SP MK16/R380 experts please help me with first reg purchase

[jiveturkey]

Can anyone give me some information on the Scubapro MK16/R380? Is this a dependable setup? How does it work in deep water? Is it going to free flow on me? Can I use it with nitrox? How about in cold water? The only review I found on Rodales was for the MK14/R380. Is this about the same set up anyway? I don’t really understand the difference between MK14 and MK 16. If it’s virtually the same, Rodales has a lot of good things to say about this setup. The last thing I want to hear is that the Mk 16 causes it’s performance to drop drastically. My other option is to shell out the coin for the MK25/S600 but that’s a very expensive regulator. I’ll save about US$220 by buying the MK16/R380.

This is my first regulator purchase. I want something that I’ll still be happy with in 6 months time. I live in South Korea and there’s a 55% import tax on scuba gear because it’s considered a luxury item. My friend and instructor owns a dive shop and is going to sell me gear with no mark up. What a great guy . Even with the deal he’s giving me, it’s still more expensive than I’d pay at a shop at home in Canada. I won’t be back there for at least another year and a half and I can’t wait that long to get set up. Hopefully you ladies and gents can give me some advice.

 

[ElectricZombie]

The Mk16/R380 is a good setup. The Mk14 was a reg that came out with a while ago but they stopped making because it was unnecessarily complicated. The Mk16 performs the same or better and is a much simpler reg on the inside. You rarely see a Mk14 around.

The Mk16 is a sealed diaphram reg that is very reliable and performs well. You will not be able to tell the difference between a Mk16 and a Mk25 in terms of breathing.

The R380 is a good unbalanced second stage. By it being unbalanced, it will take a whole lot to get it to free flow. It's a very dependable regulator and easy to service. Actually, I just bought one of these last week after breathing off one of the rental setups here. They breath great, particularly for an unbalanced design. Mine should be in this week hopefully. I can test it out in the dive well and get back to you. Just let me know. One of my old students bought this exact setup and loves it.

May I also suggest the Mk16/S550 combo. The only difference is that the S550 is a balanced 2nd stage. (Meaning it will breath a bit better and be a little more sensitive. It will perform a little better) The S550 is almost exactly like the S600, and breathes identically.

According to my SP catalog:

Mk16/R380 is $311.00

Mk16/S550 is $388.00

So, if you don't mind spending another $77.00, go with the Mk16/S550. Either setup is very good, it just depends on how much money you have to spend. See if your local dive shop has some to try out.

 

[Dryglove]

The only time i ever noticed a difference between the mk16 and mk20 was while sharing air.With the mk20 i couldnt even tell another person was breathing off the system.With the mk16 it was noticeable but still very easy to breathe from.You cant go wrong with the mk16/r380 setup,but as what was said before and if you have the extra money upgrade to the balanced S550.

 

[luvdiving]

For the extra money, I go with the ease of breathing of the S550 verses the R380. I believe the SP regs. are EAN rated to 50% out of the box.

Question: If your friend in Korea owns the local SP shop, why not ask him these questions?

By the way...If you buy the reg. from a Korean SP dealer instead of getting it from a Canadian dealer, I'll bet you will lose the lifetime free parts warranty. If it costs more in Korea, why wouldn't you wait for the Canadian/US model?:boom:

 

[jiveturkey]

luvdiving once bubbled...
Question: If your friend in Korea owns the local SP shop, why not ask him these questions?

By the way...If you buy the reg. from a Korean SP dealer instead of getting it from a Canadian dealer, I'll bet you will lose the lifetime free parts warranty. If it costs more in Korea, why wouldn't you wait for the Canadian/US model?:boom:

My friend is of the school that if it's not the top of the line, it's not really worth having. He suggested the MK25/s600. Unfortunately my budget has limits as does his english ability. He can't always expain things as well as the posters here often do. I need a regulator and I won't be home for a long time. I hope you're wrong about the warranty. I'll definately check into that. How much am I looking at for service fees if it's not going to be covered by warranty?

 

[ElectricZombie]

Most shops charge around $20.00 per stage...so, $60.00 + parts. Parts would probably be around $50.00. $110.00 total.

If you can't get a warranty, just service them every two years. Maybe even less depending on how you take care of them.

If you just soak your regs for a long while after diving, they should go a very long time without maintence.

Note that I'm not advocating neglecting your gear. This is a special case since you are out of the US.