zmanzimp
Guest
what makes a reg (1st and or 2nd stage) ok for tech diving, or just ok for rec? can you use eanx in tech regs like you can in rec regs? what is the DIR perspective on regs?
will REC regs WRECK me in TECH diving?
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A tech reg should be compatible with nitrox mixes up to 40% and most recreational regs meet this standard out of the box. However a reg used for deco needs to be O2 clean and compatible with hotter deco mixes up to 100% O2.
I like a reg used for deep diving to be high performance with first stage flow rates of not much less than 100 cu/ft min. I also prefer an adjustable high performance second stage. The adjustable cracking effort is nice to prevent freeflows in odd attitudes and in currents.
Quality counts and you want a reg that is reliable. I don't get too hung up on insisting on a specific brand being bettter than all the rest, but I personally like Scubapro regs as I know them inside and out.
Apeks regs are currently the golden boys that seem to be blessed most often by DIR types. But being a bit of a cynic, a non-conformist, and a free thinker, I suspect this has a lot more to do with the politics of the GUE/DIR/Apeks connection than anything innately superior about Apeks regs. Scubapro used to hold this chosen spot until they had a falling out of sorts with the DIR folks. I think either brand would serve you well.
Many cave divers like purge covers that can be removed underwater in case they get filled with rocks, mud etc, although I have always wondered about the wisdom of dissassembling a sceond stage underwater, pariticularly in potentially restricted places, in limited viz.
It would seem to me to be easier to carry a spare second stage in a pocket and leave the fittings hand tight on your other second stages, or maybe even just move the working second stage around in a pinch and forget the spare. I could swap a second stage a lot quicker than I could take one apart and clean it out.
I like a reg used for deep diving to be high performance with first stage flow rates of not much less than 100 cu/ft min. I also prefer an adjustable high performance second stage. The adjustable cracking effort is nice to prevent freeflows in odd attitudes and in currents.
Quality counts and you want a reg that is reliable. I don't get too hung up on insisting on a specific brand being bettter than all the rest, but I personally like Scubapro regs as I know them inside and out.
Apeks regs are currently the golden boys that seem to be blessed most often by DIR types. But being a bit of a cynic, a non-conformist, and a free thinker, I suspect this has a lot more to do with the politics of the GUE/DIR/Apeks connection than anything innately superior about Apeks regs. Scubapro used to hold this chosen spot until they had a falling out of sorts with the DIR folks. I think either brand would serve you well.
Many cave divers like purge covers that can be removed underwater in case they get filled with rocks, mud etc, although I have always wondered about the wisdom of dissassembling a sceond stage underwater, pariticularly in potentially restricted places, in limited viz.
It would seem to me to be easier to carry a spare second stage in a pocket and leave the fittings hand tight on your other second stages, or maybe even just move the working second stage around in a pinch and forget the spare. I could swap a second stage a lot quicker than I could take one apart and clean it out.
High performance regs are most likely used for technical diving. Normal "rec regs" may be sufficient for use with deco bottles, as they are usually used in shallow depths (for most of us, that is less than 100 ft.). Most regs manufactured these days can be used with up to 40% Nitrox. If you are using higher concentrations of O2, you should have your reg cleaned and use O2 compatible orings when servicing it.
For most people, high performance regs mean the top of the line, pass the US Navy tests for 198 ft, and have a good history with technical divers (i.e.-- Apeks, Scubapro, Poseidon, Zeagle, Aqualung and possibly a few others).
Basically, most regs will work, however, some are more favored than others.
For most people, high performance regs mean the top of the line, pass the US Navy tests for 198 ft, and have a good history with technical divers (i.e.-- Apeks, Scubapro, Poseidon, Zeagle, Aqualung and possibly a few others).
Basically, most regs will work, however, some are more favored than others.
Boogie711
Guest
Zman - don't take this the wrong way, I'm being honest here - are you certified yet? A lot of this stuff you'll learn just from getting out and diving.
The other feature you're going to want to learn around here is the "search" feature.
And to answer your question, a "tech" reg is merely a regulator which will continue to provide lots of air with a low work of breathing at serious depths (as in, 250 feet or more.)
This immediately rules out brands like Sherwood, Oceanic or Dacor, and many Mares brands. I would say all Mares brands, but then Greg Barlow would hit me.
And at those depths, you're not breathing anything but different gas blends.
The other feature you're going to want to learn around here is the "search" feature.
And to answer your question, a "tech" reg is merely a regulator which will continue to provide lots of air with a low work of breathing at serious depths (as in, 250 feet or more.)
This immediately rules out brands like Sherwood, Oceanic or Dacor, and many Mares brands. I would say all Mares brands, but then Greg Barlow would hit me.
And at those depths, you're not breathing anything but different gas blends.
I would recommend the scuba Pro MK25AF with O2 kit installed or the M1 from Atomic.
My Scuba PRo is now certified to 100% O2, even though 80% is all I need.
My Scuba PRo is now certified to 100% O2, even though 80% is all I need.
this board is for asking questions about just about every aspect of diving,and that being said why would you even ask if hes certified?i didnt see anything in his question that hints that hes not certified..he just asked a question..foy you aquamaster and lubold well answered..you guys really know what your talking about..im sure if i had a question you wouldnt hesitate to give me a straight answer..
Boogie711:Zman - don't take this the wrong way, I'm being honest here - are you certified yet? A lot of this stuff you'll learn just from getting out and diving.
The other feature you're going to want to learn around here is the "search" feature.
And to answer your question, a "tech" reg is merely a regulator which will continue to provide lots of air with a low work of breathing at serious depths (as in, 250 feet or more.)
This immediately rules out brands like Sherwood, Oceanic or Dacor, and many Mares brands. I would say all Mares brands, but then Greg Barlow would hit me.
i'm sorry, but i didnt realize being open water certified and having some dive experience is supposed to mean i know every aspect of diving and technical diving and know everything about every piece of gear on the market. sorry for asking a few questions on a message board meant for scuba questions.
cornfed
Mindless lemming
Apology accepted.
matt_unique
Guest
cornfed:
Forget the jerks on the board, keep asking your questions.
--Matt
reubencahn
Contributor
DA Aquamaster:
I know it seems that way from this board but nearly all the GUE people I've run into here in Fla use Scubapro. The pictures in the DIR-F book also show a bunch of Scubapro regs. When I took the DIR-F class, the only requirements given as to regs were that the primary be high performance and of a design that in failure would deliver all gas rather than shut off.
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