halocline
Contributor
I'm sure any of the regs will work fine; don't forget that a few decades ago pro divers were doing extreme dives on regulators that most OW students would not take in a pool these days. It's too bad; reg technology has not significantly improved in the last couple of decades.
It's important to be able to get your reg serviced easily, reasonably, and most importantly by a competent tech. This is exactly why I got into DIY service, and it was the best dive related decision I ever made.
If you want to save some money, consider a used scubapro MK10/G250, or something similar. I spent $84 on a MK10/D300 that has been my go-to reg for a couple of years, and routinely out-breathes new regs costing several hundred. The nice thing about the older SP regs is that parts are very universally available, there is a lot of good information about servicing them, and they're really built well.
For extreme cold water use, you'd want to pack the environmental chamber of the MK10 (or MK5) with PTFE grease. Any competent tech can do that. Regulators are great to buy used if you know what you're buying or can get someone who does to help you. They're designed to be completely rebuilt and can last decades, plus the re-sale value is low, so there are good deals around. If you are planning on primarily very cold water or ice diving, get a fully sealed 1st stage; that's one case where the piston 1st stage is outperformed. A great one is the SP MK17, although it's a newer reg and you might have a tough time finding it used. But, any fully sealed diaphragm reg will be very freeze-resistant.
With regards to the set you have in the photo, if it's your intention to get into technical diving, you might consider starting right off with a modified long hose arrangement. That would be a 5 ft hose for the primary 2nd, a 24" hose for the alternate, worn on a bungie necklace, and a 24" hose for the SPG, with a bolt snap to clip it off on your waist belt.
It's important to be able to get your reg serviced easily, reasonably, and most importantly by a competent tech. This is exactly why I got into DIY service, and it was the best dive related decision I ever made.
If you want to save some money, consider a used scubapro MK10/G250, or something similar. I spent $84 on a MK10/D300 that has been my go-to reg for a couple of years, and routinely out-breathes new regs costing several hundred. The nice thing about the older SP regs is that parts are very universally available, there is a lot of good information about servicing them, and they're really built well.
For extreme cold water use, you'd want to pack the environmental chamber of the MK10 (or MK5) with PTFE grease. Any competent tech can do that. Regulators are great to buy used if you know what you're buying or can get someone who does to help you. They're designed to be completely rebuilt and can last decades, plus the re-sale value is low, so there are good deals around. If you are planning on primarily very cold water or ice diving, get a fully sealed 1st stage; that's one case where the piston 1st stage is outperformed. A great one is the SP MK17, although it's a newer reg and you might have a tough time finding it used. But, any fully sealed diaphragm reg will be very freeze-resistant.
With regards to the set you have in the photo, if it's your intention to get into technical diving, you might consider starting right off with a modified long hose arrangement. That would be a 5 ft hose for the primary 2nd, a 24" hose for the alternate, worn on a bungie necklace, and a 24" hose for the SPG, with a bolt snap to clip it off on your waist belt.
Thanks for the tip!
