Regulator choice?

[scubabjs]

I purchased Apex, when I got my C-card, I now own 3 of them. I would go with the *TX-100 line, if I was a new cold water diver, (I don't see what the 200 series provides addtional) I like how the hoses come off the 1st stage. There is nothing wrong with *TX-50 line either, many people use dual *TX-50's on their doubles, but I don't like the swivel.

Bjs

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Are there any out there that breath easily at depth with no adjustements? I am on a Dacor Viper metal right now and I love it because it breaths easily whether I am at 10 feet or 90 feet.

The Scubapro S550 is a balanced but non adjustable second stage that performs well at depth.

Basically any balanced second stage will perform well regardless of depth as long as it is properly adjusted by the technician servicing it. The "adjustable" feature on adjustable second stages normally is used to increase or decrease the inhalation effort of the regulator in response to current and surge conditions to prevent freeflows. Or alternatively in response to changes in the swimming position or orientation of the diver which, due to case fault geometry, can affect the minimum inhalation effort that can be achieved without getting a slight freeflow out the exhaust valve between breaths.

Depth, for most practical purposes within recreational limits has no serious effect on second stage inhalation effort with a quality second stage.

 

[cerich]

The only current Aqualung 2nd stage seat that cannot be flipped is the LX 2nd stage

I know most think of AL and APEKs as seperate companies, I don't. That is where my very few came from.

The manufacture does frown upon "seat flipping" but it does work.

Sure it works.

Most freeflow 2nd stages are caused by a 1st stage hp seat failure

Agree


To the OP, Most Manufatures have a quality regulator, I would stay away from any reg that you cannot get serviced by your LDS, your local LDS should also be able to recommend a good regulator for the type of diving you will be doing

My reg recommends

high end - Atomic B2
Middle end - Aqualung Titan LX
Low end - Aqulaung Titan



Mares is good reg, but the company has been having parts supply problems, bad for the customer.

There are better choices and I'm not just talking Oceanic..

 

[616fun]

Tim,
As you've noticed, everyone thinks their regs are the best. My recommendation is to look at the type of diving your planning on doing and buy regs that can handle the conditions. I'm replacing my first set of regs because of freezing issues. It's an expensive mistake to replace equipment a few years after you buy it because your tastes and environment changes.

I'm currently diving a cheap set of Cressi Air Tech Piston regs and replacing them with a set of Aqualung Legend LX.

 

[Flipper Tim]

Thanks everyone. There does seem to be as many opinions as regs.
I'm going to have to go for regs that can handle cold water (down to 2C) so an Ice reg it'll have to be. I'm going for the best I can afford & it'll have to be a metal case because I get 'cotton mouth' really bad.
The only problem I have is that I have to buy for two in most cases...my wife having taken up this diving insanity as well. But she seems to be coping with the dry mouth okay so far.

As I said at the start I'm really quite new to diving & my ignorance shows alot I think. Case in point, I've not heard of the Atomic range of regs, are they quite specialist/expensive?

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Case in point, I've not heard of the Atomic range of regs, are they quite specialist/expensive?

They are nice regs made from uranimum, hence the name "Atomic", and the erie glow they give off makes for a very handy dive light. Well...the statement is true except for the uranium and dive light parts.

The concern with buying an Atomic reg would be service availability as the dealer network is comparatively small. They, like regs from some other companies, come in both brass and titanimum flavors so you can spend an ungodly amount of money on one if you choose.