New Reg Suggestions?

[BrentJ]

I am a new diver looking to buy a new regulator for warm-water diving. Should I consider buying titanium and if so for what reasons? I am planning to spend $300-$400. Any suggestions?

[rebl22]

Titanium ive read is just for people to spend more money.Go to www.scubadiving.com and look thru their recommendations. You can spend any where from a little to thousands. I dive with aqualung? regs they used to be called U.S.DIvers equipment. they work great and they cost about 300 bucks. see ya jason :bluefish:

[SteveB]

If possible try a few different brands before you buy. Buying a reg is as much about personal preference as price and performance numbers. I was in St. Croix a couple of years ago and dove with a shop that sold Sherwood and Mares regs. They had some demo units that we dove with for two days. If I would have made my decision from reading a review in a magazine, I probably would have chosen the Sherwood, but after diving with both, the Mares felt more comfortable to me, so I bought it. Check with some local shops and see if they have any rental units that you can try first before buying.

Steve

[scubaru]

Best gear prices hands down is on www.leisurepro.com (http://www.leisurepro.com). The titanium regs are really nice but not a necessity. Choose a 1st stg and reg that suits the type of diving you see yourself getting into. Warm water is cool, but how deep? At depth is when your reg performance is really guaged. WWDiving in Humble is an extremely helpful dive shop and will bend over backwards for their customers. Choose the gear you want from Leisurepro, print it out, and WW will match it. They will also let you try out whatever you want in their pool, even give your wife and kid a free lesson. Regs have become pretty competitive nowadays, sticking with any name brand will leave you in good shape.
Ryan

[speckle-catcher]

even buying at Leisure Pro, you are not going to get a titanium reg for $300.

Remember when you see that price that is for a first stage and one second stage. You will also need to get an Octo, pressure guage and computer (or depth guage), and an LP inflator hose.

Your $300 reg. just jumped up to $600 or more.

Pick the price you want to spend on your main reg (first & second) and look at every manufacturer. They all have regs in every price range. Pick the best performing one you can afford. All regs provide air at recreational depths - beyond that you get into gizmos (adjustable flow, lighter weight, titanium parts, smaller stages, etc)

check out this post:
http://www.2coolfishing.net/ttmbforum/showthread.php?t=16436

[scubaru]

[QUOTE=speckle-catcher]even buying at Leisure Pro, you are not going to get a titanium reg for $300.

Except for this one,

http://www.leisurepro.com/Prod/ItemIndex_5/CategoryID_1159/Context_954/Sort_SKU/Filter_5%3d676/CSBRET.html

[speckle-catcher]

scubaru - read my old post referenced above.

go ahead and buy Cressi-sub - if you are going to dive in Europe most of the time, you will find lots of dealer support over there. It's not a very popular reg on this side of the ocean and I like to be able to go into almost any dive shop in town and have them repair it. Period.

If I was to buy a reg based solely on the ability of ANY tech ANYWHERE in the world to repair it on short notice (and even shorter parts supply) - I would buy a Sherwood. Period. This opinion is based on several years of training in overhauling regulators.

I was a factory certified service technician for US Divers/Aqualung, Sherwood, and Zeagle. Although not certified, I can repair TUSA, Scubapro, Dacor, Mares, Atomic Aquatics & Oceanic given the right parts. (I would never overhaul any regs outside my certifications...other than my own, so don't ask me if I did, or if I will).

BY FAR (as of 2001 when I got out of the business) Sherwood has the most simple regulator (not only maintenance, but the least moving parts) - and have the best support worldwide for their products. I'd put money on it still today. They also are very wise using the same wearable parts from year to year in order to maximize interchangability of parts. I'm not saying that simple is bad. The Sherwood Maximus is a great regulator for it's price.

you want to know what reg lasts the longest? Check to see what dive shops use for rentals. Sherwood and Aqualung have my bet.

Looking through the listings on Leisure Pro I see a few "unfamiliar" names:
Apeks: used to make regulators for Zeagle that Zeagle branded with their own name. Both Zeagle and Apeks are worth looking into.
Aeris: Began as a dive computer company that (has apparently) expanded to producing regulators. I don't know if they are making their own, or if someone else is making them for them. Either way, this reg is worth looking at. Aeris was quite innovative (and very price competative) when they broke into the dive computer market. FYI Aeris used to make computers labeled as Dacor (and a few other brands) till they broke out on their own.

I'm not saying I have all the answers - just some insight from someone that was "in the biz"

[scubaru]

You've once again proved your superior genious, and ability to use Google. We now know how you attained the title "Senor Member".

[speckle-catcher]

Let's see - I worked in a dive shop in sales, service & instruction and divemastered classes, spearfishing trips, Flower Gardens trips and trips to Cozumel. I googled all everything above. Right.