Where has DIN been required?

[CycleCat]

My first reg set was DIN because I figured it didn't really matter. I went to a dive op in Mexico that would have gotten all my business since we plan to move there in a few years and asked about DIN tanks and the owner looked at me like a second head sprouted out of my shoulders and asked why on earth I would have one of those. So I went to the other dive op in town and they were totally cool with it. Needless to say, the second dive op is my go to for diving now. HOWEVER, one time I got on the boat and found they forgot to bring the DIN tanks I asked for. I had my DIN to YOKE adapter so it was OK but I don't like the additional length that puts the 1st stage right behind my head. So even though I like DIN better for its compact size and more secure mounting, I've bought yoke regs since then. I wish the whole world just picked DIN.

 

[OMyMyOHellYes]

I do believe I'll be going with yolk.

You do and you'll end up with egg on your face.

 

[gmerick]

OP's choice of yoke may be for the better. DIN requires a bit more maintenance. It's easier to adapt a tank from DIN to yoke (the donut), rather than cope with a yoke to DIN adapter. Small weight savings when a diver carries the adapter in the SAD kit.
I've never had a yoke reg loosen in it's internal fitting, but I have had the DIN post loosen and throw an internal O-Ring in the DIN post. I now tighten the DIN post before every dive trip.
Technically, yes, DIN is a better system. It is designed for a higher pressure. It is also geared for a more technically oriented diver.
But... All 6 of my regs are DIN, and all 8 tanks. -- and I have 3 yoke adapters and 8 donuts.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Simply put, DIN is more better

 

[happy-diver]

I dive yoke when I'm diving my yoke stuff, and I dive din when I'm diving my din stuff, at the same pressures
Some European double hose regs came with din option, so that suggests to me that fittings dictate pressure

 

[Scuba Scott]

I have a DIN regulator and I own DIN tanks because I dive locally with my own tanks and that is what I like.
When I travel I take my adapter with me and if DIN tanks are readily available I request them and if not I just use my adapter so as to not appear "special".
In only one occasion in over 30 years of diving was there a benefit to having DIN. I was on a boat and getting ready for dive 2. There was a ruckus on the other side of the boat. A woman couldn't get her regulator to fit. After a short investigation by the crew it was determined a DIN tank managed to get put on the boat and there were no spares. I put my adapter back in my bag and offered to trade tanks with her. I became the hero for about 5 minutes and then my sacrifice was quickly forgotten.
Yoke is more popular and yoke tanks always seem to be available even in DIN areas. Just pay attention to what you are getting if in an area that uses both or get DIN with an adapter.

 

[LI-er]

Europe is mostly DIN. I think I’ve seen a single weirdo diver with yoke on a boat.

Yoke is popular for “touristy” diving around the world. More serious diving is DIN.

I guess I'm a weirdo then because I moved to Greece and brought my yoke regulators with me. I carry DIN adapters in my took kit but haven't needed them as the local dive charters provide them.

Your comment that "serious diving is DIN" is ridiculous.

 

[FreqFlier]

DIN 1st stage is a bit smaller/neater and has one big plus over yoke - 300 bar/4350 psi vs 232 bar/3365 psi rating. And o ring is on it, not on the tank.

You can always get DIN to yoke adapter to use in case DIN tanks are not available

 

[Belzelbub]

And o ring is on it, not on the tank.

That's a significant plus. My tanks are stored in my garage. They are all DIN, so no o-rings to worry about. My DIN regs are all stored indoors and get the o-ring changed out each year.

Related, outside of the o-ring itself, the yoke sealing surface is exposed and can be prone to damage. I've seen it happen on an aquarium set. Set up my gear (yoke tanks and regs) and heard a hiss when I turned on the tank. Swapped out the o-ring, and it still hissed. Swapped the tank, same thing. Decided to swap out the reg with another and it went away. The yoke sealing surface had gotten scratched up, and was no longer sealing.

The DIN sealing surface is on the tank valve and all the way inside. You'd really have to try to scratch it. Highly unlikely to get scratched in normal use. Same can not be said for the yoke.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Most of my tanks are yoke and a few newer 3442’s with pro valves with inserts. If you don’t regularly maintain those inserts they will lock up and be pert near impossible to remove without destroying the insert and possibly damaging the valve itself if a surgery is needed to get the insert out. If they sit too long consider it to have become a yoke valve.
I had a DIN reg (Hog) for a while and didn’t like it so I sold it and now am back to all my old yoke stuff. I don’t really care either way as long as it works. I’ve never had an O-ring blow out on any of my yoke tanks, just got to make sure you have the right durometer O-ring installed.
I gotta go, my eggs are boiling and I don’t want my yolks hard, I like soft boiled.