Best all around equipment manufacturer?

[scubaredneck]

Who do you guys think is, overall, the best company? In other words, if you gear had to all come from the same company, what would that company be and why?

If I didn't list your company, please add it in you post with my apologies.

[nk5]

What about Poseiden, Mares, Sherwood, or Genesis?

[medic13]

what about apeks

[scubaredneck]

What about Poseiden, Mares, Sherwood, or Genesis?

I thought Dacor had merged with Mares...

I only had space for 10 companies. I stated in my post that I knew I would miss some.

SHEESH! ;)

[leadweight]

If you vote for Halcyon, you must be planning to dive without a regulator, instruments, fins, exposure suit or a tank.

I could get by with Scubapro. I just have to use their regulators. While I prefer the Transpac II, I could live with the S-Tec harness/wing and the rest of their gear.

Atomic only makes regulators and fins. Must be fun diving with no BC, Mask or exposure suit.

Thank heaven we don't have to buy all our gear from one mfg. Of course I am waiting for GUE to come up with some specification for a regulator that no one else makes so that Halcyon can sell it at their inflated prices instead of just geting a few bucks for the hoses:boom:

[O-ring]

Most of their stuff seems pretty solid and their entire line is pretty strong compared to most...

[metridium]

Definitely Dacor.

[MikeFerrara]

Zeagle. Their regs are great. Now that they have a bp/wing I could live with it if I had too. They even have dry suits and a fin that I like when wearing a wet suit. None of their masks even come close to fitting me though. Oh well who needs one.

Now if I can use stuff from Zeagle and Halcyon I'm in good shape. Still need a different mask (Halcyons doesn't fit any better than zeagles) and fins though

[JimC]

If you vote for Halcyon, you must be planning to dive without a regulator, instruments, fins, exposure suit or a tank.

Useing there RBII you get tanks and regs. Guess I'll just have to carry a bunch of battey packs (dont sell lead) and walk along the bottom nude. I can use the battery packs and a pile of lights aimed at me to keep warm.

=-)

[GeekDiver]

My vote is for Aqualung.

With products from USD, Apex, Seaquest, Deep Sea and Dreager they offer a complete line of quality products top to bottom.


Geek

[ElectricZombie]

Halcyon - For the BC

ScubaPro - For the fins, mask and regs.

[Rice]

I voted for Halcyon as best overall because while they don't offer some pieces of kit I have a certianty that everything they offer is of the highest quality and very well sorted out.

Scubapro might have a fuller line of products but some of it is good.. and some is less advisable.

but hey, I'm not a brand whore. I like my cressi mask and Oceanic computer.

Rice

[Pez de Diablo]

They all have something that they do well.

I like my Zeagle Ranger, I like my Dive-Rite BP/Wing, I like my USD arctic regs and I like my Apeks regs. I have been diving with my Mares mask for 13 years and love it as do I love my Oceanic Shadow mask as well. I just love my blades as well.

The one item that I don't like, an Akona gear bag, expensive and it fell apart after a few trips. I sure do love the non-descript duffel bags I use now.

I think it's a toss up between USD and Zeagel, because of completeness of a quality product line. Ohh, OK, I pick...


Zeagle

[scuubaadoo]

... it would be nice if they made a rebreather, wait they did years ago. Dry suit but then again they dive the warm waters of the mediteranian so I guess they don't need 'em. All things considered a full line and very good equipment.

[Hallmac]

Aqualung

Hallmac

[ScubaCruiser]

Aqualung

Same resason as GeekDiver.

[Jonathan]

Once again I can't vote - very frustrating

Anyway sp would get my vote as it one of the few that you can get everything from and world-wide support.

Never seen Halcyon, Aqualung or Dacor stuff so can't comment. Seen one Zeagle bc and nothing else. If you venture outside of the US and the tekkie market you will only see the likes of sp, buddy, mares....

If Japan look out for Tusa, SAS and Moby. And if I were to give my vote on those three it would be Moby but I'm not sure they make anything other than suits.

Jonathan

[metridium]

Jonathan wrote...
Never seen Halcyon, Aqualung or Dacor stuff so can't comment. Oh, if you'd seen Dacor, you'd know who's best. They have everything from gear for rec divers to the Rig, a techie BCD that's to die for! Wear one and one glance will tell everyone you want to be the best.

Believe me, when you're 10 miles back in a cave, you wanna be with Team Dacor!

They're the ginchiest!

[MaresMan1]

Well, guess I don't have to say who I prefer..........

like the styles
like the designs
like the quality
like the ingenuity
like the concepts
like the evolution
like that they merged with Dacor under HTM

Love the diving

Enjoy the ride :mean:

[LUBOLD8431]

Metridium...

I hope you are joking!!!!!










If not, sorry...

[dsgobie]

Used the reg. Good. Dive the transpak... great. Dive the 905... great... I've never seen or used the fins though. And I like my el cheapo mask. Tusa Impera

The canister could use some work, but I like the light head. (Have a MR11)

[metridium]

Did I forget to mention Dacor's color-coordination possibilities? You can be the envy of all your diving buds with your all-neon-lime-green ensemble!

And for you advanced divers, there's even a "tech" black snorkel designed with the Rig in mind. You'll be the coolest looking diver at the end of the line in Wakulla!

Ya gotta admit Dacor's certainly on the ball, fashion-wise!

[leadweight]

LOLROF

[sailnj]

Mares for Regs

Sherwood for BC's

Cressi for Fins

Dacor for Masks

[Jonathan]

some others don't always spot your sarcasm.... Now I do however you said:


a techie BCD that's to die for!

you should have seen the Tusa one my instructor was trying out - what a pile of [regulated myself!] - would have probably given dacor a run for their money.....

Jonathan

[Ari]

Scubapro. Probably the best one, although there is some very good other equipment out there.

Ari :)

[metridium]

LUBOLD8431 wrote...
Metridium...

I hope you are joking!!!!!
:D


leadweight wrote...
LOLROF Thanks!


Jonathan once bubbled...
some others don't always spot your sarcasm.... Now I do... It's not intended to be sarcastic, which carries too many negative connotations, but rather simply humorously ironic. :)

But then, as a non-American (I presume), I shouldn't expect you to understand irony.

[AzAtty]

I can't believe you missed Voit.

[SPEEDSTER]

SP, generally for high quality workmanship and design that produces the entire gamut of products.

M

[scubaredneck]

AzAtty wrote: I can't believe you missed Voit.I have a Voit speargun and it works pretty well! :thumb:

:rofL:

[KZMAN]

AzAtty once bubbled...
I can't believe you missed Voit.

Good One! Lol....

[DiverBuoy]

SPEEDSTER once bubbled...
SP, generally for high quality workmanship and design that produces the entire gamut of products.

M

It's all in the name :) They definitely have great stuff.

[plsdiver4377]

Dacor/Mares, but have Scubapro, Genesis, Tusa, IST. Also thinking about switching to a Zeagle Ranger BC.:idea:

[H20man]

I voted for Halcyon mainly for their BC

I love my Apeks regs but no Apeks or Seaquest on here.

Each company has certain products they produce which are very good quality.

[ZoCrowes255]

H20man once bubbled...
I voted for Halcyon mainly for their BC

I love my Apeks regs but no Apeks or Seaquest on here.

Each company has certain products they produce which are very good quality.

Seaquest and Apeks are both distributed by Aqualung

[Lead_carrier]

You should have done a little research and combined the companies that have merged. It would have eliminated a lot of the post from people that don't know who distributes their regs.

[Epinephelus]

Since most of these guys manufacture next to nothing and are actually "labelers" of stuff manufactured elsewhere, the question is moot.
E. itajara

[blawler1]

Sporasub has Mares quality for less

[Scuba Cowboy]

My vote would go to OMS if they were on your list. Very high quality and a complete line. For the type of diving I want to do, they have everything I'd need.

[Bob3]

I can't believe you left out DESCO:
http://www.divedesco.com/
Morse is right up there too:
http://www.channel1.com/morsediving/
;)

[LUBOLD8431]

ZoCrowes255 once bubbled...


Seaquest and Apeks are both distributed by Aqualung

Actually, Seaquest and Aqualung have MERGED. Aqualung does not "distribute" Seaquest, they are the same company now.
Seaquest was the distributor for Apeks in the US prior to the merger. So, by default, Aqualung now distributes Apeks...

I'm sorry, but I just like to get the FACTS straight...

[drbill]

I could never pick ALL my equipment from one manufacturer. Scubapro probably comes the closest with Halcyon in there, too. However, I have received some lousy product (and service) from ScubaPro lately and I would have to say I'm concerned for their future following their acquisition by Johnson.

Apollo- fins
Scubapro- regs
BC- Halcyon
wetsuit- custom M&B
Cressi- mask (nothing I'vbe seen beats the Big Eyes for U/W video)

Dr. Bill

[Dyno Bill]

Well I had to do a survey, I have 2 Scuba Pro BC's and a Dacor,
I have 2 Scuba Pro Regs and a Conshelf, my fins are 3 Mares and
1 set of Escopez, my wetsuits are all Body Glove, I used to live very near Dive n Surf. I probably have 4 masks and none are the same manufacture. So I'm not sure that there is a best, I believe its more a matter of comfort. I do believe that the longer one dives the more likely they will have a variety of stuff.
Dive SAFE, and often

[JCKCSYCMD]

Only one: AquaLung & subsidiaries.

I feel my specific Halcyon, & OMS equipment is great, and for single tank vacation dives we have a couple of Cressi jacket BCs, and some Scuba Pro regs, etc. In fact with 30+ years I & family members likely come close to having just about all major quality compnies equipment of some sort.

However, if I had to pick one company....I would have to vote AquaLung. It is obvious by some of the posts that not all divers on the board are aware of the subsidiary companies of AquaLung/US divers that includes USD, Apex, Seaquest, Deep Sea, Dreager like someone before me mentioned.

If I had to pick just one company, only Aqualung has a broad product line.

[dgangi]

This one of those "can't win" questions. In my opinion, there isn't a single manufacturer out there that excels in everything. My own gear is a smorgasboard of brands - Oceanic Delta 3 reg, Scubapro Superhawk BC, Aeris Velocity fins, Cressi bug-eye mask, Sherwood Logic computer...

But overall, I think Oceanic makes the most consistently high quality products. Their line of BC's (men and women), regulators, fins, and computers seem to rank very high in every comparison test. They are never the "best" in any particular category, but they are always good.

I would have voted for Scubapro but they don't really make their own brand-name computers (they bought Uwatec). I know that Oceanic computers are made by Palagic, but at least they carry the Oceanic name.

I also think very highly of Sherwood (great reputation for reliability) and Aeris (have heard nothing but raves about their customer service).

[JCKCSYCMD]

Let's try something simplier....like one of the fast food ads...which is better..bacon-chicken or bacon-beef.?

For me neither! Ha! :mean:

[mleong]

For me, Aqualung/USD.

*USD Micra Reg set
*Technisub Sphera and Vera ( I think they merge with Aqualung too)
*USD Compro Fins, replace by SP Jetfins. Would have got the Rocket fins if my LDS has them. Nobody stocks them at all here in Malaysia.
*Ranger BC, would have got the USD Alcyone, but no longer in production when I got my OW cert

Diving equipment here costs about 20% to 40% more after currency conversion and finding the LDS who can service the equipment is a bit of problem. The few most common brand is USD, Scubapro, Dacor, Oceanic and Zeagle.

A SP Mini VIP 2 Gauge costs a little under RM 700.00, which is approx = to US$ 180.00.
Dive Transpac II is retailing at RM 2112.00, approx US$ 555.00.

[hunter991]

I just started dealing with abysmal and they have really impressed me, my employer just made a large purchase of equipment from them and they are great to work with and their gear seems first rate. I didn't really like the looks of their reels but other than that everything is great at a great price.

http://www.abysmal.com/

[shrwdtech]

Of course, I'm biased... but Sherwood is my choice.

Have a great day!:D

[blackice]

I choose Halcyon - why, because the few pieces of equipment I have bought from them work.

This is not saying that the other stuff doesn't, as much of it does.

It all depends on what you do in diving.

I love being streamlined as I save on my air consumption and this allows longer less stress full dives a big plus.

Other than the BC, most of my gear is from other companies, but if the MC System from Halcyon is any thing to go by... other products from them would be well thought out and include all the options you need and non you don't.

Yes I use Suunto, Oceanic, Apeks and others as most people do, because we have choice and no one company make it all.

Any way most of us could not afford to buy all our gear from Halcyon, but for the major things the investment is worth it.
=-)

[Virgil]

i like Mares for the stuff i wear, Aqualung for the stuff to keep me breathing and a mix and match for the rest of my kit.

[nwdiver2]

OMS is by far the best company I have dealt with.

[Qman]

I like Aqualung and Seaquest!

[NJDiveGirl]

though I really love my Seaquest BC!