"First you are breaking one of scuba major rules and that is monitor your gas supply and not wait until the increase resistance warn you of low gas supply."
You'll get no argument from me on this. However, We both know that divers can, and do, get distracted. I bought my youngest son a new Aqualung Calypso because it's not only a dependable, bulletproof reg, it also offers that little reminder, at 750 psi, to check his SPG.
Keep in mind, though, that this is only the case with an unbalanced
piston regulator. An unbalanced
diaphragm regulator will actually get
easier to breathe as tank pressure drops.
"My wife who dive one or twice a year can tell the difference between a demand 2nd stage and balanced 2nd stage,most of us are not hovering our regulator so we can tell the difference between the two designs."
Perhaps it's just me, but I'll have to take your word that regulators with both stages balanced breathe better. I've dived both types of second stages down to about 100 feet, in all sorts of positions (no one has ever accused me of hovering) and I honestly cannot tell any difference in breathing resistance between a double-balanced rig and my Conshelf 14. I could be wrong, but I've come to the conclusion that it's a mental thing and that, because of the hype, people convince themselves that there is actually a difference.
But what do I know? I still dive a double hose reg and I think it's easy to breathe from.
"Nitrox is not that hard it's easier then repairing a regulator."
What does diving Nitrox have to do with repairing a regulator?
I don't want to bother with the added expense and procedures of Nitrox diving. The mixing, the testing, etc. I just wanna fill my tank and go. I'm funny that way.
"It seems the price is right and if down the road I want to buy something better I can alway keep this as a buddy loaner/spare"
The OP was correct in the statement that an affordable package bought now would allow him/her to start diving now and upgrade (perhaps a piece at a time) later on, with the original package serving as backup/loaner gear. Most of us have gear-itis, anyway. Even if one could accurately foresee exactly what sort of diving one will be doing, say, five years from now and manage to pick the perfect gear setup the first time, they will still be buying more equipment, including regulators, BCs, wetsuits, you name it. I'm up to my eyeballs in tanks, wetsuits, BCs, spare parts, knives, lights...The list is nearly endless. Yet, two days ago, I bought a NIB, never used Conshelf 21. Did I need it? Heck, no! But I wanted it. It was calling my name and I couldn't resist its Siren call. I'm a total gear junkie and I would say that 90% of all divers are.
So where did this ridiculous idea that a newbie can possibly make one, single gear purchase that equals "the right gear the first time" come from? Not every newbie goes on to become a [wreck/cave/deep/tech] diver, so why do we always seem to assume that he/she needs to buy the most advanced, expensive gear? Besides, most of us divers get a terminal case of gear-itis eventually.
I agree that the OP shouldn't "low ball" it. Not that the cheaper stuff is unsafe. It isn't. Low cost regs can breathe quite well and give adequate service for recreational diving. For someone who has no desire to ever go beyond the shallow-water-play-with-the-fishies style of diving, a low cost setup would be quite satisfactory. The problem, as I see it, comes in the arena of parts and service. Unless the budget equipment is sold by a LDS who supports it, service might even be non-existent. This might not be an issue with someone who figures on tossing a cheap reg set after a few years and buying another one. In a way, this makes sense. Buy a $130 regulator, use it for three to five years (until it starts having problems) and get a new one. This would actually be cheaper than having a more expensive reg serviced every year. Would I do it this way? No, but I know of people who do. Their choice.
I did buy some cheap, Sea Elite seconds to use as octos, but their innards are generic and I can get parts for them. Even so, use 'em and lose 'em, if needs be!
I, like you, am a US Divers/Aqualung fan. All of my regs are USD/AL. I have an abiding love for the Conshelf series with all-metal second stages. My favorite is my Conshelf 14. The Titan regs are outgrowths of this line and, internally, are identical. My oldest son has discovered the HOG/Edge line and has gone in that direction. I have used his Edge Epic and I must say that, for the budget minded buyer, this would be an excellent choice. I took his first stage apart right after he got it and I was impressed with its simplicity and ruggedness. It has even fewer parts than a Conshelf first stage. His second stage, however, is balanced and more complicated than my simpler, all-metal USD seconds. I didn't disassemble it as I am not versed in the care and feeding of such beasts. I'll have to get the manual for it. I'm tempted to buy an Epic first stage and slap a metal Conshelf second on it.
As far as the OP's original post, Aeris isn't cheap gear. It's a well-known company that sells good stuff. If I were just starting out, on a budget, and looking to buy my first set of diving gear, I would be giving such a package a serious gander. Except for the computer. I'm a tables, watch and depth gauge man. My preference.
That said, a budget-minded shopper can often get better deals buying equipment separately. Look around for sales and mix-and-match gear. You'd be surprised how much money you can save and still get great stuff.
The central piece of equipment, regardless of the heritage of the rest of the setup, is the regulator. And here's the thing: Most people know next to nothing about the innards of their regulators and have no idea how to service them. So, suppose the newbie finds a great deal on a Whatsis X-300 regulator, but no one in his area carries the Whatsis line of gear? The only option is to ship the darned thing off to have it serviced and wait for who knows how long for some stranger to get around to fixing it.
For us DIY types, this is no problem. We get the manuals, find a source of parts and have at it. But for the majority of the diving public, local service is a necessary fact of life. So, whether one buys locally or online, it's best if the regulator is supported locally. I'm not saying that one must buy locally (and, maybe, pay a much higher price), just that the availability of local service could be a big factor in the choice of brand.
I'm not going to go into the "parts for life" schtick because that is a fading thing and, one day soon, will be little more than a memory.
One thing I strongly recommend that all divers do is purchase the book
Regulator Savvy. Even if you don't ever intend to service your own regs, I believe that knowledge of how a regulator works will help one become a better, more confident diver.
Regulator Savvy (Spiral Bound)
