Which Reg to Buy?

[Scott L]

I wanted to get the Tek3 initially but when I found out that it comes in a lefty & righty with ports only on a particular side, I balked. A FST is a more practical reg considering that I could use it for single & doubles, cold & warm n not have to worry that I brought 2 lefties by accident LOL!

SangP

At this stage of your career I agree. You can acquire the Tek3's later when you will need more regs for deco bottles, etc....

 

[SangP]

Tek3 for deco... you're richer than I!

I gladly settle for a ds4 on my deco. I've 4 1st stage n 6 2nd stage already, can't think I'll need much more lol!

SangP

 

[BB1]

I think you'll find he Valhalla meant moving your current regs to deco use and replacing them with Tek3's

 

[carrielsal]

Legends make a nice deco reg

 

[SangP]

I think you'll find he Valhalla meant moving your current regs to deco use and replacing them with Tek3's

FST for decos!... you guys ARE richer then me :shocked2:!

I've 2 fst n 2 ds4... my ds4 are O2 cleaned for deco, my FSTs r for doubles n rec diving.

carrielsal... legend for deco... sigh. Maybe I should take up golf !

SangP

 

[Scott L]

I rotated my 10 year old SP MK20/S600's to deco use after acquiring the Tek3's. I have read countless accounts by very knowlegable posters that piston 1st stages are the way to go for deco bottle usage. Seems they tolorate being flooded better...

I have used instructor provided marginal regs for deco use and they breathed heavy and wet. I am not sure I would ever use poor performing regs for any usage. Buy top regs used if need be IMO...

 

[Cruiser24]

I rotated my 10 year old SP MK20/S600's to deco use after acquiring the Tek3's. I have read countless accounts by very knowlegable posters that piston 1st stages are the way to go for deco bottle usage. Seems they tolorate being flooded better...

I have used instructor provided marginal regs for deco use and they breathed heavy and wet. I am not sure I would ever use poor performing regs for any usage. Buy top regs used if need be IMO...

hi valhalla, quick question. so having used both sp and apeks regs, which would u recommend and why? many thanks.

 

[Scott L]

hi valhalla, quick question. so having used both sp and apeks regs, which would u recommend and why? many thanks.

I am far from the right person to rely on with regulator questions but my choice was largely governed by servicing issues. Since I have little patience with things mechanical I take all my regs to a technician for servicing which can get quite expensive with 6+ regs now. Apeks requires only a cursory inspection annually if used more 50 dives otherwise they require a rebuilt (service) every two years.

As far as performance, SP seems to deliver more gas if needed but ones SAC would have to be atrocious to ever require that much IMO. As a consequence, it seems my SAC rate has improved with the smoother delivery of the Apek's. I also own two XTX200's for rec usage. I am very interested in with what others have to say on this subject as well..

 

[SangP]

I am far from the right person to rely on with regulator questions but my choice was largely governed by servicing issues. Since I have little patience with things mechanical I take all my regs to a technician for servicing which can get quite expensive with 6+ regs now. Apeks requires only a cursory inspection annually if used more 50 dives otherwise they require a rebuilt (service) every two years.

As far as performance, SP seems to deliver more gas if needed but ones SAC would have to be atrocious to ever require that much IMO. As a consequence, it seems my SAC rate has improved with the smoother delivery of the Apek's. I also own two XTX200's for rec usage. I am very interested in with what others have to say on this subject as well..

If gas is what you want, Poseidons are the best there is but they breath very differently n if you aren't careful with your breathing you can actually see how fast your gas goes on your spg.

I agree that SP have huge volumes too but again, who really needs that much air anyway? Generally most everyone here will say either SP (certain 2nd stages) or Apeks for DIR. Atomics/aqualung/apeks/sp for tech/deep/cold water dives etc.

Another consideration is the availability/cost of 2nd stages. SP/Apeks/poseidon do sell all their 2nd stage separately. I'm not sure bout aqualung/atomics.

SangP

 

[ams511]

I rotated my 10 year old SP MK20/S600's to deco use after acquiring the Tek3's. I have read countless accounts by very knowlegable posters that piston 1st stages are the way to go for deco bottle usage. Seems they tolorate being flooded better...

I have used instructor provided marginal regs for deco use and they breathed heavy and wet. I am not sure I would ever use poor performing regs for any usage. Buy top regs used if need be IMO...

Val, from what I have read you should never use cheap 2nd stages for deco work. If you have to go cheap then do it on the first stages. A lot of the tech guys use older G-250's with MK 10's (or even MK 5's) for deco work. For O2 you could probably get by with a cheaper reg like a R-190 with a MK 2 as long as you aren't draining the tank.