Seeking advice regarding high end regs also for tec

[JohnnyC]

Get whatever brand has the proper hose routing for your configuration, and you can get serviced.

People are not calibrated breathing machines, and nobody makes a dangerous regulator these days. You want regs that will make your life easy.

Any of the brands listed in this thread will be adequate. Scubapro, Apeks, Poseidon, Atomic, Deep6, Dive Rite, Hog, blah blah blah they’ll all work fine and in no particular order.

 

[guruboy]

If you’re interested, I can get you a good deal on some ScubaPro reg sets. Used or New.

 

[ams511]

@Moodiver

As other posters have mentioned, hose routing is important. Most technical divers prefer a first stage with a turret and a bottom port because these are the most adaptable for hose routing. For example, Apeks DST w/5th port upgrade, Scubapro MK-25, Atomic, and others such as HOG, Dive Rite, Deep6, etc. Some tech divers prefer a sealed first stage which would exclude the Mk-25.

For the second stage, they prefer an adjustable barrel poppet design such as Apeks XTX-50, Scubapro G-260, S-600, S-620, Atomic and others such as HOG, Dive Rite, Deep6, etc. Some tech divers prefer regulators where you can change the hose configuration to left or right feed. I know the Apeks XTX series can do that as well as Dive Rite, I am sure some others do also.

While cost is not an object now, if the tech bug bites you will need multiple firsts and seconds so I would think of purchase and service costs immediately.

As far as mixing an matching first and second stages, there is usually not a problem if they are tuned properly. Some Poseidon regulators (Cyklon) use a high IP so you need to make sure the first stage is capable of delivering the pressure. Some divers like Poseidon seconds because they are ambidextrous and work upside down. Sherwood used to sell a model with a Sherwood first and Poseidon second about 20 or so years ago. Abyss did the same 15 or so years ago. Oceanic (Hollis) also makes such regulators.

 

[Moodiver]

Thank you very much for all the information. It helped me a lot
I expected to pay much more than what an XTX50 costs....like 800+ or so. Glad to hear that

 

[Storker]

I expected to pay much more than what an XTX50 costs..

In my local diving community, the XTX50 is by far the most common reg set I see among the tech and pseudo-tech folks. Solid, reliable, good overall performance, good cold-water performance, not too pricey. Everything you need, particularly if you're getting several regs.

But as @JohnnyC mentioned, check if you can easily get it serviced in your local area; I have the impression that that may be different on the west side of the pond compared to the east side.

 

[Centrals]

Servicing? DIY.

 

[Moodiver]

So in total that would be two xtx50 ( one instead of an octopus ) with 2 1st stages and 1 2nd stage for single tank diving right?
@Centrals I don´t even know how to drill a hole into the wall... but i can keep that in mind once suicide is an option )

 

[Scuba Cobra]

I'm a huge deep 6 fan. They breath extremely well. They come with service kits. They do the first service for free. Their 1st stages have swivel turrets and 5th ports standard. Not to mention they are priced super competitively against other regs on the market.

 

[Caveeagle]

So in total that would be two xtx50 ( one instead of an octopus ) with 2 1st stages and 1 2nd stage for single tank diving right?
@Centrals I don´t even know how to drill a hole into the wall... but i can keep that in mind once suicide is an option )

For single tank, open water diving you need one first stage and two second stages. Preferably a matching set of second stages. If you anticipated getting into Technical diving, it would be a good idea to just buy two sets of 1st&2nd stage regs now, as they are cheaper purchased together.

I would try to stop thinking about the whole idea of an “octopus”. You want two second stages that are of equal capability. It’s also a good idea to start right off with your single tank kit set up for Primary Donate, generally breathing from a long 5-7’ hose as your primary, and your secondary is on a short hose and a neck bungee.

Here you can see a few options they sell packages as “streamlined open water” sets. *sold with shorter primary hoses, but they will probably upgrade to 5/7’ hose if you ask.

Streamlined OW | Dive Gear Express®

 

[Marie13]

So in total that would be two xtx50 ( one instead of an octopus ) with 2 1st stages and 1 2nd stage for single tank diving right?
@Centrals I don´t even know how to drill a hole into the wall... but i can keep that in mind once suicide is an option )

Keep it simple. Just buy 2 sets of XTX50 with the rotating turret on first stage. You can always add the fifth port later if they don’t come with it for better tech hose routing.