kfish64
Registered
Looking for some advice. I'm getting back into diving (I'm a DM but haven't been wet for 17 years) and my wife is on the verge of taking her OW. I've started looking around at BCs and regs -- thanks to everyone for their help with my BC questions on my intro post. Now, on to the regs. In my former life, I started with a Sherwood Magnum, and I never had a single problem with it. After using and abusing it for maybe 10 years, I changed to a USD Conshelf SEA, which also was very good, though honestly a tiny bit more prone to "issues" than the Sherwood. I couldn't afford Poseidon or SP at the time, and Cressi wasn't as well established in N. America back then.
Looking around online at various regs, both old manufacturers (Scubapro, Cressi, etc) and new (Atomic, Halcyon, etc), I've tentatively picked 2 for further consideration:
1. Scubapro MK25 S600 Black Tech -- this one piqued my curiousity because I found a non-current version clearance priced at a LDS somewhat nearby. Regular Cdn price of $1100 reduced to $699 (approx US equivalent of $840 / $534). Seems like a good price, esp given what I've managed to find on US websites (though these may be more current versions). Any historical reviews I've found say it's a fantastic reg, except for perhaps VERY cold water diving. And years ago when I was diving, SP was a respected brand.
2. Sherwood SR2 -- though I've read numerous reviews of Sherwood's prior version of this reg (the SR1), which were unilaterally NOT favourable, the one and only review I've found for the current SR2 is overwhelmingly VERY favourable.
Halcyon -- I suppose I could check them out (build quality likely very good) but my isolated experience with trying on one of their BCs didn't leave me wanting more. While they may be a top-notch manufacturer, they may not be for me -- I just don't know.
Atomic -- a little rich for my needs, I think.
Oceanic/Hollis/Aeris -- Hollis seems more of the tech line, so not for me. As for O/A, I've for some reason never looked at Oceanic as a reg company; just BCs and computers. No rational reason for this.
Aqualung -- based on my 17-years-ago experience with my USD Conshelf, they aren't the brand who springs to the top of my list.
Cressi or Mares or ...... -- no experience whatsoever with any of the "Euro" brands.
My intended use will be strictly travel/tropical use. I did enough cold water/drysuit diving in my former life, and have no desire to re-visit it.
I'd appreciate any thoughts/advice/commentary. Thanks!!!
Looking around online at various regs, both old manufacturers (Scubapro, Cressi, etc) and new (Atomic, Halcyon, etc), I've tentatively picked 2 for further consideration:
1. Scubapro MK25 S600 Black Tech -- this one piqued my curiousity because I found a non-current version clearance priced at a LDS somewhat nearby. Regular Cdn price of $1100 reduced to $699 (approx US equivalent of $840 / $534). Seems like a good price, esp given what I've managed to find on US websites (though these may be more current versions). Any historical reviews I've found say it's a fantastic reg, except for perhaps VERY cold water diving. And years ago when I was diving, SP was a respected brand.
2. Sherwood SR2 -- though I've read numerous reviews of Sherwood's prior version of this reg (the SR1), which were unilaterally NOT favourable, the one and only review I've found for the current SR2 is overwhelmingly VERY favourable.
Halcyon -- I suppose I could check them out (build quality likely very good) but my isolated experience with trying on one of their BCs didn't leave me wanting more. While they may be a top-notch manufacturer, they may not be for me -- I just don't know.
Atomic -- a little rich for my needs, I think.
Oceanic/Hollis/Aeris -- Hollis seems more of the tech line, so not for me. As for O/A, I've for some reason never looked at Oceanic as a reg company; just BCs and computers. No rational reason for this.
Aqualung -- based on my 17-years-ago experience with my USD Conshelf, they aren't the brand who springs to the top of my list.
Cressi or Mares or ...... -- no experience whatsoever with any of the "Euro" brands.
My intended use will be strictly travel/tropical use. I did enough cold water/drysuit diving in my former life, and have no desire to re-visit it.
I'd appreciate any thoughts/advice/commentary. Thanks!!!