JaxvilleDiver
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I wouldn't trust them...too much at stake (my life)...Cheap Junk!!!
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JaxvilleDiver:I had a brand new one (only 1 previous dive on it) freeze-up on me at 160fsw...thank-god I wasn't that deep, and I was carrying a stage bottle. When I sent it back to Diver's Supply, they told me that it was a factory defect. I asked their Macon store how common it was for this to happen, the girl that I spoke to told me that this is about the 5th that was returned for the same thing.
How's that for reliable?
JaxvilleDiver:I had a brand new one (only 1 previous dive on it) freeze-up on me at 160fsw...thank-god I wasn't that deep, and I was carrying a stage bottle. When I sent it back to Diver's Supply, they told me that it was a factory defect. I asked their Macon store how common it was for this to happen, the girl that I spoke to told me that this is about the 5th that was returned for the same thing.
How's that for reliable?
JaxvilleDiver:I am not a mechinist and did not take the valves apart to see what was wrong inside.
The problems that I had were:
First: When I actuated the isolator valve it stuck, not a biggie, because I was still receiving gas, and at that point aborted the dive.
Second - I was diving heliox, which is colder than air or eanx, something internal froze-up and it stopped breathing. (I was told by D.S. that this particular mainfold can be used with all gas mixes with no problem)
I spoke with a friend of mine, who is a tech rep for OMS and he told me that the problem with the sea elite brand is that they use inferior alloys and are not mechanically bored. They are done by hand. He also went on into some mechanical engineering speil about the way that they're manufactured - bottom line: they're junk.
You may like your sea elite and have no problem with them, good for you. I am not advocating any particular brand here. However I just wouldn't trust them - been down that road before.
Conclusion...I would rather spend the extra change on a reputable brand than take the cheaper way out. Like my mother always said: "You get what you pay for."