Yes I mentioned that the M17 was a decent cold water regulator as that is what I've heard. I can tell you from personal experience the M25 is nothing most people would choose to dive without the cold water kit which I have heard exists. My MK25 free-flowed (not on my 1st 100 ft dive but my second deeper dive which was 75ft) after two dives and not on the same day. The shop tried to adjust it but it's not something I would trust my gas to in a deeper COLD environment. There is a reason that they only sell Scubapro in one shop that I know of. That shop is in WI. I know of none that sell Scubapro in MN. I'm sure you could find a store but there is no love for Scubapro around here as MOST of their regulator line is not meant for REAL cold temperatures. They sell good cold water regulators in locations where you need them. The lack of Scubapro regs on the market around here speaks for itself. Sure there are places that will order them for you if they are a Scubapro dealer but I know of no experienced diver around here that doesn't laugh at Scubapro regs. Just the other day I purchased a 40CF tank for a pony and told them I was going to use a Scubapro regulator. They laughed until I told them I still had one laying around and would likely change it when I could afford to. Ended up with a Dive-rite regulator. Granted I have no experience with other regulators than APEKS and the ones I have mentioned, the TRUST I have in my APEKS has been earned.
If you want a Scubapro MK25 with a S555 2nd, R295 Octo (has like three dives on the octo), and a counsel with a compass, SPG, and Uwatec Aladin Prime computer I'll sell if all for $225 shipped. Probably a good deal for someone that only dives warm water but I would never recommend it to anyone who dives COLD water. It's just been gathering dust for the past year. As always I would recommend getting it serviced before use. Actually almost paid off my last trip. I guess this rig might find some love in the regulator classifieds. I've got $150+ just in the octo.
Laughter is a good thing for the soul. It's good that there are things that bring such merriment to the frozen north country.
I would never recommend using a Mk 25 in icy water because it's a piston regulator. People use them for such things, and run the inherent risks, including having some dour serious fellows break out into laughter louder than that which John Wayne caused when he walked into an old west tavern and ordered a glass of milk. The thought makes my blood run cold.
I have no idea what Scubapro's marketing strategies are, regional or technical. I'm very familiar with some of their regulators, many of which are variations on the same theme, something not unknown among other manufacturers. I am not a huge SP fan, largely because of their restrictions on selling parts, their high handed abuse of the old Scubapro on-line museum, its second rate replacement, and a few other issues, but most of my regs are vintage Scubapro, an entrancing array of Mk 5s, Mk10s, G250s, 109/156s/ even a d300. Beautiful things.
No computers, though. No instruments, no wet suits, etc. I do have a green Scubapro emergency whistle on a thick cord that dates back to a time when there were only 8 or 9 elements on the Periodic Chart. Loud as heck. I have a new condition gigantic heavy chrome plated flat ended knife almost like a crowbar that goes back to SPs early origins on the West Coast. The guy I bought it from said it was used for prying big seafood shell things off rocks. "Abalone?" I guessed, and he immediately got mad at me, blond mustache bristling, said I was making fun of him, doubting his honesty. I think he may have been from the little cluster of states that are adjacent to the Great Lakes, places where they scowl a lot and play the 'Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald' over and over, looking sad until some effete fool walks in and mentions Scubapro, bringing some much needed hilarity to their poor leaden souls. I quickly bought the knife.
