Choosing a regulator, help a fellow out :)

[ofl0926]

hey guys... its been a while since i post on here. a lot has been going on in my life. last diving i did was at devils den in florida. it was real nice but i didnt come prepare. the water was too cold for me LOL. i eventually got use to it. after that i ended up getting hurt on the job. i tore my LCL in my knee in a fire department training exercise and been going threw physical therapy for close to two months. well now in july i am going on my honeymoon and we going to atlantis in the bahamas. we plan on doing some diving out there and as well during the summer.
so here is where i need the help. only thing i need to get is a new set of reg set for myself. my fiance has all her equipment, just need to get it serviced. we do try to dive a lot during the summer. most of it is shore diving with the occasional boat dive. we do live in miami so the water is always warm.
i know before i got hurt everyone some ppl were telling me atomic is the best around. i had others tell me that apeks is the best too. just last night i was reading that Hollis is pretty damn good too. so what is recommended? just looking for some advice.

[nfarrar]

Atomic, Scubapro, Apeks and HOG are all great. Each has +/- but all are good performing safe reliable regulators.

I would say to look at the brand your fiance has and what other brands the LDS that services her sell. Then you can build a relationship with one shop. Do you really want to have to go to both the Ford and GM dealer? Ask yourself what features do you really need and what do you really want? You might look here on the classifieds and save some $$ on last years model.

For what its worth I dive a Scubapro MK25/A700 and my wife a MK25/G600 both with AIR2's. I have my AIR2 on my Dive Rite BP/W. I also have a HOG D1 and a vintage Dacor Olympic 400. The Dacor doesn't breath as good below 60' but all the others are great.

Good luck and enjoy the water! Congrads on getting married! Remember if you take any medication or have any health issues that are listed on the dive forms at the resort go get a waiver/sign off from you phycian. Other wise you might have to go see a "local" at $$$ to get a sign off. I have had instructors tell me some horror stories.

Later Mon,
Nick

[ofl0926]

Atomic, Scubapro, Apeks and HOG are all great. Each has +/- but all are good performing safe reliable regulators.

I would say to look at the brand your fiance has and what other brands the LDS that services her sell. Then you can build a relationship with one shop. Do you really want to have to go to both the Ford and GM dealer? Ask yourself what features do you really need and what do you really want? You might look here on the classifieds and save some $$ on last years model.

For what its worth I dive a Scubapro MK25/A700 and my wife a MK25/G600 both with AIR2's. I have my AIR2 on my Dive Rite BP/W. I also have a HOG D1 and a vintage Dacor Olympic 400. The Dacor doesn't breath as good below 60' but all the others are great.

Good luck and enjoy the water! Congrads on getting married! Remember if you take any medication or have any health issues that are listed on the dive forms at the resort go get a waiver/sign off from you phycian. Other wise you might have to go see a "local" at $$$ to get a sign off. I have had instructors tell me some horror stories.

Later Mon,
Nick

thank you Nick. gladly i dont take any medication and my finace only takes birth control. but thanks for the heads up.
as of now my future wife dives with a aqualung Legend regulator and her seaquest bc has the air2 system which acts as her octo. i dive with a halcyon bp/w. i have to local shops that i do business with. both are great and last time i was shopping for regs one told me atomic and the other apeks.

[muddiver]

Just get the same brand as your finace because an Aqualung shop will not nesicerly service other brands. I have Sherwood and Posiedon rigs for spacific reasons, and I only know one shop around here that will service both.

Apex is a European brand and finding parts and service can some time be difficult. Same with Poseidon.

[paulw]

First congrats on the wedding ! I second what nfarrar said, check out what your LDS sells and services. I have dove the Atomic and Apeks and really liked them but I am now diving Aqualung Legend LX Supreme and it is a great reg, Aqualung just changed it 's looks and there are a few shops selling last years model for $350.00 ish. Just another thought for you.

[ofl0926]

Thanks for the input fellas. I am going to checkout those legend regs that are on clearance. Also, how are these regs once you get your advance and possibly want to do some rec diving.

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[nfarrar]

There is a set, new if I remember on the classified section right now. Dont know if they are a good deal or not.

[paulw]

The Legend is Aqualungs top reg, I have been diving one for 2 years from 48deg fresh water to 84deg salt and down to 160 and it breaths as smooth as silk and I just bought another for a back-up. Apeks is a Aqualung company and if I am correct the closest Apeks reg is the XTX200 which is a great reg. Oh so you will know I am NOT a tech diver.

[ofl0926]

I am going to call the one of the two shops I deal with that sells Aqualung. The other shop doesn't carry them.
How about an online retailer for the Aqualung closeout regs? I also saw that diveriteinscuba has a nice package for Hollis regs and one of the two stores I go to sells these. Any worth looking at them?

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[Centrals]

You should check both Hog and Hollis because they are all clones of Apeks. The other H brand is SP clone.
There is NOT much difference between XTX200/FSR and XTX50/DST or DS4 except the PRICE!

After sell service is the MOST important criterion to consider.

[paulw]

Look here: aqualung supreme lx - Google Search (http://www.google.com/search?q=aqualung+supreme+lx&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari#q=aqualung+supreme+lx&hl=en&client=safari&tbo=u&source=univ&tbm=shop&sa=X&ei=RFCXT474EsH26AHP2cyXDg&ved=0CEQQrQQ&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=4a4fa81c9de69807&biw=768&bih=928)
it shows 349.00 at Prime Scuba.

[ofl0926]

i am tempted to pull the trigger on it LOL. i will need an octo as well. i think the one thing that is holding me back is that Hollis as a special where they include a second second stage with the purchase. pretty crazy deal.
debates debates debates LOL

[Agility]

As far as I know Aqualung now owns Apeks, so it should not really be a problem to get Apeks parts through your Aqualung dealer.
If you intend to advance to tec, the Apeks will accompany you safely.

[bryce1993]

If you're just doing warm water recreational diving, there's not much point in getting top shelf regs. Get a reasonable one from your local dive shop. That way, you're supporting a local business, they are familiar with the reg that will eventually need servicing - and you know that if there's any problems, then you can go into that shop and get them to sort it out.
That being said, if you can find a great deal over the internet and are confident both in the seller and your LDS' ability to service the regs, then that's something to consider carefully. I bought a BC over eBay, only used a few times, looks great... Leaks.
An Air2 is pretty cool, I love having nice, tight and streamlined trim :) they're not too much more expensive than a regular occy too.

Safe Diving,
Bryce

[ofl0926]

Yeah most of the diving will be warm water. Very rarely we dive cold water.
I just want to get something that will follow me in my adventures with no problems. Also if and when I transition into more advance diving, I don't have to buy another set

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[Bigd2722]

Hog is as affordable and is starting to gather market momentum in Florida. It will easily carry you through tech diving

[ofl0926]

I see what your saying. The two shops I go to doesn't carry them. So with having servicing as a top priority, Hollis 212 kit with free octo, Aqualung legend LX supreme, or apeks? These are serviced at my LDS which is important to me. They only advantage I see now is pricing. The Hollis kit includes a second second stage for free with the purchase of a first and second stage. The Aqualung is top tier that is on clearance and same with apeks but I will need an octo.
Finally thoughts?

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[paulw]

Just my opinion but for the money the Legend is top of the line and will serve you many years and is suitable for any style of diving you chose to go into. Now having said that my dive buddy just bought a pair of Hollis 212/DC1 regs and is happy with them.

[ofl0926]

well just my luck... i call to place the order for the legend and they are sold out :(
i called two dive shops local that carry aqualung and they dont have any either. back to the drawing board

---------- Post added April 26th, 2012 at 07:11 PM ----------

on a different note.. what do you guys think of the oceanic EOS reg???

[elan]

If you travel or plan to travel for diving Aqualung seems to be presented the most in different parts of the world then Scubapro so it's easier to fix them in other parts of the world, if you already have an Aqualung reg in the family I would stick to Aqualung, simplifies the logistics of servicing. We had Oceanic reg (Aeris AT400) in our family but then I sold it as it was more difficult to find the parts for it and service it. We now have mostly Apeks/SP. Apeks has parts for life program in North America, if you regularly dive and do not have 10 regs to service so you do not plan to service your regs it can save money.
Some of the brands although cost you less in the beginning will cost more down the road as you will need to pay for the parts. I would recommend not to jump on the cheap deals right away but do more research and calculate how much it will cost you over the years. Some regs are also more easy to sell later.

[ofl0926]

If you travel or plan to travel for diving Aqualung seems to be presented the most in different parts of the world then Scubapro so it's easier to fix them in other parts of the world, if you already have an Aqualung reg in the family I would stick to Aqualung, simplifies the logistics of servicing. We had Oceanic reg (Aeris AT400) in our family but then I sold it as it was more difficult to find the parts for it and service it. We now have mostly Apeks/SP. Apeks has parts for life program in North America, if you regularly dive and do not have 10 regs to service so you do not plan to service your regs it can save money.
Some of the brands although cost you less in the beginning will cost more down the road as you will need to pay for the parts. I would recommend not to jump on the cheap deals right away but do more research and calculate how much it will cost you over the years. Some regs are also more easy to sell later.

i see what your saying about servicing the reg being important. i guess that is why i am looking for advice. i believe the regs i am looking at all come with lifetime parts warranty. as of now the 2011 aqualung models have all been sold so i am leaning towards Hollis and oceanic EOS. apeks was my original option but just out of my budget.