Titan or Calypso?

[PilotRPI]

So the GF and I went to Jamaica last week to get married, and she happened to go on her first dive (FINALLY). She absolutely loved it and got certified while down there. Now she wants at least one vacation a year someplace warm to go diving. I have an Aqualung Legend Supreme, and would like an Aqualung for her as well for ease of service.

I don't see her getting into colder dives like I do around NJ, NY like I do. Maybe very very occasionally. I would say 95% of her diving will be >70 deg and <90ft. Maybe a few dives 5-10 a year going somewhere warm for scuba. The Calypso or Titan seem like good options. I was wondering if people have experience with either and what they would recommend.

Also, since the Titan is diaphragm, it would make sense that it should be env sealed, yet on the aqualung site, it does not seem to be the case. Can anyone explain that one to me?

Thanks a lot for your advice!

 

[Jorgy]

I can strongly recommend the Titan, my son dives one here in Central NY (non-sealed version) until the water gets to about 50 degrees F, it was a former dive shop rental so we got if for a great price.

Last year, we went to Maui and dove with Scuba Shack, they include rental gear in their charter so instead of dragging our own regulators, BCs and wetsuits to Hawaii, we just dove their gear. They were Titans, went to 107 feet on Molokini Crater, they breathe great.

Never dove a Calypso, so I can't help you there.

Hope this helps......M

 

[Fishpie]

Another vote for the diaphragm 1st stage of the Titan.
It will stand up better to long periods of non use between dives.

 

[marcienko]

I would recomend Titan as well.I dove mine to 130 ft with no problems.

 

[Luis H]

The Titan first stage design was first introduced in the Royal Aqua Master double hose regulator in 1965 (also in the Conshelf single hose regulator a little while later) and it has not changed much (basically, only the material of the seat has been improved some during all this years). That should tell you something about its longevity and well proven design.

Any Royal Aqua Master or Conshelf can be serviced with the same parts as in a Titan and work just like new (actually, often better than new).


In general a diaphragm design tends to do well in relatively cold water, even if it is not environmentally sealed. The cooling effect of the expanding air doesn't flow near the water exposed piston. The environmental kit can also be added.

 

[PilotRPI]

I thought all diaphragm designs were all env sealed due to the nature of the diaphragm design. Could someone explain the difference? It seems that a lot of people on here are really big fans of the Titan. May be the way to go.

 

[Underwater Ogre]

Regular ole Titan less then 40F and 140'...I think you will be happy.

 

[Luis H]

I thought all diaphragm designs were all env sealed due to the nature of the diaphragm design. Could someone explain the difference? It seems that a lot of people on here are really big fans of the Titan. May be the way to go.

The job of all first stages in modern two stage regulators is to maintain a constant intermediate pressure (IP) above the exposed ambient. This is accomplished by exposing the flexible HP diaphragm or the HP piston to the surrounding ambient pressure.

The exposure to ambient pressure can be accomplished in two ways:

• Either by direct exposure allowing water to enter directly into the chamber where the primary spring is located
• Or by indirect exposure (with an environmentally sealed chamber) where the pressure is indirectly transmitted through a liquid such as oil, or grease, or with some from of a pushing rod mechanism to transmit the pressure to the diaphragm or piston.

The geometry of a diaphragm regulator makes it easier to place an environmental chamber over it, just because the design of the sensing port is at the end of the unit (versus in the middle of a barrel). But, either a piston or diaphragm first stage can be environmentally sealed or not, it is all in the design options. Many can be converted from non-sealed to sealed as an option.


As far as I know, the first single hose regulator to offer an environmental sealing chamber option, was the Poseidon Cyklon 300 (most double hose regulators are by nature environmentally sealed), which is a diaphragm regulator.

Environmental sealing chamber did not become popular until the late 70's. Most Conshelf are not environmentally sealed, but they are still great regulator in most conditions.


I hope this helps.


BTW, welcome to ScubaBoard.

 

[hwa0421]

I have both for pony bottles.
Both work well & breath nicely at 35m depth.

 

[porbeagle]

I have the Titan LX supreme with cold water enviro. kit. It has a calypso as its octo, I find no difference in ease of breathing at any depth.I also have a conshelf 21 (enviro also) with a conshelf 22 octo..... Same thing. I also have a conshelf 14
( all metal without envir. kit),this reg has an aquarius octo. I can't detect any difference at all between any of these regs. They all seem to take the same rebuild kits, (Not sure about the aquarius as I have not had it rebuilt) and one breaths better than another untill I send em all out for inspection . When they come back,
another is the better breather. I think Aqualung/US Divers had a winner and ran with it for decades. (If it ain't broke, don't fix it). All these regs breath about as well as an XTX50 ( My opinion). Luis knows far more about the inner workings
of regulators than I'll ever know,but IMO Titan/conshelf is hard to equal.
Another knowledable person on AL regs is HALLMAC, It's worth looking up
some of his old posts.
PORBEAGLE