Regulator Package

Fratton Fred

it's my birthday soon, so i am thinking about spoiling myself with a set of Regs.

The Aqualung Mikron has taken my eye, mainly because it looks good and partly because they advertise it as light weight and good for travellers.

90% of my diving is in the Med, Red sea and caribbean, with a small amoutn here and the UK. would these babies be suitable?

Has anyone come accross these, they get good reviews but the only ones I have managed to get are from magazines which I am always a bit sceptical about.

the other thing i am curious about, should I go for DIN or A-Clamp? I have absolutely no opinion on the matter, does anyone else?

Cheers.

locum-motion

Fratton Fred wrote: »

the other thing i am curious about, should I go for DIN or A-Clamp? I have absolutely no opinion on the matter, does anyone else?

Cheers.

Do you intend to use 300bar tanks at any time in the future, maybe for deep diving? Then go for 7 thread DIN.

Alternatively, it's possible or even probable that in the not too distant future it'll become compulsory to use M26 thread for Nitrox. So, if you're planning on using nitrox, then you might want to check this out.

Fratton Fred

locum-motion wrote: »

Do you intend to use 300bar tanks at any time in the future, maybe for deep diving? Then go for 7 thread DIN.

Alternatively, it's possible or even probable that in the not too distant future it'll become compulsory to use M26 thread for Nitrox. So, if you're planning on using nitrox, then you might want to check this out.

No plans to do anything other than look at the fishes less than 30m

So I presume A-Clamp then?

scubakid

Wouldn't be very much into the regulator market at the moment but I would say to go DIN if you have the option..
Pretty much fool proof. I've Seen A-Clamp regs blowing an O-ring and divers having to be rescued. Not that they are dangerous, just DIN is that little bit safer

locum-motion

Fratton Fred wrote: »

No plans to do anything other than look at the fishes less than 30m

So I presume A-Clamp then?

Yep, A-clamp it is!

Yes, the O-ring can fail, but it usually happens on the boat when you open the tank valve. In >350 dives, I've never seen/heard of one failing under the water.

bigfeller

locum-motion wrote: »

I've never seen/heard of one failing under the water.

Been on a dive in the Red Sea where it happened to one of our group about 20 mins into a dive. Luckily it was a very experienced buddy pair and ascended on octo with no issues. Best guess is the rubber in the o-ring perished in the heat.

Changed all my regs to DIN after that.

locum-motion

bigfeller wrote: »

Been on a dive in the Red Sea where it happened to one of our group about 20 mins into a dive. Luckily it was a very experienced buddy pair and ascended on octo with no issues. Best guess is the rubber in the o-ring perished in the heat.

Changed all my regs to DIN after that.

Wow, nasty!
In my defence, I didn't say it never happens. But it is very rare.

999/112

+1 on DIN. You can get an A-clamp adaptor to convert the first stage for A-clamp only pillar valves.
I have seen an O ring, on an A-clamp set up, blowing prior to entering the water. [10-15 min after valve was opened when walking to a shore dive site]

Fratton Fred

Thanks for the responses, it looks like i'll go down the DIN route then.

What would Aqualung be like in general? do they generally produce decent gear? I might go for this package which includes the Passport BCD. it looks pretty good for the travelling diver.

seadeuce

If you intend doing all your diving in warm water then maybe you're making the right choice.
However, if you intend doing so in Irish waters then a re-think may be necessary.

Consider the buoyancy available.

See:


http://www.divernet.com/Diving_Gear/diver_tests/158336/bcsea_quest_passporta_bc_for_those_who_travel_light.html



FWIW I never go anywhere without my Buddy BCD. Get caught in a downcurrent and you want immediate response from a BC that has the lifting capacity to overcome that downdraft.


Check other gear reviews on that same site, then make an informed choice based on needs, not marketing hype.


Seadeuce

scubakid

Definately have a good BCD. Was on a scenic dive on the north wall of Rathlin Island in April and one of the lads was at 30m and was down to something like 70 Bar when he got caught in one of them down currents. He was just about to start his ascent and next thing his computer was reading 68m! He had his BCD fully inflated and was still going down!

locum-motion

seadeuce wrote: »

If you intend doing all your diving in warm water then maybe you're making the right choice.
However, if you intend doing so in Irish waters then a re-think may be necessary.

Consider the buoyancy available.

+1.
Weight capacity is another consideration.
I have a Passport which I use abroad. I wouldn't use it in Ireland as the pouches won't take enough weight if you're wearing a dry suit or 10-14mm of neoprene. Perfectly adequate for 3-5mm, though, and let's face it, on dive holidays abroad you're probably not going to encounter Rathlin-esque currents, and most operators aren't really too keen on taking clients deeper than 30m.
I use a SeaQuest Black Diamond for Irish dives. It's a weapon of a BCD!

locum-motion

999/112 wrote: »

+1 on DIN. You can get an A-clamp adaptor to convert the first stage for A-clamp only pillar valves.

A DIN reg with an A-clamp adaptor is just a heavy A-clamp reg! You still have the risk of O-ring failure.
I arrived in Mexico with a group of 20 divers last year, and 3 of them (who usu dive 300bar DIN in Ireland) had to go and buy adaptors as the dive centre only had A-clamp valves on the tanks.

999/112 wrote: »

I have seen an O ring, on an A-clamp set up, blowing prior to entering the water. [10-15 min after valve was opened when walking to a shore dive site]

OK, another example, but I still say it's rare!
If the worst happens and it bursts underwater, well, that's why your buddy has an Octie! Just grab his alternate and head for 5m ASAP! (OK, I don't mean 'grab' literally!)
If you're doing deco diving on the U-260 @42m, then self-sufficiency is the name of the game (or so I'm led to believe; I'm not a tech diver), so then maybe go for 300bar DIN: your buddy probably won't be carrying enough air to get you both to the surface safely. But that's not OP's plan.

999/112

locum-motion wrote: »

A DIN reg with an A-clamp adaptor is just a heavy A-clamp reg! You still have the risk of O-ring failure.
I arrived in Mexico with a group of 20 divers last year, and 3 of them (who usu dive 300bar DIN in Ireland) had to go and buy adaptors as the dive centre only had A-clamp valves on the tanks.

Correct! But you have options open to you, you cannot use an A-clamp on a DIN only cylinder, but vis-versa, you can with the adaptor.

OK, another example, but I still say it's rare!
If the worst happens and it bursts underwater, well, that's why your buddy has an Octie! Just grab his alternate and head for 5m ASAP! (OK, I don't mean 'grab' literally!)
If you're doing deco diving on the U-260 @42m, then self-sufficiency is the name of the game (or so I'm led to believe; I'm not a tech diver), so then maybe go for 300bar DIN: your buddy probably won't be carrying enough air to get you both to the surface safely. But that's not OP's plan.

I should have suggested the 300bar option [if there is one for this make]. DIN to 230bar+/- WP has about 5? threads, 300bar WP has about 7+ threads [I'm not going to the shed to count them]. While were on it, 300bar cylinders are also heavier due to the thicker wall.

Fratton Fred

locum-motion wrote: »

+1.
Weight capacity is another consideration.
I have a Passport which I use abroad. I wouldn't use it in Ireland as the pouches won't take enough weight if you're wearing a dry suit or 10-14mm of neoprene. Perfectly adequate for 3-5mm, though, and let's face it, on dive holidays abroad you're probably not going to encounter Rathlin-esque currents, and most operators aren't really too keen on taking clients deeper than 30m.
I use a SeaQuest Black Diamond for Irish dives. It's a weapon of a BCD!

It was the QDi3 that originally caught my eye, it gets some great reviews and has plenty of lift, but the passport package looked attractive.

It sounds like seaquest are OK though if you like your Black Diamond and the QDi3 gets some very good reviews.

Ratsathome

Wife 's got the Pearl i3.She said it's the best thing after marrying me!

locum-motion

999/112 wrote: »

I should have suggested the 300bar option [if there is one for this make]. DIN to 230bar+/- WP has about 5? threads, 300bar WP has about 7+ threads [I'm not going to the shed to count them]. While were on it, 300bar cylinders are also heavier due to the thicker wall.

Correct, it's 5 and 7 respectively.