Yet another Apeks question

[CapeFearDiveGal]

Hi,

I'm sure this has been covered, looking at all the questions on Apeks regs, but here goes anyways....

I'm thinking of getting an Apeks DS4 with ATX50 primary and TX40 for a backup. My diving is mostly North Carolina wreck diving, with Florida cavern diving in the fall and winter(hopefully cave soon!). Will this be a decent setup for me?

The LDS said not to go with a DS4 and go with the TX100 since it works so much better at 300fsw. Is he feeding me a load of BS?

One more thing...DiveInn has the ATX50 with TX40 backup, but apparently it does not come with the DS4. I think it comes with the DST. Is the 1st stage in this combo as good as the DS4?

thx,
-christen

 

[Scubaroo]

Will you ever be diving at 300'? At that depth, you would be using a helium blend anyway, which breathes easier at depth than air. The DST is basically the same as the DS4, except it has an additional swivel turret (the hoses move around in relation to the valve on the tank - some like it, some don't, rumours that it can fail, I haven't seen it fail, I own one). The DST also has a 1/2" port and 3 3/8" ports, the DS4 has 4 3/8" ports. Either would be a fine choice.

Simply Scuba will sell you the different stages individually if you decide you want to make up your own package.

 

[deepocean]

Hi

excellent choice you have made i think. Stick with the DS4 ! Why: beacuse, i assume you will go into cave diving, the DS4 THE cave diving reg of choice. Would you ever go into doubles you can easily add another DS4 to your rig and you are ready with your back gas regs. This is in my opinion the ideal choice. Simply fail proof and cheap. I have two Atx200's for rec diving(doubles 7, which is about double 95? is it said in USA?) and DS4's for the tech. As bengiddins already said : helium is far more lighter so you wont need any TX100. However when diving regular AIR you will notice the breathing difference. At least i do at 66ft with my Atx200 compared to DS4 or TX50.

If you are going to buy the TX100: cool! But if you going to buy the tx50 range DEFENITLY get the DS4 not the TX50 this will spare you the irritations, although it is nt a real big issue when diving


By the way do you have some pic's of the wrecks you dive on? (I also want to visit Florida next year in September for a GUE Tech1 course.)

Xerxes

 

[Marlinspike]

I also dive mostly on the NC wrecks (and a quarry or two) and currently dive the ATX200 and love it. I also use a TX40 backup. It is a great setup for NC Wrecks. I have used a Zeagle ZX50 in the past (which is Apeks basically) and did notice a difference in performace between it and the ATX200. I will be using DS4s with TX 40s or 50s for stage bottles though.

As far as the 300 foot BS, the others here have it right, at that depth you wont be on air....will you? Also, the DS4 is one of the cave/tech standards and I believe in it.

The setup you are putting together is great. At typical NC wreck depths on Air or Nitrox you will notice a difference when diving an ATX200. This does not mean the DS4 doesnt work. Actually, it works really well, its just that the ATX200 is one sweet reg.

My advise, however, would be to have whatever reg you do get setup by a shop that handles APEKS on a regular basis. I have heard that some APEKS regs like to be fine tuned. Some people swear by mail order, but for regs, I will gladly pay the extra to have it setup and finetuned by a Seaquest dealer trained to work on APEKS regs.

~Marlinspike

 

[jamespitt]

Hi CFDG,
recently DiveInn has placed a ATX50/DS4/ATX40 combo on their website. i think it was because of pressure placed on them - mainly by members of this board!!
the setup sounds great and thats exactly the config i am going for next.
most tekkies prefer the DS4 because it doesnt have a swivel turret and the 1/2" port. i guess that functionally there is little to choose from them.
good luck,
James