reasonably priced.

I was a die- hard Scubapro fan until my shop picked up Apeks and I tried one out just to see what the fuss was about. I was extremely pleased with its performance, and I have been converted. I dont think you would go wrong with either reg, but my recommendation would be the Apeks.

 

[TCDiver1]

CD,

Just curious, why do you think Poseidons are crap?

 

[ElectricZombie]

LUBOLD8431,

I have tried the ATX-200, it's a good reg but I still think the SP breathes better. Either will do everything you need.

Never had to pay for any SP parts. Dont' have to pay for labor either since I do my own. You only pay for labor with SP.

The Mk25 ultralight is a piece of crap, an expensive piece of crap at that!! It is probably the worst product ever designed by SP. Aluminum does not make for a good 1st stage. SP learned their lesson on that one, they will never make another.

The ATX-200 goes for about $700.00 at a local shop here in town. I can get a Mk25/S600 for about $500.00.

A lot of this is just person preference. Either reg is a good choice.

 

[Bob3]

The suggested MSRP for the Poseidons are:

Cyklon: $475

Jetstream/Odin: $460

Xstream: $555

Poseidon doesn't require their dealers to maintain fixed minimum pricing, they are free to discount.

Both the Cyklon & Jetstream operate reliably in sub-freezing water with the use of the anti-freeze cap.

 

[TCDiver1]

Bob3 once bubbled...

Both the Cyklon & Jetstream operate reliably in sub-freezing water with the use of the anti-freeze cap.

Yeah Bob, but you have to agree, that rubber cup is kinda chinsey as cold water kits go.

I love my Odins and Thor but that kit is weak IMO.