Which regulator is best for cave/wreck diving?

[Diver Damon]

I know it's a Ford -vs- Chevy scenario but I am spending a lot of money on gear and want to know which regulator gives the best bang for the buck. :?:

[Jordan]

I use Dive Rite RG2500's and a RG1200 for O2. Great bang for the buck.

[MikeH]

I use Dive Rite RG2500's and a RG1200 for O2. Great bang for the buck.

Will Dive Rite sell their rebuild kits to anybody, or only "authorized service techs"?

Mike

[Angie Reim]

I use Dive Rite RG2500's and a RG1200 for O2. Great bang for the buck.

Will Dive Rite sell their rebuild kits to anybody, or only "authorized service techs"?

Mike

That's a good point. I have both DR and Apeks regulators. Finding the correct rebuild kits can be difficult and more expensive than shop service prices. However, there are few reg. techs I trust and most of them are hours driving away. In the past I've had several rebuilds go bad because someone else was not thorough with part replacements (NOT the folks I will use now). So if you can find a source for rebuild kits you should go with the regulator you can rebuild yourself if necessary. As to quality and performance - each regulator type carries pro/cons such that I find them to be equal. Either is a good choice.

Although I don't use them myself, there is nothing in its price range that begins to compare with the Atomic Aquatics Z-1.

The regs named in the above posts (the re-badged Oceanic or the updated 1970s Conshelf) don't even think about comparing. But if servicing them yourself is important to you (rather than having a trained professional do it), you're on your own.

Russell

[MikeH]

But if servicing them yourself is important to you (rather than having a trained professional do it), you're on your own.

Some of the so called "trained professionals" that I've had do reg rebuilds seem to screw them up more often than not. After having 3 regs rebuilt by 2 different techs at a shop that sells and services the Apeks line, all three of them had problems on the first dive.

I prefer to do it myself....and KNOW it was done right. I haven't found a local tech that I trust enough to do the service on my regs.

Yes, I understand that I'm "on my own" when I service my own regs....but, so far, I am the only one I've personally found to be reliable in this situation....so I'm fine with that.

Mike

[Jordan]

I use Dive Rite RG2500's and a RG1200 for O2. Great bang for the buck.

Will Dive Rite sell their rebuild kits to anybody, or only "authorized service techs"?

Mike

Dive Rite sells their rebuild kits to authorized dealers. Individuals can buy from dealers. That's how it works. Keep in mind there are some dealers that will sell them to any ole person and some who won't. It is up to the individual to find a dealer who will.

[jammer]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! this scare the Sh#t out of me to know that the dive shops techs are rebuilding regulators that fail. Kinda makes you wonder. I have apeks atx50's and they do not need to be serviced yet but it is getting close to that time. Is there a reputable place that you know of in cave country? It does seem that these techs should have a certificate of graduation on reg service and have to put his cerft.# on the service ticket in case there is a problem then he or she can be held responsible.

[D1V3R]

I say go for a poseidon made reg, they seemed to be the best for deep stuff

[jammer]

I say go for a poseidon made reg, they seemed to be the best for deep stuff

OK I agree on Posesidon being a great deep reg. But I think he said best bang for the buck. Check this link out and let me know what you think of it this is why I desided to go with Apeks over Poseidon bust budget reg. I think that is available. Just my opinion though. I know lots of guys that have both but they all agree that if you have Poseidon you better have the $$$$$$ to spend on the service and replacement of hoses.

http://www.apeks.co.uk/downloads/John%20Bennett%20ad.pdf

[D1V3R]

your right about that, poseidons are expensive

what about that one reg that used to be popular with cavers during the early 90's? it was made by Oceanic i think, it was unconvetional looking, anybody know what im talking about? how bout one of those?

It's an Oceanic Omega. It uses a pilot valve, and is a real pain to work on. Although I'm Oceanic certified, I won't work on one.

For those that have never breathed a pilot valve (not to be confused with a Scubapro Pilot), it's DIFFERENT. Those that grew up on one love it, but those that didn't, hate it. It delivers a lot of air with little effort, but there's a hesitation to the breath that feels weird.

It's funny how people tend to like that which they're used to. Apeks owners, Dive-Rite owners, Dacor owners swear by them, but I don't know anybody that grew up on a Mark 10/15/20/25 with a G-250 that would EVER go to a diaphragm first stage/unbalanced second stage. The lower-end stuff just breathes so hollow.

Concerning regulator failures, just who are these technicians? I've been working on regulators for over nine years, and I've had TWO regs come back. They were a husband and wife with identical Oceanic 95BPs, and the seat on each failed. It turned out both seats were from a bad batch, and Oceanic sent me a bag of good ones to replace them. Other than that, the only problems I have had have been when I set up a second stage to breathe "on the edge," and six months or so later a slight hiss develops. I know it will happen, so I only do that for customers that I know will bring their regs in before trips for fine tuning. They don't mind the hassle if it ensures optimal performance. So for that reason I don't consider it a reg failure when the hiss develops, because the reg still breathes fine, albeit an annoyance.

Russell

[jammer]

your right about that, poseidons are expensive

what about that one reg that used to be popular with cavers during the early 90's? it was made by Oceanic i think, it was unconvetional looking, anybody know what im talking about? how bout one of those?

Are you talking about the Oceanic Omega II? I know some cave divers that use them but I have not seen them on any used not saying that some do I am just saying I do not know any that uses them for deep cave like Eagles Nest or anything deep. I know for me I like to do both cave and deep in the future but I have to find and buy what I can afford that will do both so I went for the Apeks and have no regrets at all.

[DeepSea]

FWIW...I use SCUBAPRO MK25s (NEVER want a diaphragm at depth -- personal) and S600s for backup and primary. I tried the X650 but it is a DOG (IMO). For stages and deco I use the SCUBAPRO MK16s with an S550. The new MK17 first stages are excellent fr those wanting that extra HP port (you can turn it the other way now and get the first stage out the way of your tank valve). Too bad I have 5 of the MK16s.

I dive the Nest fairly often and have NEVER had an issue with these regs.

My buddy dives DS4/TX50s and has also never had an issue.

[Angie Reim]

Concerning regulator failures, just who are these technicians? I've been working on regulators for over nine years, and I've had TWO regs come back. They were a husband and wife with identical Oceanic 95BPs, and the seat on each failed. It turned out both seats were from a bad batch, and Oceanic sent me a bag of good ones to replace them. Other than that, the only problems I have had have been when I set up a second stage to breathe "on the edge," and six months or so later a slight hiss develops. I know it will happen, so I only do that for customers that I know will bring their regs in before trips for fine tuning. They don't mind the hassle if it ensures optimal performance. So for that reason I don't consider it a reg failure when the hiss develops, because the reg still breathes fine, albeit an annoyance.

Russell

I'm sorry Russell. I meant no offense toward ALL service technicians, but I suppose like any other industry involved with mechanical repairs there are good mechanics and bad mechanics.

What you describe above is no big deal. That kind of stuff happens. I'm talking about missing parts, extra o-rings, bent levers, etc. Not what you describe. I'm talking about free-flow failures or sudden flooding...stuff like that. I prefer to have a technician rebuild a reg for me but when I can't get it done due to logistics, I do it myself out of FEAR. Early on I had several regulators fail first dive after service and in all 5 cases it was due to technician error (3 different techs). These failures all occured in the overhead. I'll never dive two regs with recent service at the same time. There are VERY GOOD technicians out there. Over the last 5 years I have found one or two people I trust to do it but I can't always get to them. Nobody talks about this problem. Maybe it needs to be handled by folks talking to each other (offline of course) about who is good at it and who is not. All politics aside this is an important issue. Ya'll don't beat me. I'm not being a jerk on purpose. :roll: But this is what I've experienced the last few years.

[MikeH]

Concerning regulator failures, just who are these technicians? I've been working on regulators for over nine years, and I've had TWO regs come back.

If you want specifics, PM me. I can't tell you their last names(I don't recall after 3+ years, but I know them by sight), and I'm not going to publicly talk bad about the shop because those techs are no longer there, and I can't comment about the techs that are currently there.

There are a couple of places that I would trust the techs to service my regs(though I would take multiple regs that had just been rebuilt on the same dive), but they are not local.

Being able to rebuild my own regs has helped me numerous times. Just this past weekend, I had a dive planned that I needed 5 regs for. I had 5 regs I thought were all functional(plus a couple that were for inflation only, awaiting parts, etc)....when I tested them all the night before the dive, one of them had a second stage freeflow. It turned out the IP was reaching about 260, then the reg would freeflow(as it should). I took an hour to pull apart, clean, and re-build the reg....and then used it on my dive the next day.

Mike

[MikeH]

NEVER want a diaphragm at depth -- personal

I dive the Nest fairly often and have NEVER had an issue with these regs.

My buddy dives DS4/TX50s and has also never had an issue.

I have never had an issue with any of my diaphram regs on any of my dives.....as deep as about 360. They've worked great at the Nest on every dive there. On my primary sidemounts I use a Mk25/S600 and an ATX100. They both breathe great at those depths, and neither one exhibits any negative characteristics. The Mk25 is my only piston reg. All my stage and deco regs are diaphram.

Why do you never want a diaphram at depth?

Mike

[Diver Damon]

Thanks to all who added their two cents, especially Jammer- thanks for the website, You are indeed a great bunch of people.
Diver Damon :P

[crazyduck]

After attending a “workshop” for working on Mares/Dacor gear I will say that the workshop does not make the technician. I takes HARD work with no interruptions or thinking about other things. I enjoy working with my hands so it was a blast.

I dive with Poseidon Cyklons and love it. Damn there old but it breathes great whatever depth I am at. Then again, I have been diving them for a few years .

Last year I ditched my Scubapro MK25/G250Hp- I did not like the performance and I actually broke the damn fine adjustment while underwater- I was not happy. I had it overhauled regularly and it was treated properly. I had it checked out, fixed, and sold it on ebay- Gonzo. This should not reflect badly on Scubapro- I consider them an excellent brand of regulators the unit just did not fit my style.

I did snag a Scubapro D400 and have it overhauled and it runs on my Poseidon first stage like a champ. Plus, I purchased a metal body Cyklon from a forum member and rebuilt that joule myself- Very sexy regulator.

When I go in to have a regulator overhauled I talk to the technician and ask for certain things. Plus, I ask a few lame questions to see their response. I hate to bait people but damn my life is in their hands.

I like Scubapro, Zeagle, Poseidon, and Atomics. After working on Mares- no thanks.

Regards, Andrew

[DeepSea]

Why do you never want a diaphram at depth?


Just a personal preference. My serious diving started in the Navy and we just had too many discussion about piston vs. diaphragm when using open circuit.

I just decided to only use piston for back gas and I will leave it at that. :)

Again, just a personal preference.

I just decided to only use piston for back gas and I will leave it at that.

Are you saying the only place you use piston is for backgas, or that for backgas you use piston exclusively?

FWIW, I use piston for backgas, frontgas, sidegas, or anygas. I can't imagine anyone attending the Scubapro Pro-Tech class using anything but piston.

Russell

[BillGraham]

I say go for a poseidon made reg, they seemed to be the best for deep stuff

The other nice thing is that you can route them from either side which comes in handy for sidemounting and rigging stages.

[D1V3R]

I say go for a poseidon made reg, they seemed to be the best for deep stuff

The other nice thing is that you can route them from either side which comes in handy for sidemounting and rigging stages.

no kidding, last time i tried to clear my octo when it was upside dow, not pleasant