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MSD FORUMS - GENERAL EQUIPMENT DISCUSSIONS |
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TOPIC:
Regulators
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lizzie |
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Can anyone make a list of the top five regulators and give reasons why each regulator brand made it on to the list?
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PDSLTD |
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Depends on the use.
One week a year on vacation ?
Local diving Summer only ?
Local diving all year including Ice ?
Tech ?
Rescue ? (Fire & Police)
Commercial ?
Performance and needs varie with application.
To Error on the side of Safety,
is to Live and Dive Again.
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lizzie |
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I am a recreational diver, but I have heard that regs are durable and may last 10-15 years. I would like individuals to give me their opinion on what they think are the 5 best regulators. I don't really care if they are really high end technical or rental quality. I am just interested in what people beleive are the best.
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Dean810 |
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I have a Mares Abyss, and it is top notch, but not adjustable. I have heard very good things about the Aqualung Legend. I'm sure many people here will extol the virtures of their Apex.
Join the Chicago Scuba Meetup Group! http://scuba.meeup.com/105
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SDAnderson |
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Using what criteria? Reliability? WOB? Service availability? Service frequency? Purchase price? TCO? Cool factor? Cold water? Salt water? Gas volume?
Remember, everyone dives what they thought was the best regulator for them at the time they bought it - that's why they bought it. Without any information about what factors you consider to be important, about all you can hope for is a bunch of, "My regulator is the best" responses.
Personally, for warm water diving I like the high-end ScubaPro pistons - they are well designed, engineered and assembled and they can be easily serviced almost anywhere in the world. They can be problematic in cold water, however. For cold water diving, I like the Apeks line, especially the 200 series. They don't have the flow rate of a ScubaPro (not that you'll notice until about 250 feet) but the overall performance is excellent and they handle the chill with ease. The Atomic regulators are right in the running with these two and the Aqualung Legend comes in not far behind, in terms of WOB.
If price is a concern and you're going to be a cold-water diver, the Sherwood Blizzard is a reasonable choice. Breathes like a Mack truck but it always breathes. Poseiden makes some good regulators but they are hard to get serviced and tend to require a lot of it.
Most of the rest are just tinsel. YRMV. :D
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rtople |
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I am a new diver but love my Apeks XTX100. It has adjustable flow, adjustable flow direction, is easy to draw from and with a swivel has very little jaw fatigue. I've been very happy with it. If you can afford it, go for the titanium Apeks XTX as it is super light! Just my two cents...
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MgicTwnger |
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My favorites are my DiveRite Hurricane and Mares Ruby (same as the Abyss).
I am not the one who needs mental help. I just need to vent. Carmella Soprano
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coustyj |
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Had Poseidons for five years I like my Apex "Black Pearl" much better. If you could "try" differenent ones it could help. I think it is what works best and more comfortable for you
J Couston
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ff1diver |
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I am sorry, I do not have a top 5 list for you, but I have used the Aqualung Glacia since 2000 - the same one. I use it for recreational purposes and for search and recovery with the fire department's dive team. The suggestion I will make to you is try some regulators out--dive shops usually let you demo the product before you buy it, choose the one that works for you--then take care of it as your life depended on it. That is why my Aqualung has lasted so long, I get it serviced every year and after I come back from diving in salt water. A good preventative maintenence plan is the key to proper functioning and long lasting regulators...Just my opinion.
Go Mizzou!!! ff1diver
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hammerhead |
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True enough, take good care of your reg and it will last for a very long time. I like Aqua lung titan regs. (for the money,great regs.) My favorite is my Dacor Viper. OMS puts out a really good commercial quality reg. But, like the lady just said, it's about maintaining your gear. Wish more instructors would spend a little more time with new students on taking care of their gear. A local dive shop (remember them??) worth their salt will help you.
It's okay, just show us on the doll where the P.A.D.I. instructor touched you.
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lizzie |
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I just began diving two years ago and I know you guys are all smarter than me, but as I mentioned in a previous post I am not interested in criteria such as cold water diving, seach and rescue. commercial diving etc. I am just interested in a top 5 list and the reasons why the regulators made it to the list. The most a person participating in this thread has recommended is three regulators. Most people only recommend one or two. If your favorite is your personal regulator, I don't care!
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MgicTwnger |
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You might try Scuba Diving magazine for that kind of list. The mag is aimed at recreational divers.
I am not the one who needs mental help. I just need to vent. Carmella Soprano
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hammerhead |
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Wow!!!! Sorry lizzie
It's okay, just show us on the doll where the P.A.D.I. instructor touched you.
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PDSLTD |
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I would not trust the Dive Mags. (except MW diver) most of those guides are inserts paid for by the Mfgr. When I was DACOR they always had mag. sections that they paid to insert in Skin Diver and others, my guess is the Dive mfgr. still do it. Best is by word of mouth. Dive shops are going to tell you what ever they happen to have in inventory is the best to move the product. I personally would recommend the Mares Abyss with an AER kit to keep saltwater out of the first stage to prevent corrosion. Might seem like over kill to many but it saves you in the long run when it is serviced, by protecting the parts that are normally exposed to the water. I like the Viper second as a Octopus, becasue it does not matter which way in goes into the mouth due to the side exhaust, nice feature when your busy dealing with a diver who is about to or is panicing. Just shove it in the mouth and let them breath.
To Error on the side of Safety,
is to Live and Dive Again.
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bpautsch |
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PDSLTD,
You're reply was great. I have been diving a few years now and have everything except a regulator and BC...don't ask why. I even have an Ikelite underwater housing/lighting and a new DUI CLX450 drysuit. I am planning to purchase a regulator and BC within the next few months and your reply was very helpful. Thanks again.
Brian Pautsch
brian@midwestscubadiving.com
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ff1diver |
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lizzie,
What better way to come up with a top 5 list than to ask the opinion of your fellow divers. The replies that you had received I thought were great, solid advise. It is not fair to ask us to come up with our own top 5 list since most of us only dive with one or maybe two brands. But because of your many replies to your inquiry you have plenty of information to come up with a top 5 list. Let me show you:
1. Apex series 2. Mares Abyss 3. SCUBAPRO 4. Aqualung series 5. Posiden
Now why did I put these in the top five? Because other divers have used them. Divers have listed their advantages from being durable, reliable, to being great in cold water. Some also have listed disadvantages from not adjustable to hard to service. The next time I purchase a regulator I want to seek the opinions of the divers that actually use the device, not a sales rep who has the best regulator in the world just because he/she said so.
So take this advise and formulate your own list, make your own opinion.
Dive safe!
Go Mizzou!!! ff1diver
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lizzie |
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Great reply ff1diver! The top 5 list seems to only include high end regulators with a high price! Does anybody have any recommendations on some mid-priced regulators. Is there really that much difference? I have heard good things about a Zeagle Flat head VI regulator (I know they are pricey.) Does anyone have any experience with Zeagle?
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Dean810 |
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If you had a regulator in mind, why didn't you just ask? I don't know anything about Zeagle
Join the Chicago Scuba Meetup Group! http://scuba.meeup.com/105
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captdarrick |
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Zeagle has always been an elitist gear company. They were originally a parachute manufacturer who began building bouyancy compensators the expanded into a complete equipment line. Their BC's are usually always included in any top 10 list. They are used by many dive professionals in Florida. There regulators are built like a truck. They are environmentally sealed and breath very easy under cold and deep conditions. I just made a 190' dive on the Rosinco off Kenosha Wisconsin (see my blog on this wreck) using a Flathead VI regulator provided by Zeagle, in 42 degree water. It felt like I was breathing on the surface. You can't go wrong with this rig. Zeagle tells me that they produce a lot of dive equipment for military use. They must be doing something right!
Captain Darrick Lorenzen
captdarrick@midwestscubadiving.com
www.divemaxscuba.com
773-732-8972
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hammerhead |
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dont y'all live together????
It's okay, just show us on the doll where the P.A.D.I. instructor touched you.
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