Revo or Optima?

[Superlyte27]

Oh yeah?
My mentor rode a narwhal to the moon.

I'm not sure where this is heading, but it sounded like the start of a pissing contest.

I got that impression too

 

[Tracy]

Ok cool. So overall these sound like fairly small issues. Re the bottles, have you encountered any issues with travel and being able to get tanks at the target destination (given they're probably not the usual 3L standard tanks)?

You will rarely find 4l steels in rental outside of Florida and the Great Lakes, but you can get 2l steel or Aluminum anywhere I have tried. The Optima will take many bottles. You can pull the foot and shove a 3l in there if that is the only option.

 

[Scuba Client]

I have tried a few units. I currently own 5 Optimas, a sentinel, and an inspiration.
I like the Optima, it is solid, easy to repair when I break it and the owner/designer is awesome to deal with.
I like simple mccrs with leaky valves, there is something to be said for simple. But the revo isn't even on my list as one I would choose to dive. Floods happen, some weeks they happen more often than they should. The fact that a flood isn't even an issue with the Optima is priceless to me.
The horizontal scrubber is a non issue, it packs easily and the cartridges are awesome on livaboards.

If you live in the States, Optima may be the right choice as parts and maintenance is concerned. And by the look of it, you have money to burn.

 

[mikesz]

I have tried a few units. I currently own 5 Optimas, a sentinel, and an inspiration.
I like the Optima, it is solid, easy to repair when I break it and the owner/designer is awesome to deal with.
I like simple mccrs with leaky valves, there is something to be said for simple. But the revo isn't even on my list as one I would choose to dive. Floods happen, some weeks they happen more often than they should. The fact that a flood isn't even an issue with the Optima is priceless to me.
The horizontal scrubber is a non issue, it packs easily and the cartridges are awesome on livaboards.

Brilliant! Thanks for replying and confirming these aspects for me. It's really great to hear from people like yourself who have plenty of experience across a range of units.

Is there anything that I should watch out for before making a decision to get an Optima? Based on your experience...?

 

[Scuba Client]

Oh yeah?
My mentor rode a narwhal to the moon.

I'm not sure where this is heading, but it sounded like the start of a pissing contest.

Just pointing out what can be achieved.

 

[mikesz]

You will rarely find 4l steels in rental outside of Florida and the Great Lakes, but you can get 2l steel or Aluminum anywhere I have tried. The Optima will take many bottles. You can pull the foot and shove a 3l in there if that is the only option.

Hehe, it would be funny to see someone dive with the long and skinny tanks hanging out the back ..... ;-)))

 

[Superlyte27]

Brilliant! Thanks for replying and confirming these aspects for me. It's really great to hear from people like yourself who have plenty of experience across a range of units.

Is there anything that I should watch out for before making a decision to get an Optima? Based on your experience...?

Don’t buy anything without Shearwater

I watch people all the time pick up $1500 FX Optimas with Hammerhead electronics and hope to bring to current spec. Save yourself the aggravation.

 

[Scuba Client]

Well there you go....
Lol, I too dive around the world and the most popular rebreather we’re seeing right now is the Optima. But, your people around the world probably know better than my people around the world lol

CCR divers like to gossip. Why don't you tell me your thoughts about the Liberty?

Optima is popular because Lamar is a legend.

 

[Superlyte27]

CCR divers like to gossip. Why don't you tell me your thoughts about the Liberty?

I think it’s the greatest rebreather built. It’s a Ferrari to everyone else’s Honda

But that’s not the OP’s question in this thread.

 

[mikesz]

Don’t buy anything without Shearwater

I watch people all the time pick up $1500 FX Optimas with Hammerhead electronics and hope to bring to current spec. Save yourself the aggravation.

Yep, very much agreed on that score.