Opinions on first regulator set...

[jbishop.rwc]

Just bought this used regulator set for $250. Planning on having it serviced as soon as I get it, so that will add $100 to the price. It was new in May 2015 and used for a couple of months at a scuba camp. Was this a reasonable deal?

Since this is intended for warm water recreational diving thought this would be a great starter set.

1st Stage and Primary Regulator- Aqualung Titan
Emergency Backup Regulator- Aqualung ABS
2nd Stage- Aqualung Titan with flow adjustment
Inflator Hose
Apeks Pressure (PSI) and Depth (Feet) Gauge in console​

Thanks,

Jon

 

[tbone1004]

it was reasonable, purchased new in 2015 I wouldn't bother getting it serviced though, the free parts for life likely don't transfer to you, so I'd invest in an IP gauge and as long as it locks up, I wouldn't bother bringing it in for service. Any decent dive shop should put it on the bench for free to check it. I'm not a fan of the ABS, it's not very good to breathe off of, but the titan is solid

 

[jbishop.rwc]

TBone

Could you explain what an IP gauge is and how to check if it locks up? I know IP stands for intermediate pressure, which I believe is the pressure in the hose.

Thanks for the heads up on having the dive shop check it out for free. I am in the SF bay area and most dive shops are not willing to do that. Anyone you can recommend?

Thanks,

Jon

 

[tbone1004]

i hate making recommendations for DGX, but they have good prices, so here goes
https://www.divegearexpress.com/deluxe-ip-gauge

Basically you plug that into your inflator and it tells you what pressure is going to the second stages. This tells you the health of the first stage. If it locks up quickly and is within spec, then all is well in the world. The only time you need to have a reg serviced is when that IP doesn't lock up any more, called IP creep, or the second stages start leaking for some strange reason. If you are using the regulators regularly and taking care of them, they should last somewhere around 3-5 years or 300-500 dives between service intervals, if not longer. You do have to pay attention to IP though as that is the only way of really telling whether a first stage wants/needs service or not.

Unfortunately I don't have any recommendations for the SF area, all of my buddies that dive out there service their own regs, which you unfortunately won't be able to do with Aqualung products.

 

[decompression]

Agree, the Titans are a very good reg set....serve you well for many years. The abs isn't a great back up though, take a few hard breaths at 100+ feet to see. I prefer an identical second stage as a back up but it's something you could do later. Pascal Bernabe did his deep dive on titans so they can't be to bad.

 

[jbishop.rwc]

Nice profile pic, decompression!

Yeah, this is definitely a starter set. Not too concerned about the ABS, but will probably upgrade it sometime.

TBone, like the DGX site and am planning on ordering a BP/W setup from them sometime. If I am going to use the IP gauge then I assume I'll need an air tank to test it with. Probably hold of on that for now, but thanks for the info.

Jon

 

[tbone1004]

their site is good, but I am very much not a fan of their business practices. If you want the best BP/W on the market, they are conveniently made a few hours from you up in LA. I highly recommend you consider calling Tobin at Deep Sea Supply and getting one of his rigs. They are absolutely world class.

http://www.diverightinscuba.com/regulatorsoctosaccessories-xsscuba-iptestgauge-p-2356.html
This gauge is a bit nicer, just more money and I much prefer DRiS as a dive shop to DGX but that's just me. They do have some incredible deals.

edit: Don't hold off, like Jay said below, you usually check it as part of your pre-dive checks, so you don't have to own your own tanks, but the IP gauge is one of the scuba tools that imho is a MUST for every diver. It is the only way that you can tell that the regulator is OK before you go diving.
Though on that subject, these are both screaming deals
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/for/5414450701.html
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/spo/5394475232.html

 

[decompression]

Thanks,

The ip guage can and is usually used right before a dive so you'd be using your rental tanks. Both DGX and Diverightinscuba have good bpw deals. You also can't beat DSS as tbone says.

 

[jbishop.rwc]

Here is a pic...

 

[67macoshark]

This gauge will save you a couple of dollars to put towards your bp/w.
https://www.divegearexpress.com/compact-ip-gauge
The purge feature on the deluxe gauge is not necessary. Purging your second stage accomplishes the same thing. I take a gauge with me on local dives, and when traveling. If servicing your own regs is something that might interest you, Titan kits are easily purchased, and will be around for a long time.