Question Regulator recomendation

[Khell]

Hello everyone,

I have been vacation diving and renting regulators and bcds for a while now and would like to get my own regulator.
I mostly dive in tropical and temperate saltwater but want to start diving locally in switzerland as well (colder lakes but no ice diving).

Because of service availability around here, i am pretty much limited to aqualung, mares, scubapro, apeks, and poseidon.
I have been reading on this forum a lot these past couple of weeks, comparing offers and trying to make a decision, but choice paralysis has been tough.

Today, a major french divestore announced a special sale for the weekend because of the paris dive show and i think i'll have to jump on it.
The most interesting offers i think would be:
- Aqualung Legend Elite black edition for under 600 euros (tax included) with an octo, spg, and bag (cheaper than any non black edition)
- Aqualung Helix Compact Pro for 420 euros (tax included) with octo, spg, and bag
- Poseidon XStream with octo and spg for 750 euros (tax included)

This offer on the legend elite makes it cheaper than the xtx200 and even xtx 50 (with octo, spg, and bag) and very close in price with the XL4 Ocea (with octo, spg, and bag)

Now of course these are 3 completely different price points. My wallet would want me to go with the Helix Compact Pro for now, but both other options seem such great offers that i cant help myself but wonder, if it wouldn't be better in the long run to spend the extra money now.

As i have only been diving on standard rental regs for now, will i even notice a difference between the Helix Compact Pro and Legend Elite? Might i have an easier time adapting to breathing the XStream (If I understand correctly, it takes some getting used to)

Thanks all for your help and greetings from Geneva

 

[BoltSnap]

Hello,

I'd personally stay away from Aqua Lung and all of its daughter companies, Apeks, because of what appears to be extreme financial problems. Scubapro is a safe and excellent bet.

Check this thread:

Info Thread 'Aqualung Financial Troubles'

Jun 28, 2023

It seems like Aqualung has some financial troubles that puts it at some degree of risk of bankruptcy. They have been given a hard timeline to implement a 'get-well' plan . I am just throwing this out there for discussion. I am mostly interested in the old heads that have seen this situation before with other manufacturers and their assessment of what the fall out typically looks like. I sure do enjoy my Apeks regulators, but they are overpriced in the US and under Aqualung's umbrella that ultimately falls under a private equity firm's ownership that seems to be super distant...

• attack33
• apeks aqualung
• Replies: 571
• Forum: Aqua Lung

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[Khell]

Hello,

Thanks for your reply. Sadly there is no compelling set offer for scubapro at this store and anything with a mk19 would be ar least as expensive as the Xstream

 

[Still Kicking]

Financial issues aside, the Helix is an excellent reg that balances price and performance.

AL is not dead yet and, even if it does pass away, service kits will be around for years and it's likely a third party will make them for a long time (there is a huge base of regs that share parts with Helix).

 

[Nemrod]

Just get the Helix Pro Compact set and be happy. It will serve you well.

 

[BoltSnap]

Hello,

Thanks for your reply. Sadly there is no compelling set offer for scubapro at this store and anything with a mk19 would be ar least as expensive as the Xstream

Go with the very new MK11 Evo or the mk17 Evo 2 with the c370 second stage. You can't beat either combination.

 

[Khell]

Thanks for all your replies!

Both are not available at this dive store and way more expensive at others.

The helix compact pro seems to have a higher wob than all other Al regs. How much of a difference would that do?

 

[jale]

Hi
If you buy at the "major french divestore" (you mean VC and their 21% discount?), ask them to send it to you in Genève and get it tax free

 

[Khell]

Hi
If you buy at the "major french divestore" (you mean VC and their 21% discount?), ask them to send it to you in Genève and get it tax free

that was the plan and also why it is such a great offer but limited in options. also the legend elite black edition has a special 30% discount (not stackable)

 

[jale]

that was the plan and also why it is such a great offer but limited in options. also the legend elite black edition has a special 30% discount (not stackable)

You also can get the mk11+c370+r95 for 329e