2stroketony
Contributor
Spoke with a Huish Rep the other day and he said the Omega III is not being produced anymore yet will be suported. The Hollis 500 remains in production.
Omega III not produced anymore
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I like my Hollis 500se!
It doesn't have much of a fan base, but I think it's great. And contrary to the Omega, it breathes very dry.
It doesn't have much of a fan base, but I think it's great. And contrary to the Omega, it breathes very dry.
OP
2stroketony
Contributor
Hollis 500 for me too. Love them.
I picked up a used 500se to try as an alternative to an Omega, hoping the 500se would breathe drier. It was a small improvement, but still too wet for my liking. A DIY full rebuild including new exhaust valve did not help, and the exhaust cover was a bit stiff from age which resulted in splitting during reinstallation.
But I really like how smooth and easy they breathe, perhaps I will pick up another to try and hope for better results. If I could get a dry breathing 500se, it could easily sit on my top 5 favorite second stage list. Good to hear that it has potential.
But I really like how smooth and easy they breathe, perhaps I will pick up another to try and hope for better results. If I could get a dry breathing 500se, it could easily sit on my top 5 favorite second stage list. Good to hear that it has potential.
Raise your cracking effort just a touch.
Maybe ask your LDS to order you a new exhaust mushroom valve. Maybe a tiny irregularity in the skirt.
Maybe ask your LDS to order you a new exhaust mushroom valve. Maybe a tiny irregularity in the skirt.
I always liked the idea of the Omega, but never had the opportunity to try one. That Hollis looks interesting. What is the story with Hollis? My impression was that they were an offshoot of Oceanic at the start, but that 500SE has a real "Dacor" look to it.
Bob Hollis started the Hollis division to sell equipment oriented to the technical diving market. The original Omega, which I still use, was an improved version of the Tekna's servo regulator. Tekna was nearing bankruptcy when Bob purchased it.
The main difference between the Hollis and the Oceanic servo regulators is the Omega uses a combined diagram and radial exhaust assembly. Many of the internal parts are interchangeable with the original Omega.
IMO, the main reason the Omega 3 failed is the bazar decision to use a proprietary hose, which is something a tech-oriented market would never consider. As a general rule, only advanced divers are comfortable investing in non-conventional regulator designs like servo-valves and side exhausts.
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