Us Divers SEA 4. keep using ? Upgrade Second Stage ? Change the entire set ?

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GDP

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Messages
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Location
Brazil
# of dives
100 - 199
Hello guys.

I´ve been using a Us Divers Sea4 regulator for almost 15 years. I usually dive once a year in a warmer liveaboard vacation.

The last service was about two years ago and i have no problems in finding the repair kit.

I used to have no problems with air consuming. But in the last two trips I have notice that my air is going away faster than the average. I really don´t know if its a problem with me or a problem with the regulator.

I read in other posts that SEA4 it´s a solid first stage (and it´s a heavy one too). But it seems that if it can keep the "working" pressure for the second stage, the only problem in decision to keep diving with this regulator it is the weight that it represents in the luggage.

In the same way, a brand new good balance second-stage will decrease my breathing effort for about 1 joule/litre (It´s seems that the old Sea4 require more than 2 joules/litre.). Is it true ?

So, the questions :

Quality of regulators sets determins hardly the air consumption at recreational deeps ?

These numbers 2 or 1 joule/litre are big diference numbers ? Of couse it´s 100%, but it means anything in the end of the day (or in the end of tank ?).

In "recreational" deeps which is more important for breath performance : second or first stage ?

For recreational diving, if I connect a good second-stage (like Scubapro G255) in the old SEA4 Fist Stage It will have the same effect in comparassion with buying a brand new MK11/G255 set ?
 
Keep it. Your air consumption has nothing to do with your reg.
The SEA 1st stage is very similar to the current Legend.
The 2nd stage is more than adequate. For some reason USD 2nd stages get an undeserved bad rap on breathing performance....they're as good as any other unbalanced downstream second, and better than most.

If you were to upgrade, yes, a balanced 2nd would be the way to go.
If you want to keep it USD/Aqualung get a LX or a Legend 2nd.....you can buy the yellow octos separately.
Any balanced 2nd will be similar....Apeks, Zeagle, HOG, Scubapro.
 
Keep it. Your air consumption has nothing to do with your reg.
The SEA 1st stage is very similar to the current Legend.
The 2nd stage is more than adequate. For some reason USD 2nd stages get an undeserved bad rap on breathing performance....they're as good as any other unbalanced downstream second, and better than most.

If you were to upgrade, yes, a balanced 2nd would be the way to go.
If you want to keep it USD/Aqualung get a LX or a Legend 2nd.....you can buy the yellow octos separately.
Any balanced 2nd will be similar....Apeks, Zeagle, HOG, Scubapro.

Thank you Fishpie !

If I undestand correct, today Aqualung only offers sets of 1st/2nd stages. But an Legend Octopus is balanced and I can buy it separately. So, I could use a Legend Octopus as my "main second stage" and keep the Sea4 as octopus.
 
Yes, the LX and Legend are balanced......and probably the most economical way to keep everything the same make.
The only difference between the primary and octo is the colour.
.....make sure you go for the LX or Legend as AquaLung do make unbalanced Octos.
 
FYI according to the AL rep here, they will sell them seperately although it seems the dealers don't know it.
 

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