which brand/reg?

[jlgrimes]

If you want the best all-around regulator go with one of these three, they are really about equal, although the atomic seems to perform a little better in less than 60 meters. However, there are plenty of good regulators out there that are very safe an reliable.
1. Apeks XTX 200 – My pick
2. Aqualung Legend XL – fairly common so easy to get serviced
3. Atomic M1 – also hard to get serviced although growing
number of places.

Get your reg with the environmentally-sealed (a must in my opinion) speck. I would also suggest DIN instead of Yoke to incorporate a higher pressure if ever decide to do Tech diving but this is only my personal preference.

 

[John_B]

1. Apeks XTX 200 – hard to get serviced

I disagree, Apeks is not hard to get serviced. In North America, most AL dealers carry Apeks as well and are certified to work on both brands (i.e. have manuals/diagrams, parts kits, tools, etc.).

John

 

[Tim Greaves]

Brand of reg.. Only thing I use is Apeks and it has never let me down..

 

[jlgrimes]

Brand of reg.. Only thing I use is Apeks and it has never let me down..

Yeah, I love Apeks. They really hold up, I've done nearly all you can to abuse them (i.e. many rescue diver courses where they are drug through the sand, thrown around in the back of a truck, in and out of dive boats, 300 ft + dives, years and hundreds of dives without servicing - although not suggested, changing out hoses and other parts, left in the sun or hot room, ) and have never had any problems.

 

[jlgrimes]

I disagree, Apeks is not hard to get serviced. In North America, most AL dealers carry Apeks as well and are certified to work on both brands (i.e. have manuals/diagrams, parts kits, tools, etc.).

John

The part about not being easy to get serviced was to say that when you are trained as an aqualung technician you are usually trained on the Aqualung line and not the Apeks line (at least in my Aqualung technician course) which has some differences like the way they are sealed and a few other's. That incorporated with the fact that mine are DIN, and they are not really that popular in America - compared to the other major brands, leaves people not really sure or inexperienced in servicing them. I've always done them myself so I don't really speak from experience I will have to say, but it was my assumption that they are difficult to get serviced (could have added; by experienced personnel).
If you have had experience contrary in various cities in Alabama then I stand corrected and appreciate anytime I can learn from other's experience.

 

[fweber]

but it was my assumption that they are difficult to get serviced

Thank you for admitting that much. DIN or Yoke should make any difference in service availability. And, Apeks are very popular in NA. Maybe just not in your neck of the woods. There shouldn't be any problem getting them serviced. Specially, considering the OP's location.

All the major manufacturers produce good regs. I and my buddies are diving Apeks, but if we were to start from scratch, the following would all recieve serious consideration:

Apeks, Aqualung, Scubapro, Atomic, there are propably a few others but there's nothing wrong with these four that would stop me from buying their products. With one caveat, I wouldn't spend any money on Scubapro or Atomic's titanium products. Chromed brass, monel, or stainless are plenty and don't cause problems with high O2 concentrations.

 

[jlgrimes]

I wouldn't spend any money on Scubapro or Atomic's titanium products. Chromed brass, monel, or stainless are plenty and don't cause problems with high O2 concentrations.

I would agree to stay away from the Titanium products. The Atomic M1 can be easily modified to give the same breathing performance as the T2.

 

[kuma1720]

I am also in the market for a new reg and have been debating over the aqualung legend. LeisurePro is currently selling the AquaLung Legend LX ACD Supreme at $399.
This seems like a great price for an excellent reg.

 

[jlgrimes]

I am also in the market for a new reg and have been debating over the aqualung legend. LeisurePro is currently selling the AquaLung Legend LX ACD Supreme at $399.
This seems like a great price for an excellent reg.

Can't really go wrong with AL Legend. Especially if you can get a good price on them. One of the best on the market.

 

[squidster]

i am new to diving and have about 20 dives. i do most of my diving in monterey so it is a little cold? i have a few newb questions. when is it tconsidered cold water diving? if u use a cold water reg in warm water is there any disadvantage? i plan on doing a lot more diving and maybe becoming a dm so i am diving often. i was looking at the mares stuff. what do you guys think? aqua lung? atomic? aeries? thanks for your in put.

just about any reg you get is going to be good down to 40 degrees.
If you dive from there and down, get a enviro seald diaphram reg Like scuba pro MK 17/s600

Or Apex XTX50 or XTX 200

These regs have great rep.

Remember its not what you need now , but what you may need later.
So get the best you can afford.