reefrat, here's my Poseidon experience I'd like to share with you:
I've now got 3 complete Odin reg sets (also own a number of interesting vintage twinhose regs......several Mares MR12 and MR 16 Voltrex reg sets, a Mares Ruby and an Atomic B1/T2).
My 1st Odin was a used set from a dive shop in Mass, and after I bought it I had them ship it to a nearby Poseidon dealer --also in MA--for an 'annual'.
Everything seemed fine, I dove it a few times with no apparent problems, but I was new to both scuba and Odins, and didn't know better.
Maybe 3 months later, not wanting to have to ship my Odin to MA for service, I found several Poseidon dealers in my area as possible candidates, but had a hard time deciding between them, so I gave all of them a little 'test', namely to see which of them could acquire some brand-new soft-silicone OEM mouthpieces I'd heard about...the only dealer that had even heard of them was Southern Scuba of Ft. Worth TX, and all the other Poseidon dealers told me that they usually had to buy their Poseidon parts from Southern Scuba too, so apparently the 'best' dealer was Southern Scuba......so that's where I went, to see if he was as good as everyone said he was.
On my 1st visit, I dropped off my 1st Odin......for $5 he offered to bench test it, so I went for it, expecting to find out what a good job the shop in MA had done on that 'annual'.
To my surprise, when he hooked it up to test equipment, the primary 2nd stage had a breathing resistance of 0.55.......and he said the factory allowance was 0.20, and he is personally able to tune it down to 0.05....so he was rather surprised I had even dove it with it that out of tune, but being new to Odins, and having read to expect a somewhat high initial 'cracking' effort, I thought it was normal, and honestly, the Odin still supplied so much air, I never had any problems.
The only 'problem' I ever had was a test dive at the bottom of a 12 ft. deep pool......I had read that the Odin 'fluttered' in shallow water , but even with it way out of tune the only way I could get it to flutter, was to hyperventilate.....I tried to overbreathe it, it kept up with me all the way, but upon very deep, fast inhales I did notice a bit of the 'flutter' sensation.
However, Alec @ Southern Scuba pretty much tore apart the diveshop in MA that did the 'annual'.......he said that while it appeared they had done some work on the 1st stage, the 2nd stages had either never been touched, or it was done very ineptly, and had never been double checked for performance, so I decided to have him go ahead and do another full 'annual'.
I was astounded at the improvement in the breathing characteristics after Alec did the 2nd 'annual'!
In the next 3 months I acquired 2 more Odin reg sets (barely used) and also took them both in for a safety/performance check by Alec......they both needed a minor tuneup per Alec's bench tests, so I went ahead and had him do the 'annuals'.......these 2 units weren't as out of wack as the Odin from MA, but weren't quite tuned to perfection, so I thought it would be a good idea to go ahead and have him work his magic on these regs too.
I was astounded at how nicely behaved and easy breathing the Odin can be, if properly set up.
Alec got the 'cracking' resistance tuned way down to minimal levels, and combined with the very relaxing pilot-valve boosted inhale, the Odin is a joy to dive! The Odins practically breathe for you.......no fluttering, just abundant air even under the heaviest exertion.
I've read on this board that Odins are more difficult than average to set up properly, and based on my limited experience with 2 different dive shops I'd say you do have to be careful where you get your Odin serviced....but then again, that's probaly true for any brand of regulator, or any mechanical device, for that matter.
However, the joys of the Odin are well worth it, if you have a good dealer available.
I'd don't where you're from 'reefrat' but you ever need a GREAT Poseidon dealer, contact Alec @ southernscuba.net in Ft. Worth TX.....knowing what I know now, I'd even be happy to ship my regs to him if I didn't live in the area, he's that good!
(Alec is the regional 'master tech' for Poseidon in my 6-state area...he's the one that teaches regular Poseidon techs how to service/repair Poseidon gear.)
Remember, that "high initial resistance" you mention is not inherent to the Odin design, it's a function of how the reg is set up, and can be completely tuned away, if the Poseidon tech knows his/her stuff.
The 'rush of air' sensation is true, but I find it very reassuring and not at all unpleasant.........it's not an out of control feeling, but it's not a regulator you have to suck hard on for air....when you inhale the Odin fills up your lungs instantly, but doesn't over do it......most of the work of breathing (such as there is) is on the exhale, on the inhale side it's effortless....that's where the pilot-valve 2nd stage really shines.
If you were in the Dallas/Ft Worth area I'd be happy to loan you a reg, so if you're nearby just let me know.
Karl
), they'll be like gold. I wouldn't dive w/any other regs.
