Regulator choice for a child

[stablgr]

I'm sure this has been asked before and appologise if I'm asking the same question again, but here goes anyway.

My daughter is about to take her "official" qualification and I'm looking to get a reliable low maintenance regulator for her upon qualifing.

I can't look past the Scubapro MkII first stage with an R290 second as an ideal combo for warm water shallow diving. I know I performed over 200 dives with the mark II first stage in relatively cold water (UK North Sea) and am struggling to justify anything else for the warmer shallower watters here in Texas. Any oppinions would be appreciated.

 

[Packhorse]

What do you mean by low maintenance? Do you want to service it less often that every year?
How old is your daughter? is size important?

 

[superstar]

I'd go with the mk2.

 

[stablgr]

When I mean low maintenance I guess I mean I don't want to put it into the local dive shop more than once a year and expect the regulator to perform faultlessly in between services. I always get my own equipment serviced at least once a year and don't expect to change this habbit just because my daughter is taking up the sport. Probably quite the opposite!!! (Just ask my wife)

My daughter is just starting to dive so a smaller/lighter 2nd stage would probably work better for her.

 

[stablgr]

Any opinions on other 2nd stages?

 

[superstar]

I like the 380 on the mk2, I think the 290 is about the same thing.

 

[Arcaporale]

Sherwood Brut or Magnum. The scubapros are very nice and have few problems. But sherwoods are legendary for holding up between service even in the harsh environment of a dive shop rental department. I've seen sherwoods that are green on the inside and work just as well as they did when they came out of the box.

 

[ams511]

Leisure Pro has the R290 with a Mk2 plus on special now for $130, although I think the R290/Mk17 is a better deal at $200. If she gets more involved in diving she may outgrow the MK2. I also second the Sherwood Magnums, I have a Magnum 1 from the 80's and it works fine.

For warm water shallow diving you could use just about any reg. It comes down to how much are you willing to spend and can it be serviced.

 

[daniel f aleman]

Oceanic all the way - they have an entire line for youngsters.

 

[CARHILL]

What about A/L Micra I'm a reg tec. and they are great for small faces and much more severceable than any of the Sucba Pro regs.

Dale
Still on a little rock in the Pacific