Time to buy a Regulator. Help!

[elan]

Yeah, never go to "La boutique du Plongeur", in Laval.
Got fleeced as a new diver on Mask, Fin, Tuba set
Got fleeced once with the Apeks setup w/ Lifetime Parts

Oh yeah those guys are known even in Ottawa for their "best practices"

 

[reefvagabond]

I'm still a new diver but I've been diving with a Dive Rite 3100 regulator (with ice kit) for a little under 10 dives now. So far I love them but I haven't exactly pushed them very hard. I've taken them down to a little past 60 feet and to 48 degree F. Easy breathing in all positions, looking down, looking up, upside down, looking at the surface, etc. I have no plans to do any technical diving, but for recreational diving they seem to do just fine.

Oh, the yoke adapter I use hasn't hit my head so far, but that may be more a function of my BC than the reg.

 

[Kern]

For $350, you can get Atomic Z2. I am sure DiveRite is a good reg, but I bet you can get Atomic service much eaiser than DiveRite especially in the States. Also keep in mine Atomic requires service half as often.

If you travel outside of North America quite a bit, then I will suggestion stick with Apex, Aqual Lung, Scubapro. In Asia, you will have hard time finding support for DiveRite, HOG, even Oceanic and Atomic. I think the same is probably true in Europe.

Anyone who can service an Apeks reg can service a Hog or DiveRite reg. And anyone can buy Hog & DiveRite service kits. Can't really see anyone having problems getting them serviced anywhere. Are you sure DR & Hog regs need to be serviced twice as often as Atomics, Apeks certainly don't.

I'm very surprised to hear that DiveRite doesn't have the market penetration of Atomic in Nth. America.

 

[reefvagabond]

Dive Rite also has manuals for their regulators available online for anyone unlike Hog. If you don't want to service your own reg Dive Rite has a 2 year service interval which covers parts. I liked their attitude towards do it yourselfers as well as their service interval policy. That was one of the reasons I bought it. I also got my first and 2nd stage for under $300 from an authorized dealer when they were having a sale.

 

[elan]

Anyone who can service an Apeks reg can service a Hog or DiveRite reg. And anyone can buy Hog & DiveRite service kits.

Although you can get the kits for HOGs online I think officially you may only obtain them if you have gone through the course (which make sense) but you have to be a technical diver to be able to take the course (which does not make sense)

I have not seen the manuals though available in public for the HOG regs.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

No you do not need to have taken the course to get the kits. You do have to have a tech cert of some type or be a reg tech for another line to take the course. HOG regs are also on a two year service interval. It is recommended they be inspected every year but a rebuild need not be done for two. And you are correct, the manual is not yet out for the public.

And there is great deal of truth in what Kern says. Just saying.

 

[CCTX50]

I have been diving now for about 21 years and have used many different regs. Most recently I purchased a couple sets of HOG D1's and I am very happy with them. In my opinion they work just as well if not better than APEKS and my old SP's. I have yet to do any service on the HOG's but plan on doing it myself. When I purchased them I only paid $299.00 for each set including 1st, 2nd, yoke adaptor, short hose and 7' hose. I have about 125 dives on one set and so far no issues.

Shop around and continue to ask questions on here. Talk to you LDS and in time you will find what you are looking for.