Scubapro Octo - R395 vs. C200 advice

[currier]

Greetings -

I'm purchasing my first set of regs, and have decided on the SP MK25 w/ S600 ... a little pricey, but reviews here and elsewhere sound good ... It seems like a great set-up for now and the future ...

I'd like advice on the alternate second stage (octo) - originally I was convinced that the R395 downstream was ideal ... unbalanced second stage w/ balanced first? Tougher to breathe at depth, but it seemed OK.

NOW I see the C200 ... scubapro.com (US) states this is also a classic downstream (I think this is an error ... am I correct?)

I've read here that the adjustable coaxial VIVA on the C200 may be difficult to have serviced ...

So, in conclusion - is the R395 octo not a better choice?

BTW - I dive warmer ocean 10-11 months a year to depths of 40m ... I do not intend to service my own gear ...

Thanks for your help

 

[ajduplessis]

Both are unbalanced downstream breathers and both are very good. They both breath great at depth, you will only notice performance issues once you go down to the 40bar range, hopefully you will be on the boat or finishing your safety stop by then.

I don't think there is a big price difference between them either. I do like the R395, but that’s just me.

 

[currier]

Thanks ajduplessis :glad:

I'm really leaning toward the R395 myself - have beeen for months now - but then this other reg just came out of left field on me

The C200 isn't even on the Scubapro site for Asia Pacific ... I was only looking at the America region out of curiousity (members say that the G250V has been removed from there ... not so in my neighborhood)

Also, thanks for clarifying my downstream confusion ... it's funny, the C200 reg says NO classic downstream, whereas the C200 octo says YES

The people over at SP should look into this ... someone sorta dropped the ball there, no?

 

[halocline]

I think the C200 is a new 2nd stage that's a barrel poppet design with a new offset lever. It looks pretty good. I'd go for that one unless the R395 is quite a bit less expensive. The R395 is a solid performer, though, so either one would work fine.

 

[axxel57]

For me the new C200 looks like a simplyfied (unbalanced) X650.
Had enough of those on my work bench, lots of trouble, I'm happy they are not build anymore. I would go for the R395 until some guys have actually dived this 2nd stage for a while to see if SP has made this model with this relative new lever arrangement more reliable and less sensible against any kind of pollution (sand, dirt, silt etc) than the X650.

 

[currier]

:tnk:

I would go for the R395 until some guys have actually dived this 2nd stage for a while to see if SP has made this model with this relative new lever arrangement more reliable and less sensible against any kind of pollution (sand, dirt, silt etc)

This is something I never considered - my most local dive site is at times mucky (still a little unsure of the bottom comp ... some clay? I dunno, it's this chalky gray gunk)

Given the feedback here, I'm wholly convinced that the R395 is the octo for me.

axxel57, halocline, & ajduplessis: Great assist!
Thank you, thank you very much