WillAbbott
Guest
Ok, so the time is quickly approaching for me to buy my first regulator. I've finally gotten some money coming my way (including tax returns, woohoo). Not counting what more work I do for my dads company this week (filling in at the office as all the office staff are gone), and counting in ALL the tax return I "should" get. I have $430 coming my way. Of course I will probably have more office work before the week is over, and get $10/hr for that, as well as a web page project I'm starting shortly which pays $25/hr.
1) What regulator should I get? I want to go mainly DIR on this purchase, though not necessarily 100% (I probably would never take it apart underwater just because Id be afraid of breaking it, or losing parts)
2) What kind of extra costs should I expect (buying from an LDS)? Obviously theres the backup octopus to buy. Will they likely charge me more because of the special set-up or 5 primary hose?
3) What should I get as a backup octopus? I know DIR says non-air balanced, but arent all inexpensive octopuss intended for a back-up non-air balanced? I don't want a bright yellow one; it would look dumb hanging around my neck (IMO). But I dont see a reason to buy an exact duplicate (or duplicate minus air balance) of my primary, as that would be costly. Should I just get the least expensive full size octopus I can or should I spend a little more for some reason?
My original intention was for an Aqualung Titan, then I swayed to a Titan LX after breathing a rental Titan in 68' and noticing an increased difficulty getting air from it (didn't breathe nearly as well)
I was suggested Scubapro (one of the lower end ones, not sure the model #) by a friend after using his approx 20year old Scubapro, which breathed absolutely beautifully. I have yet to use a newer Scubapro, but the old one worked great.
A shop recommended the Atomics Z1 as being a better regulator than the Scubapro, being as it has the same designers who improved on the design. For the most part I like the looks of this regulator, but have never used an Atomics
Another shop let me demo a rental regulator he was trying to convince me to get. They are a China made copy of an Apex (don't remember the model #). They breathed fine comparable to other good regulators Ive used, I had no major problems with them. He said he's been trying to get them to fail, buy actually abusing them and can't get them to fail... he's pretty impressed. My thing was they felt somewhat cheap to me... all plastic, no adjustments (though they didn't need any adjustment knobs, they breathed the same at 10' as 70') He also highly recommended going the diaphragm route as they are environmentally sealed, and trying to seal a piston reg can cause problems, though it can be done, he thinks it's a bad idea. A few times after a diving the regulators more than 1-2 dives they did feel a little wet, not sure if they were breathing wet, or I was some how just getting excess moisture build up or what.
In summary, here are my requirements (not in any particular)
1) Inexpensive (somewhere in my budget, a $200-400 regulator) also if 2 regs will work and have similar features and breathe the same, why buy the spendy one (i.e. Atomics regs all breathe the same, you just get titanium with higher models, and swivel first stages). Though I want inexpensive that doesnt mean I want cheap. I want a good regulator, which is unlikely of failing on me, has a good history, and a long life span.
2) Breathes good all the time, surface, 150' etc. (preferably doesnt require any kind of adjustment to breathe different at different depths, such as Aqualungs venturi adjustment, unless I really should have one? I see no reason for it, if the regulator can work the same at any depth with out and adjustment.
3) Either is DIR or for the most part DIR (which I don't fully know the DIR requirements other than it must be able to be taken apart underwater with no tools)
4) Easily serviceable (can I get it serviced anywhere? just about anywhere? or impossible for find a shop? Another reason I don't like those china ones, I don't know how serviceable they are, and the shop that wants me to buy them is 3hours away). I dont need regulators which can be serviced ANYWHERE, but at least every other shop, so its not a pain to get serviced.
5) 300Bar DIN first stage. I think I want a DIN first stage as I can then use HP Steel if I want, or Doubles, or whatever, can use practically any tank on earth. Of course I need to buy a yoke adapter for it. Should I buy the adapter from the store at the same time or someplace else? There isn't much too an adapter so I see no reason for a warranty. How much do they typically cost? And where should I buy it if not the LDS?
Also which backup octopus do I buy? Just the least expensive standard octo they have? (Not a low profile junk thing) or should I get one by the same manufacture? Similar octopus to the primary? What?
I plan on setting this reg up DIR style, though I think I will go the 5' Primary route as I don't want to mess with the extra 2' hose and don't see overhead environments in the near future. The backup will be on the necklace as per DIR, and my computer is already set up to be hooked on my BC DIR style.
Also the price I was quoted on the Atomics Z1 was $379 (or close) which was I believe $10 more than a Titan LX. (Neither quoted as DIN, though shouldn't add much cost.) I havent check on Apex, not sure any of my dive shops sell them.
I would go the online route, but I feel this is a piece of equipment you dont want to lose a warranty on. Though the online prices are SO much better, the Atomics was somewhere in the neighborhood of $100 less on leisurepro.
Thanks.
1) What regulator should I get? I want to go mainly DIR on this purchase, though not necessarily 100% (I probably would never take it apart underwater just because Id be afraid of breaking it, or losing parts)
2) What kind of extra costs should I expect (buying from an LDS)? Obviously theres the backup octopus to buy. Will they likely charge me more because of the special set-up or 5 primary hose?
3) What should I get as a backup octopus? I know DIR says non-air balanced, but arent all inexpensive octopuss intended for a back-up non-air balanced? I don't want a bright yellow one; it would look dumb hanging around my neck (IMO). But I dont see a reason to buy an exact duplicate (or duplicate minus air balance) of my primary, as that would be costly. Should I just get the least expensive full size octopus I can or should I spend a little more for some reason?
My original intention was for an Aqualung Titan, then I swayed to a Titan LX after breathing a rental Titan in 68' and noticing an increased difficulty getting air from it (didn't breathe nearly as well)
I was suggested Scubapro (one of the lower end ones, not sure the model #) by a friend after using his approx 20year old Scubapro, which breathed absolutely beautifully. I have yet to use a newer Scubapro, but the old one worked great.
A shop recommended the Atomics Z1 as being a better regulator than the Scubapro, being as it has the same designers who improved on the design. For the most part I like the looks of this regulator, but have never used an Atomics
Another shop let me demo a rental regulator he was trying to convince me to get. They are a China made copy of an Apex (don't remember the model #). They breathed fine comparable to other good regulators Ive used, I had no major problems with them. He said he's been trying to get them to fail, buy actually abusing them and can't get them to fail... he's pretty impressed. My thing was they felt somewhat cheap to me... all plastic, no adjustments (though they didn't need any adjustment knobs, they breathed the same at 10' as 70') He also highly recommended going the diaphragm route as they are environmentally sealed, and trying to seal a piston reg can cause problems, though it can be done, he thinks it's a bad idea. A few times after a diving the regulators more than 1-2 dives they did feel a little wet, not sure if they were breathing wet, or I was some how just getting excess moisture build up or what.
In summary, here are my requirements (not in any particular)
1) Inexpensive (somewhere in my budget, a $200-400 regulator) also if 2 regs will work and have similar features and breathe the same, why buy the spendy one (i.e. Atomics regs all breathe the same, you just get titanium with higher models, and swivel first stages). Though I want inexpensive that doesnt mean I want cheap. I want a good regulator, which is unlikely of failing on me, has a good history, and a long life span.
2) Breathes good all the time, surface, 150' etc. (preferably doesnt require any kind of adjustment to breathe different at different depths, such as Aqualungs venturi adjustment, unless I really should have one? I see no reason for it, if the regulator can work the same at any depth with out and adjustment.
3) Either is DIR or for the most part DIR (which I don't fully know the DIR requirements other than it must be able to be taken apart underwater with no tools)
4) Easily serviceable (can I get it serviced anywhere? just about anywhere? or impossible for find a shop? Another reason I don't like those china ones, I don't know how serviceable they are, and the shop that wants me to buy them is 3hours away). I dont need regulators which can be serviced ANYWHERE, but at least every other shop, so its not a pain to get serviced.
5) 300Bar DIN first stage. I think I want a DIN first stage as I can then use HP Steel if I want, or Doubles, or whatever, can use practically any tank on earth. Of course I need to buy a yoke adapter for it. Should I buy the adapter from the store at the same time or someplace else? There isn't much too an adapter so I see no reason for a warranty. How much do they typically cost? And where should I buy it if not the LDS?
Also which backup octopus do I buy? Just the least expensive standard octo they have? (Not a low profile junk thing) or should I get one by the same manufacture? Similar octopus to the primary? What?
I plan on setting this reg up DIR style, though I think I will go the 5' Primary route as I don't want to mess with the extra 2' hose and don't see overhead environments in the near future. The backup will be on the necklace as per DIR, and my computer is already set up to be hooked on my BC DIR style.
Also the price I was quoted on the Atomics Z1 was $379 (or close) which was I believe $10 more than a Titan LX. (Neither quoted as DIN, though shouldn't add much cost.) I havent check on Apex, not sure any of my dive shops sell them.
I would go the online route, but I feel this is a piece of equipment you dont want to lose a warranty on. Though the online prices are SO much better, the Atomics was somewhere in the neighborhood of $100 less on leisurepro.
Thanks.
