Regs for tech diving .?.?.?

[karstdvr]

I use MK10/R190 on another set.
.

The Mk10 is probably one of the best regulators made,and a study showed it has better gas delivery than a Mk20/25. These can be had cheap on ebay since everyone wants the Mk25,plus you'll more likely get an older style G250 in the deal.

 

[MikeFerrara]

I'm surprised that no one mentioned servicing considerations.

I don't know what kind of technical diving you folks are doing but my wife and I found that we needed to own quit a few regs. Between the two of us we must have around 20. On the road we carry extra regs along with parts and tools.

I won't buy any reg that I might have trouble getting parts and service information for. That eliminates Aqualung and scubapro right off the top.

Currently we have Apeks (baught when Zeagle had them), Zeagle, Diverite, sherwood and I'm probably leaving something out.

Some of those were purchased when I was a dealer and parts availability wasn't a concern. Before I closed the shop I stocked up on the parts that I thought I'd have trouble getting later.

Remember the "technical" in "technical diver"...To me, it just isn't worth messing with a manufacturer that insists that you need a dive shop to service your equipment.

 

[Kangy]

I'm surprised that no one mentioned servicing considerations.

I don't know what kind of technical diving you folks are doing but my wife and I found that we needed to own quit a few regs. Between the two of us we must have around 20. On the road we carry extra regs along with parts and tools.

I won't buy any reg that I might have trouble getting parts and service information for. That eliminates Aqualung and scubapro right off the top.

Currently we have Apeks (baught when Zeagle had them), Zeagle, Diverite, sherwood and I'm probably leaving something out.

Some of those were purchased when I was a dealer and parts availability wasn't a concern. Before I closed the shop I stocked up on the parts that I thought I'd have trouble getting later.

Remember the "technical" in "technical diver"...To me, it just isn't worth messing with a manufacturer that insists that you need a dive shop to service your equipment.

I agree with the being able to service your own regs, the DiveRite RG2500 that I recommended and dive myself have available service kits and are very easy to service yourself. Just finished up rebuilding one of my older ones a few weeks ago and it breathes like it just came off the shelf.

 

[Hoosier]

I'm surprised that no one mentioned servicing considerations.

I don't know what kind of technical diving you folks are doing but my wife and I found that we needed to own quit a few regs. Between the two of us we must have around 20. On the road we carry extra regs along with parts and tools.

I won't buy any reg that I might have trouble getting parts and service information for. That eliminates Aqualung and scubapro right off the top.

Currently we have Apeks (baught when Zeagle had them), Zeagle, Diverite, sherwood and I'm probably leaving something out.

Some of those were purchased when I was a dealer and parts availability wasn't a concern. Before I closed the shop I stocked up on the parts that I thought I'd have trouble getting later.

Remember the "technical" in "technical diver"...To me, it just isn't worth messing with a manufacturer that insists that you need a dive shop to service your equipment.

But, SP and Apeks parts are so common to get. It isn't hard to get on the net, even off eBay...

 

[MikeFerrara]

But, SP and Apeks parts are so common to get. It isn't hard to get on the net, even off eBay...

I can probably find a source for most parts but why should I have to "find" anything? I should be able to buy parts from the same place I baught the reg or through anyone who sells that brand.

There are enough good regs on the market that I just don't have to bother with the companies that are going to try to restrict my options. I'm not going to pay them for that.

 

[Hoyden]

Started with Apeks because that's what all the cool kids were doing, switched backgas to Atomics because that's what all the cool kids are doing now.

Never miss getting onto a trend.

That's pretty funny. I started with Scubapro because all of the cool kids were diving them, then switched to Apeks for the same reason (and to be standardized with my buddy), then switched back to the Scubapros because they routed way better and breathed better (IMO) and my buddy got too busy at his job to do much diving. After diving with a new buddy who used Posiedons and doing some deeper drills that included breathing off of his regs, I now have Cyclons - they are not upstream regs and the second stage can be disassembled underwater if needed so they are not totally non-dir. But the bottom line is that I really like them - they breathe like a dream. I am still holding on to my Scubapro (pair of MK25s with G250s and a bunch of MK10s and MK2s) collection, but the Apeks are a distant dream. If you want a diaphram, environmentally sealed regulator (and you don't want to go Poseidon), there are a bunch of them out there that are pretty much 6 of one, half a dozen of the other... Apeks DS4s, Dive Rites, Salvos... pick one. If parts availability is improtant, Dive Rite parts are readily available.

Jackie

 

[PvilleStang]

I have the Atomic M1 for the primary, and the Z2 for the secondary. Both are excellent regs, brag that they don't need servicing near as much as the regular regs due to the seat savers. The M1 also has no openings perpendicular to the face of the diaphragm, helping with the free-flow of the reg. You can buy kits to convert most Atomics to include the M1 exhaust manifold and diaphragm cover. The M1 does have the swivel on the 1st stage, but the way I'm using it (7 foot comes out the bottom, and that's all that is currently on the 1st stage) it doesn't matter one bit. Another perk is that Atomic is all made in house, and their quality control is excellent compared to a lot of other companies who outsource their parts.

 

[JEScholz]

I have four regulators. I have two Salvo SR1 first stages with Scubapro G250 second stages for my doubles, an Oceanic DX4 first stage w/ Oceanic GT second stage for my single tank dives, and a Aeres A1 for my decompression tank. If I was to buy another regulator today I would probably buy a Salvo SR1, but not necessarily because it's the best regulator out there, but because of the availability of service parts. That's not to say that I don't think the Salvo regulator isn't a good regulator, it is and I'll continue to do business with them.

Why different regs for the doubles vs single?

 

[Hoosier]

I can probably find a source for most parts but why should I have to "find" anything? I should be able to buy parts from the same place I bought the reg or through anyone who sells that brand.

There are enough good regs on the market that I just don't have to bother with the companies that are going to try to restrict my options. I'm not going to pay them for that.

You said, "enough good regs" ???

I don't know any marketing data in front though. I think SP and Apeks are major market holders on regulator category. In addition, I still believe, the main reason that DR allows the end consumer to be able to get an annual part is to take more share on the market, not because they have a different mind or philosophy. They are all business entities.

 

[HybridDiver]

Hello, I use the Apex xtx200, Which i think is one of the best regs I have used. DiveTank right now has them on sale for 599.99. Thats my .02
Cheers