2airishuman
Contributor
So, the DIN connection between the regulator and valve is great, many advantages over yoke, let's get some of them out of the way:
1) no problems with o-ring blowout during a dive
2) physically stronger connection more able to withstand a collision with a solid object
3) diver can't mistake valve knob for regulator attachment knob
4) connection does not tend to come loose during a dive even if tank valve is shut and connection is unpressurized
5) can support higher pressures up to 300 bar
Most of my regs and tanks are DIN.
The problem is that, in North America, dive ops that cater to recreational divers, especially ones who cater to newer divers, have rental cylinders that are yoke. In my experience most of these are yoke only valves, not the "pro valve" style with the removable slug. I'll mention a few specifics I've run into without naming specific shops:
1) I dove with a large dive op in Key West, all rental cylinders were yoke only
2) I dove with another dive op in Key West, cylinders had pro valves, divemaster was willing to remove the slugs but had to go to the shop for a hex key to do it
3) I dove with a dive op in Islamorada, choice of AL80s with yoke only and air, or HP100s with DIN and 32%
4) I dove with the dive concession in Pennekamp State Park, cylinders were yoke only
5) My local dive club shares cylinders among members on a no-fee courtesy basis, but only one member has any DIN cylinders (besides me)
6) Of the three local (Minnesota) dive shops I've visited, none routinely rents cylinders with DIN valves
I think it does a disservice to encourage new divers to get DIN regulators when they'll end up using the yoke adapter 90% of the time -- which they will, unless they're in cave country, or buy their own cylinders, or are diving with more sophisticated, high-end operators.
1) no problems with o-ring blowout during a dive
2) physically stronger connection more able to withstand a collision with a solid object
3) diver can't mistake valve knob for regulator attachment knob
4) connection does not tend to come loose during a dive even if tank valve is shut and connection is unpressurized
5) can support higher pressures up to 300 bar
Most of my regs and tanks are DIN.
The problem is that, in North America, dive ops that cater to recreational divers, especially ones who cater to newer divers, have rental cylinders that are yoke. In my experience most of these are yoke only valves, not the "pro valve" style with the removable slug. I'll mention a few specifics I've run into without naming specific shops:
1) I dove with a large dive op in Key West, all rental cylinders were yoke only
2) I dove with another dive op in Key West, cylinders had pro valves, divemaster was willing to remove the slugs but had to go to the shop for a hex key to do it
3) I dove with a dive op in Islamorada, choice of AL80s with yoke only and air, or HP100s with DIN and 32%
4) I dove with the dive concession in Pennekamp State Park, cylinders were yoke only
5) My local dive club shares cylinders among members on a no-fee courtesy basis, but only one member has any DIN cylinders (besides me)
6) Of the three local (Minnesota) dive shops I've visited, none routinely rents cylinders with DIN valves
I think it does a disservice to encourage new divers to get DIN regulators when they'll end up using the yoke adapter 90% of the time -- which they will, unless they're in cave country, or buy their own cylinders, or are diving with more sophisticated, high-end operators.