First (and last) regulator

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Get a pair of ScubaPro/Halcyon Mk25s for most things. Get a SP Mk17 or Apex DS4 to use in Antarctica.

Don't compromise your options by trying to make one regulator do it all.
I'm trying to envison what/when a MK25 will do that the MK17/H50-D wouldn't do. I think I'm standardizing on those or even the MK11 base (since I'll not willingly get into water less than 80 deg F).
 
I'm trying to envison what/when a MK25 will do that the MK17/H50-D wouldn't do. I think I'm standardizing on those or even the MK11 base (since I'll not willingly get into water less than 80 deg F).
The Mk25 has a turret and 5th port (OP mentioned doubles) and the Mk17 is a good Antarctic choice where the Mk25 is not. I guess I Mk19 could to both roles.
 
Almost all my GUE instructors were using Halcyon regs in class. Not a very meaningful sample. I agree that if there is a GUE group local to the diver then see what regs they are using. If the OP lives in Kona, there's a whole lot of nice diving to do there, and I'm a little confused by the interest in freezing waters. Hey @nicpub , did you take Fundies with Mer?

I'm in the Deep6 camp because being able to service my own regs has saved me more and more money as I started accumulating regs for doubles, then stage and deco bottles, etc. Having all my regs the same may not be realistic for everyone, but I like it. Deep6 are good, all-around regs.

I'm not planning to dive in Antarctica, but if I were going to shell out $20k or whatever for such a trip, I would probably not balk at the cost of acquiring a few more regs, a heated undersuit, heated gloves, and all that. As far as I know, the Deep6 regs are fine for normal cold-water diving. Antarctica or ice diving?--I really have no idea what that entails.
My instructor (which I won't name) described Halcyon regs as rebranded Scubapro sold at a markup...

I'm in Cali, so I'd be mostly doing regular cold-water dives, but I want to check out a few dives in Alaska soon (and ideally somewhat often).

Are you in Kona?
 
Yup - not sure why would anyone go for them. But then again here I am, willing to throw money into ice regs before getting close to any ice 😅
It's a brand thing, team colors and all that. Nothing wrong with it. ScubaPro or Halcyon, they are both excellent.
 
The Halcyon regulators are not the latest models from Scubapro. The Halcyon Halo is a G250 under the lid. The first stages are not the Evo line. This takes nothing away from Halcyon as the G250 is among the best second stages ever developed and arguably the most copied of which the G260 is just an updated G250 with Micro Adjust and a trimmer case housing the same full size diaphragm. The H50 is a Mark 17, not a Mark 17 Evo which has been dropped from the Scubapro line in favor of the Mark 19 Evo. The H75 is a Mark 25 sans the Evo treatment. I would feel completely fine using Halcyon regulators, they are hardly second rate. I have not shopped either line in a while but I think, last I checked, the brand H is less $ than the newer versions from Scubapro? For example, a quick check shows the G260 at $549 and the Halcyon Halo at $385. Which makes complete sense as it is the older legacy model G250 no longer sold under the Scubapro brand :(. The Halcyons are not copies or clones, they are rebranded and are the real deal.

I have a Mark 17 Evo and wish I had gotten the Mark 25 Evo. I like the fewer parts count, piston vs diaphragm, pick your poison, I prefer piston. The Mark 17 Evo has a few changes over the Mark 17 (and H50), port arrangement and some internal improvements to increase flow to 242 cfm at 200 Bar. The Mark 25 in any guise has a flow rate greater than 300 cfm. Either of which could support a team of divers and neither would be the weak link.
 
Given your list - If you are interested in Mares, get the 82X (or 28XR, same reg with different cosmetics) with the TBP environmental seal setup aka cold water kit. It has a turret and is NORSOK U-101 certified to 200m. Or the 72X. No turret, instead a similar layout to the 22X in the Navy, except it has an extra 4 (!) LP ports on the bottom. Same rating as the 82x with the TBP kit.

Pair it with the Abyss (called the DR in the tech line) all-metal classic downstream second stages or the new all-metal Atlas Adj if you want to try out their new balanced adjustable second.

I will note that Mares does not like self-service. They don't supply instruction or manuals (I've put the ones I could find in the page linked below) and you'll have to buy parts from European suppliers except for a few service kits that are available from DGX Service Kit - Mares XR Regulators . These are marked as being for the XR lines, but are the same kits as the corresponding stages from the regular line.

FWIW, Apeks (and parent company Aqualung) have the same issues with self-service plus the current uncertainty about parts availability or even the continued existence of the brands given their current financial situation. Meanwhile, ScubaPro will probably be the last scuba company standing, but they are even worse than the Europeans when it comes to putting up obstacles for individuals getting parts.

Because of this, I'd suggest that US residents who are interested in servicing their own regs take a close look at Deep6 which actively supports self-service. All they want to see is some evidence of training and they will train you themselves if you can't find it elsewhere.

If you still want to go ahead with Mares, here's the service info @Zef and I have gathered: Mares Regulator Service Information
 
My instructor (which I won't name) described Halcyon regs as rebranded Scubapro sold at a markup...

I'm in Cali, so I'd be mostly doing regular cold-water dives, but I want to check out a few dives in Alaska soon (and ideally somewhat often).

Are you in Kona?
No, I'm not in Kona. Your profile lists your location as "kona."

And yes, Halcyon are nearly identical to Scubapro. If I had the budget, I'd buy all Scubapro. Or all Halcyon. My budget would allow me to own one or two of those, but I looked at the long term, and that meant buying another reg for this, and then another reg for that, plus having all those regs serviced every couple of years, and I decided Scubapro/Halcyon are not in the budget for me.
 

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