problem: from fins to regs

[neopluredon]

hi!

for some of you who knows the story of how i bumped into this forums, i first had an issue with fins, got advises from a lot of people, rented their recommendations, and then actually bought a pair of oms slipstreams yesterday since it made me happy ... thank you for those who shared their recommendations.

now that i've finally concluded my fin search, i am now switching to regulators... unlike the fins, searching for my reg is a BIGGER DEAL because i totally have no idea what type and brand (if it does matter) to buy so i'm asking again for help from the diving gurus here.

here are some details of my diving for you guys to base your recommendations on:

- i dive in southeast asia and not planning to dive in cold water regions yet...
- i often assist my instructor in his a/ow pool sessions (i was reading through some of the topics posts here and noticed [correct me if i'm wrong] that water composition affects the regulator
- i seldom do nitrox... once in every 5 months
- i don't know if this is valid but, i am having issues with some of the regs i've rented every time i do a fast descent - some of the regs are expelling to much air to the point that i am being drowned by air... again, i am not sure if this is a valid reg issue but if you can give me further explanations as to how it happens, a big thank you
- if this matters, my bcd is a 45lb oms bp/w (single)

:edit:

here are the features i'm looking for:

- light weight
- durable
- low-maintenance... i like to read manuals and tweak stuff but then would like to get the type of regs which are easy to "troubleshoot"
* i actually don't care about the price because quality is more important for me

what some people recommended me:

- diver dude: poseidon
- diver gal: apeks
- sales person: sherwood

once you've given me your recommendations, i'll find a shop where to rent them and see which makes me happy

thanks guys!

 

[kathydee]

I was told that Scuba Pro & Aqualung are easy to service in SE Asia. So I went with Scubapro. I don't think you can go wrong with a MK25 s600, unless the price is too much.

Here is a recent thread that is kicking around. Happy shopping!

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/regulators/312359-mk25-superior-mk17.html

 

[Codiak]

second'd on the Scuba Pro options... MK 25 or MK 17 and S600, S650 or S700

SB has a free parts for life with annual maintence...

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

From what I know Poseidon's are hard to find parts and service (at least in US)
Aqualung/Apeks is a good bet.
So is Scubapro.
Sherwood I don't know.
Atomic is REALLY good.
The other brands I don't know much about.
Although, everybody who I talk to about their brand of choice seems to swear what they picked is the best. That tells me they are all pretty good.
You should look around in your area and see what is most available and serviced on that brand.
It seems like all major brands are pretty good and everything will work. It's just a matter of regional availability.

 

[neopluredon]

thank you guys

 

[Bubbletrubble]

Lots of good reg manufacturers out there. As has already been recommended, find out which brands are serviceable in your part of the world.

If you're helping out with classes in the pool, I'd recommend either borrowing rental regs from your LDS (assuming that your instructor is affiliated with an LDS) or buying a second cheap reg setup for pool dives. Ditto for the wetsuit and BCD. Chlorine does pretty nasty things to dive gear. Save your more expensive reg for ocean dives.

Also, I realize that it isn't part of your question, but I'm curious...why do you have a BP/W with so much lift (45 lbs.)? Assuming that you're wearing a 3mm wetsuit, a more appropriately sized wing would have a lift of about 20 lbs. Just wondering.

 

[neopluredon]

thanks! borrowing regs for pool sessions is a good idea

Also, I realize that it isn't part of your question, but I'm curious...why do you have a BP/W with so much lift (45 lbs.)? Assuming that you're wearing a 3mm wetsuit, a more appropriately sized wing would have a lift of about 20 lbs. Just wondering.

good question actually here are my reasons:

(1) i was quoted by another store for a smaller wing but when i checked the authorised dealer's page of oms, their store name isn't there. i was assuming their oms' are grey (or black market which is worst) because they are selling it at a very very unrealistically low price so for practical reasons, i went for 45lbs with the authorised dealer. i am pretty o.c. when it comes to services and parts that i even conversed with the store owner re their terms and conditions on warranty, repair fees, overhauling, blah blah blah... (and so just to test as well if they know what they're talking about because some actually have no f* idea what they're babbling about for the sake of closing a sale).

(2) after my 100th dive, which is not anytime sooner, i am planning to take some specialisation on tech diving. it would be practical to get used to the bp/w for the longest time before i attach two or more tanks to it than struggling with a new bp/w on the day i'll be taking the course.

 

[eelpout]

Lets look at the features that you are looking for.

Light weight
I would look at the Scubapro MK25T/S600T My wife has hers since 2002. I originally purchased it for my personal use but my wife picked it up and claimed it for her use. I rebuild our regs every year and can tell the difference in the wear and tear compared to my chrome plated brass MK25. The MK25T is superior in corrosion resistance.

Apeks is making a new reg, The Apeks Flight. It is not available in the US yet. It is avavilable in the UK though. You can check it out on this website. www.divernet.com/Diver_Gear?diver_test/334566/regulator_apeks_flight.html
Make sure you make not of the comparison in breathing capacity. It is not being compared to the top of the line Apekx regs.

Durable

I can vouch for the Scubapro MK25T/S600T that my wife owns. She makes an average of 30-50 saltwater dives a year (when she is diving rec). She owns a set of Apeks TX50/DS4 for her back gas OC tech system.

The Apeks Flight is so new that I don't know what to say about it's durability.

Low maintenance
The capacity to work on your own regulators is not going to be easy. I would not start tweaking on them unless you know what you are doing. Most regs are designed to work without being tweaked. If they start to act up get it serviced. If you want to learn how to do it then go through the proper channels. If you can afford the reg, then you can afford to get it serviced.

I would like to add is the actual design advantages and disadvantages of each companies 1st stages.

Scubapro uses a flow through piston on the MK25
Advantages
1. Great flow rate -can't overbreath it even at 230' (I use it ofr my back gas)
2. Easy to work on - I repair at least 40-50 of them a year (I do about the same Apeks regs)
3. If you ever flood it in slatwater, you can just rinse it in fresh water , insides too, and purge it with air, and you can continue to dive it till your next service dates.
4. Titanium is light, strong and corrosion resistant. It has been on their line of regs for a while.
Disadvantage
1. Cost
2. Cannot be used with 100% O2
3. Not popular with cold water divers (I live in Minnesota,USA and use it under the ice in 36 F water)

Apeks uses a balanced diaphragm on the Apeks Flight
Advantages
1. Less expensive
2. Corrosion resistant (it is a composite 1st stage)
3. Diaphragms are usually great for cold water but they (Apeks) don't reccomend this one for cold water diving. I use Apeks XT50/DS4 regs for my deco gas rigs.

Disadvantage
1. Too new to know anything about it other than what the company tells you so far.
2. Diaphragm regs don't do to well if you flood it with salt water. Even if you rinse the reg (flow water through it, or soak it with the first stage dust cap off) It will start acting up after a couple of day of diving. Too many parts that can fail.

The last thing I would consider whenit comes to buying a reg is who you are buying it from. I understand the situation in the Philippines and most of my firends over there have friends buy it for them abroad if they can because they save some money doing it that way. In that case my next comment won't be a factor. If you buy it locally then the customer service record of the company you buy it from withh be a major factor. Do they have parts readily available? Is their techinician well versed in the reg. If you are on a live aboard boat will your reg be easy enough to tinker with by somebody who is qualified?

I hope this information helps,
Jim

 

[neopluredon]

hi jim!

thanks for all the info the last paragraph was really helpful.

 

[iztok]

Well there is still (I think) some good quality Hog regulators for sale. D1 cold $100 (other one is even less) and 2nd stage $54. They work great.