Hoya97,
Your ScubaPro reg is an excellent model. I really see no need to consider changing to an Apeks unless you are unhappy with your choice. ScubaPro has their fair share of detractors (See
www.thedecostop.com) due to some isolated problems with creeping intermediate pressure, but are hailed as very high quality regs.
I personally dive with Mares regs, and lean toward diaphragm first stages. Then again, I typically dive in water below 50 degress. In your area of Florida you would be lucky to ever see ice, let alone have one of your regs ice over.
Oh, Boogie, I can somewhat agree with your overviews. However, I certainly hope that Poseidon was inadvertently left off...It certainly wouldn't fall within the "junk category".
Buy a high quality reg that meets Navy Class A standards. Heck, two people can't overbreath one that meets such criteria. Yeah, the effort might be a little less on some models, but they still delivers more gas than a human could ever need.
Personally, I believe that any of the world's major manufacturers meet the needs of 95% of the world's divers, recreational or technical. Like I said, I use Mares regs. My dives are now limited to 150' (don't get me started on the deep air issue) and I am very pleased with their performance at this depth. They are very stable and offer absolutely no positive pressure breathing. I service them myself (along with other brands), and the rock solid construction has won my absolute confidence. When and if I start making deeper dives I will be using helium based blends. When helium mixes start flowing the breathing resistance drops substantially anyway.
As far as Apeks regs go. I have several friends who use them. They are very well engineered, yet actually quite simple. Their machining is second to none, and their HP seats seem to have earned a top notch reputation. Many HP seats begin failing early whenever the tank pressures routinely go above 3,000psi. ScubaPro, Mares, and others should quickly find out what their seats are composed off and take note. BTW, you should always initially pressurize any reg gingerly. The initial slamming action is very tough on anyone's first stage. I hold open the purge and turn the valve VERY slowly.
Greg Barlow