YOKE vs DIN

[The Chairman]

So diver could be out of luck because someone has got it before him.

I remember loaning mine out only to realize I needed it as well at a resort. Indeed, I forgot to return mine and inadvertently returned home with it. I contacted the dive op to return via post, but they said not to bother and they had already replaced it with two. If memory serves, they also told me that their next tanks would have pro-valves.

 

[Centrals]

I agree that YOKE is the 'standard' in many countries for the reasons we already discussed with other members. Basically now, the Dive Centers and their tank configurations mandate what system people purchases. As I wrote previously, I do see a trend towards DIN.

Not a chance!
Insert offers both options so there is no trend towards anything!
LOL.
I never have any issue of using yoke anywhere in SE Asia and I do not have to ask ahead. There is no need for it. So simple but even that is too difficult to understand.

America is still using imperial unit !! Live with it.

 

[Mod63]

If an advantage of DiN is the ability to handle higher pressure, then if the U.S, market went to predominantly DIN, is it likely we’d see more higher pressure, larger capacity tanks? That would be quite a shift, involving compressors, tanks, etc… What happened with that in areas where DIN has dominated? In other words, to what extent is the theoretical advantage a practical one?

It depends
I only can attest to my area of living and my peer group. 300bar fills are readily available (I'd say 80% of dive stores), as even 30 year old Bauer Capitanos can do 300bar. There are quite a few JJ et al. users that use 3l/300bar tanks and I know quite a few CCR divers (me included) that use DiveCarbon tanks for bailout instead of 80cft Luxfers. An other group is what I would call "tech minded" recreational divers that have switched from 12l/232bar to e.g. double 8l/300bar, because a) they like the weight distribution of doubles, b) the accessibility of the valves and c) that you do not need to have a second tank on a typical 2 dive day.

 

[El Diablo]

Not all Americans are. None of my students used a yoke valve during their training. Always, always, always avoid absolutes!!!

I figured it might be. Sorry, not sorry.

Miriam Webster's second definition of pigeonhole (v): to assign to an often restrictive category : CLASSIFY

It's when you put everyone in a group into the same category when not everyone in that group fits into that category. It's the source of all prejudices and a lot of disagreements.

As I've already debunked the safety aspect as being moot for the vast majority of divers, I would also suggest that I have never heard size and weight cited for why a DIN might be better. The differences are minor in both, especially in the water. Also, size and weight would be features, not benefits. I don't see a substantive benefit to either feature.

Again, time and money are probably the driving forces behind the yoke being more popular than DIN.

The fact that Americans are used to YOKE is widely accepted. If YOKE is the STD in the US, would you not agree that Americans are used to the YOKE valve?
Also, I wrote the 'majority' of Americans use a YOKE a few lines below in the same comment, that's not an absolute. 'Being used to' and 'using' are 2 different things.

You've definitely not debunked the safety aspect. DIN regulators are more reliable due to their construction. This is a fact, not my personal opinion. You can contact NOAA as well and tell them they got all certified government employees (federal, state and local) fooled...

A 'smaller size and weight' are a benefit if you travel - as I already stated, that's above water unless you use a submarine for your displacements.

The YOKE size is a disadvantage UW on overhead environments as I already stated as well.

Feature, Function & Benefits can be confusing if you are not trained in Retail Sales.
As this is what I do for living, let me write it in the correct order:

A DIN regulator uses a screw-in valve with an encapsulated O-ring (Feature), it attaches to the tank's valve and supplies air to the diver (Function), due to its construction, it is safer (Benefit) and because it is smaller and lighter, more convenient when travelling (Benefits).

 

[El Diablo]

Very well said Chairman but you are wasting your time on .....
I have been to many places where nitrox is not an option so let alone DIN or adaptor. Few places have adaptor for hire but very limited amount. So diver could be out of luck because someone has got it before him.

That's why you do your research before travelling and / or bring your own adapter...
Difficulty level ZERO.

 

[El Diablo]

Dear Ladies & Gentlemen,

As much as I enjoyed our extremely interesting exchanges, I must excuse myself as I need to leave for the afternoon. It is 18:00 in Germany. We have a long bank holiday so I wish you all a wonderful weekend and safe dives.

 

[The Chairman]

The fact that Americans are used to YOKE is widely accepted.

Whatever. Personally, if you're not an American and an American says that you're wrong, I would go with the person living here. There's a distinct possibility that I know Americans better than you. But you do you! One could also say that YOU'RE "used to" yoke regulators as well, so stop with the geopolitical stuff already.

In the end, fit and comfort should prevail. If you like yokes and they work for you, then get one. If DIN seems better, then get that one. They both are fun and will deliver all the air you need, just don't wear split fins.

 

[Pearlman]

In the end, fit and comfort should prevail. If you like yokes and they work for you, then get one. If DIN seems better, then get that one. They both are fun and will deliver all the air you need, just don't wear split fins.

Lively animated discussion… enjoyed reading it… gotta love the penchant of SB members to discuss anything and everything under the sun so elaborately!
Also a nice way to end a thread… by potentially inspiring more doubts and questions in a newbies head… waiting for a new thread titled “Can I use split fins with DIN regulators or is it best with Yoke?”…

A two and a half day liveaboard trip I was on - 15 divers - 3 dives a day
On the last day, they ran out of DIN and modular tanks and only had YOKE tanks left - a diver had to sit out the last dive.

Because I like to combine travel with diving I have typically only done 3N4D LOBs and now I am curious - don’t LOBs have an onboard compressor for refilling tanks? In which case the same set of DIN compatible tanks could have been reused after a refill overnight? More importantly - how do LOBs with a minimum of 7N or more function without onboard refilling of tanks? Do they carry 4x tanks as number of divers and return to base with all tanks empty at the end of the trip?

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

I am Greek by the way.

I have not heard you use the word "malaka" or yell "arxidia!" even once, so I'm not so sure.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

It's my opinion that the proliferation of the Pro Valve reduces the "bar" for this. I can't remember the last time I had to use an adapter in the Caribbean. Yes, I'm old, my memory sucks, but I think I would remember that.

I had a real problem in Belize getting the insert out in a number of cylinders. I wish I took an adapter. Would have made my life easier. I forgot one allen wrench size (the biggest one needed) that would have come in handy.

Some inserts were fused in, there was no way of getting them out. Cranking on them with a wrench to add torque simply stripped the inside of the insert.