is this worth buying?

[Bardo]

Originally Posted by tiggerbiker

hi,
would someone please cast theire eye over this ebay auction and tell what they think?


eBay.co.uk: MARES 1st & 2nd STAGE REGULATORS + OCTOPUS (SERVICED) (item 200016163822 end time 20-Aug-06 12:13:44 BST)
thanks again!!

What about these? They'd be more the sort of kit I'd go for if I were in your position...

eBay.co.uk: APEKS REGULATORS DST 1st TX50 2nd & TX40 OCTOPUS apex (item 200016408917 end time 20-Aug-06 23:23:38 BST)
eBay.co.uk: APEKS REGULATORS DST 1st TX40 2nd & TX40 OCTOPUS apex (item 200016266030 end time 20-Aug-06 23:07:02 BST)

[AMW]

I think you would be better off looking at the DIN option not A clamp
Andrew.

[B]

I hate to deflate you matey... I know what it is like... but with the regulator, octopus and the spg - really buy new, buy according to what suits you and what diving you do. Every single diver is different, we all have different fysiology and different regs suit us... what I like someone else might not... best way to find out... ask around what people use, go to local dive shop and try them out for size...

This is one heck of important piece of equipment. By all means buy the suits, fins masks etc on ebay... but the one thing that can not fail when you are at 60 ft is your regs.... buy new, get warranty, get proper teaching abotu this particular reg and then have faith in it. Even a reconditioned one you can not be 100% sure what is what... unless you buy from a very very good friend.

Just my thoughts... it is hard when you really want to have your own gear but have not got the readies for it... but my advice will remain the same... rather wait and then get the right thing for you...

Good Luck

[Lou]

If you are really stuck for cash on this then I would steer you towards the Oceanic Alpha regs (I htink that they are on Alpha 8 now)> Just make sure you ge the cold-water rated first stage. They are about the cheapest you can get for UK diving but they are great. I had Alpha 7's on a CDX first stage when I started and they are now on my deco cylinder. The breathe is as good, if not better, than the Apeks I use on my main tanks and they have been bashed around and stood up to it all.

[Bantam]

There is a temptation to go for the cheapest option, especially if you're just starting and on a budget, but sometimes you really do get what you pay for.

The regulator is your life supply underwater. It's one of the single most important pieces of kit you'll use, and false economy IMHO isn't a good idea.

If may take longer to save up and get a decent Apeks / Mares / Spiro / Poseidon, but you'll reap dividends in reliability, servicing cost and not having to replace them when you grow out of it's limit. Cheap regs just plainly don't last as long.

I took this advice when buying my first reg 15 years ago, an Apeks T40D.

It's still my primary reg today.

[MDS]

Originally Posted by AMW

I think you would be better off looking at the DIN option not A clamp

agree! DIN's can take the pressure - 300 bars of it

the O-ring is captured and is less likely to fail

the DIN thread is also a much hardier attachment than the A-Clamp. Re-assuring if you are likely to clonk it in a wreck, cave etc

I find it easier to assemble on the pillar valve also

My suggestion - use DIN's for all your diving. I do!

Worth the xtra pennies!!

My 2p worth

PS- FYI i use poseidon regs only!!! Over 2 U

[Lou]

I would agree in most cases, but the Alpha is the exception to the rule, and that seems to be fairly widely accepted.

Even Chasey likes it and you know what a kit snob he is

[Twinsetmad]

If you can wait until the dive show, then checkout Kent diving.They don't attend the show, but instead do special show prices. I got a brand new Apex ATX 200 for £220 last year, now thats a steal. And buy Din.

[Dr T]

just to chuck my thoughts into the pot.

You can pick up a decent second hand set of ScubaPros quite cheap on the good ole flea-bay

If i was looking I would happily go for a din mk2, r190 or r380 set. you should be able to pick up a Mk2/R190 set for around £100 and probs a Mk2/R
380 for about £160.

Cheap to service, bulletproof and used by millions.

I use Mk2/R190 sets for my students and they take a lot of battering/never washed etc. etc. but annually serviced and still going strong. Great for Nx and with cleaning use the Mk2s on my stages with upto 80%

But i agree with the YD massive, go for DIN not a-clamp and get them serviced or checkout by your LDS

ta ta

ash

[Twinsetmad]

The reason I say get them serviced yourself...is because, I've been bitten by Fleabay. Posiedon Cyclon, just serviced ready to go....and then when you recieve it...its full of crud and hasn't been serviced in years!....best get it done yourself, then you know its done.