Regulator choice, quite hard to decide!!!!

[fnfalman]

While I prefer Atomic regulators, I think it's hard to beat Dive Rite regulators for workhorse tech regulators. The Dive Rite people actually use their own gears for diving, so if they can trust their lives to the performances of their regs while cave diving and wreck penetration diving, and a host of other divings that we can only fantasize about...well, the proof is in the pudding.

 

[lord.harshil]

I was always confused, trying to pick either the :

Scubapro mk25/s600
atomic aquatics M1 or B2
Apeks xtx 200

In the end, I went with the Apeks because I want to do technical diving and, well, the Apeks can be used for ANYTHING. recretional 15m dives to trimix to cave/wreck to ice diving. one regulator that can do everything and do it wonderfully.

Its a bit heavy but aside from that 20 thumbs up. go for the apeks, you'll love it.

computer wise, i have a uwatec aladin tec 2g. no need for download cables, make sure you have an IR port somewhere thats all.

Like has been said before, go for one with big easy to read display, easy to use program, big buttons, user changable battery and nitrox function. everything else is up to you.

 

[HowardE]

Now it is time to shop around for a dive computer. Any recommendations?

You're a new diver? I'd recommend an inexpensive Air/Nitrox computer like the Oceanic Veo 100NX or one of the other Veo Computers. they're inexpensive, and reliable.

If you do progress into more advanced diving, with decompression, and multi-gas... you'll need a backup bottom timer anyway... and their computers all do that as well (gauge mode).

I have a Veo 180 that I put several hundred dives on, and still use it as a bottom timer on a technical dive, or as a backup computer on a recreational dive.

 

[scuba_l0ver]

APEKS XTX 200. It is worth it for the money. It does not matter if you are a new diver. Your life depends on your equipment!!!

 

[Downing]

While I prefer Atomic regulators, I think it's hard to beat Dive Rite regulators for workhorse tech regulators. The Dive Rite people actually use their own gears for diving, so if they can trust their lives to the performances of their regs while cave diving and wreck penetration diving, and a host of other divings that we can only fantasize about...well, the proof is in the pudding.

Don't you think that's probably true for most brands, though? In other words, Atomic people would dive with Atomic regs, Zeagle people with Zeagle regs and so on down the line.

As always, I'm not trying to pick a fight here. I'm just sayin'...

 

[fnfalman]

Don't you think that's probably true for most brands, though? In other words, Atomic people would dive with Atomic regs, Zeagle people with Zeagle regs and so on down the line.

As always, I'm not trying to pick a fight here. I'm just sayin'...

I don't know about Zeagle but I seriously doubt that the CEO of Zeagle would go out and do some sort of dangerous tech dive while using Zeagle equipment. Nor do I think (and I could be wrong) that Apeks Senior VPs are doing arctic dives while using their own gears. I could be wrong though.

Not that I don't think Zeagle or Apeks don't make good equipment - the facts are that plenty of hard core divers use Zeagle and Apeks to do some badass stuff. However, the Dive Rite staff from top to bottom use their own gears and put their own lives on the lines. Their customer service lady doesn't just answer the phone and listen to people's gripes about gear issues or warranty issues. She's a cave diver. Their Scubaboard forum rep is also a cave/wreck diver.

If you think that their BCs can't be configured to do a particular type of dive, their reps will tell you how to rig it up and in worst case scenario, they will come and personally do the dive with that piece of equipment. That's the commitment that Dive Rite makes to their customers and that's why I'm a Dive Rite gear user (at least with the BC anyway, I still prefer Atomic regs).

I went to the Long Beach Scuba show and went talked with various vendors on their gears. Most of the reps had to break out the catalogs and brochures to refer to their equipment & gears. Atomic and Dive Rite reps started to recite their equipment specs and performances from memory. It gives me the warm and fuzzies to know that these companies are committed to the quality and customer service of their products.

 

[diver 85]

I'd go with this.......

Scubapro MK2 Plus/R295 Regulator, Black

and put this on as an octopus.....

Dive Rite RG-1215 Octo Scuba Regulator [RG1215] - $49.99 : Cave Adventurers!, We will NOT be undersold!!!

Very efficient & very economical----but, that's me.....

 

[HowardE]

I went to the Long Beach Scuba show and went talked with various vendors on their gears. Most of the reps had to break out the catalogs and brochures to refer to their equipment & gears. Atomic and Dive Rite reps started to recite their equipment specs and performances from memory. It gives me the warm and fuzzies to know that these companies are committed to the quality and customer service of their products.

I don't want to burst your bubble... but...

That doesn't really many anything. Some of the manufacturer's reps are just that... reps. Some of the people are actual technicians who know specific details, like what is the IP for a first stage, etc. Sometimes at some shows, the people there are senior staff, president, vp, vp in charge of product development. It really depends on who you spoke to and who was on break when you came by, and who attended the show, and who didn't.

 

[walke121]

I prefer Scubapro or Atomic. Not trying to ruffle feathers and I'm not a zeagle fan but these guys use Zeagle equipment and if it works at 425 fsw while spearing a 403lb fish that says something about Zeagle's quality. I honestly think most of the name brand stuff made today is quality stuff and it is mostly up to you and your budget.

Do I shoot or do I run!!! - Spearboard Spearfishing Community
P.S. read the first post and skip to page 9 for the story.

 

[NJ to FLA]

Holy **** THAT IS A BIG FISH