Oceanic Regs

[RobbieS]

Just getting my first set of kit together and seem to be going along with the conventions so far;

Drysuit - Otter Skin (second hand bargain, m-t-m for a guy my exact proportions)
BC - Buddy Commando
Mask - Oceanic ion4 (best fit)
Fins - Mares

So I guess regs will be the next purchase and I was just wondering about Oceanics. I've heard everyone talking about Apeks and mixed reviews on Poseidon but haven't heard anyone mention Oceanic. Is this because they're duff or is it just a bias towards certain manufacturers (I think Oceanic are U.S.?)?

The lifetime parts warranty seems a pretty good incentive to me, was just wondering about the quality/reliability.

[sleaford_diver]

I have got oceanic regs cdx5 1st stage gt3 2nd stage and a alpha 8 oct

all have been good had them about a year now never free flowed or had any problems with them

[Waskey]

I've had oceanics for ages. Very good regs. Never had a problem and you get the lifetime warranty on them. Service them every year and you get the parts free. Good system. Works well (if you keep it up ).
For 40+m they won't be any good, but this is your first set of gear. They are perfect for what you want them for.

[chrisch]

Oceanic were very good but sort of got over-complex in an attempt to push the price and profitability up. The older stuff was very reliable. Still worth a look though. The lifetime parts thing may or may not be a good thing depending on your views about service intervals. Dive-Rite have the same offer in the US with 2 year intervals.

Chris

[Kanga]

Originally Posted by RobbieS

Just getting my first set of kit together and seem to be going along with the conventions so far;

Drysuit - Otter Skin (second hand bargain, m-t-m for a guy my exact proportions)
BC - Buddy Commando
Mask - Oceanic ion4 (best fit)
Fins - Mares

So I guess regs will be the next purchase and I was just wondering about Oceanics. I've heard everyone talking about Apeks and mixed reviews on Poseidon but haven't heard anyone mention Oceanic. Is this because they're duff or is it just a bias towards certain manufacturers

Yeah, much of it's about bias and often regional loyalty - Otter attracts a brand of loyalty that you find in the South around O3 - both seem to be great fitting, well designed suits with excellent customer care that still don't don't quite work for all divers. Brands also have a history - like Buddy - that ally them (and therefore you) to a particular style or school of diving (*giggle* be warned - it's like the hankerchief thing in back pockets of jeans at gay nights).

Of course quality comes into it at a certain point, too, and it's helpful to get info like Chrisch's, below.

FWIW, I dive on Apex because they work straight out of the box, they're simple and they do what I want. But we used to absolutely thrash Oceanics in a dive school I worked in and the regs worked and worked and worked.

Have fun choosing your kit but try not to forget that much of what you hear about on here is really fashion talking!

[markosis]

My club uses Oceanic regs - they're a mix of alpha 7s and 8s and I think they're really good regs.- I used them for ages until I was given an Apeks TX100.

[Lou]

Having supposedly upgraded from my first regs which were and oceanci CDX and Alpha 7 combo....I still prefer the brathe of the Alpha 7. Only changed to get DIN. Do that first time round and you should be sorted!

[Mark Chase]

My A7s on CDX first stages are seven years old and they have been serviced once. Excelent regs, very nice to breath and very reliable.

My only complaint is they tend to free flow if used as a stage reg and there is no sensitivity setting to prevent this. That aside I would recomend them.

If you want a second choice Id look at the Apex range especialy if you can get a DS4 or DST first stage. Any thing from the TX40 to TX50 to the ATX 40 ATX 50. The 100 and 200s are fine regs but the TX40/50s are so good whats the point of spending more money?

ATB

Mark Chase

[rodt1968]

Originally Posted by Waskey

I've had oceanics for ages. Very good regs. Never had a problem and you get the lifetime warranty on them. Service them every year and you get the parts free. Good system. Works well (if you keep it up ).
For 40+m they won't be any good, but this is your first set of gear. They are perfect for what you want them for.

My Oceanic Alpha has regularly been below 40m without any issues......and its the dodgy unbalanced version. Love it.

[Silly Car]

I've got DX4 / Delta 4 as primary regs, no problems at all down to 50m, I've also got CDX5 / Alpha 8 as secondary regs on twinset, again no issues.

I'll be getting a further 2 maybe 3 sets of Oceanic regs for stages and to save the stripping down of my primary regs everytime I use the twins.

Only downside I have found is that as yet I have been unable to find a long hose for the Delta4 due to the swivel fitting and I am not 100% happy with the idea of a joiner in the reg hose.