First Set of Regs

[Alex85]

Hi all you knowledgable people of YD's, i've been diving about a year and a half now, and having been diving for the last year with my university BSAC Club, and having been using there kit for all my diving.

It's coming up to xmas and i've been asked by relatives what i'd like for xmas.
And i'd like to get my first set of regs.

The club has mainly aqualung legends which are quite a nice set of regs but recently have borrowed a friends set of apeks xtx40's and really like them.

What would you guys reccomend? I'm moving towards twinset diving, and would like a set of regs which are appropriate for twinset use? I've heard and read that apeks fit the bill well, but i'm not use which first stage is better, the DS4 or the DST.

As well as that where is the best place to go shopping for a set of regs?

Alex

[steve6690]

If you're moving to twins then the Scubaflow MK25 first stage is highly thought of because of the hose routing. I have Aqualung Legend LX Supremes and am very happy with them. No point buying cheap if someone else is footing the bill .

[Bardo]

Originally Posted by Alex85

Hi all you knowledgable people of YD's, i've been diving about a year and a half now, and having been diving for the last year with my university BSAC Club, and having been using there kit for all my diving.

It's coming up to xmas and i've been asked by relatives what i'd like for xmas.
And i'd like to get my first set of regs.

The club has mainly aqualung legends which are quite a nice set of regs but recently have borrowed a friends set of apeks xtx40's and really like them.

What would you guys reccomend? I'm moving towards twinset diving, and would like a set of regs which are appropriate for twinset use? I've heard and read that apeks fit the bill well, but i'm not use which first stage is better, the DS4 or the DST.

As well as that where is the best place to go shopping for a set of regs?

Alex

If you're looking to go twinset eventually then I'd seriously consider the DS4 over the DST as it's pretty much the Apeks defacto standard for twinset use. The DST is a very good stage/deco regulator thanks to the swivel but the DS4 has fewer failure points and is a lot more compact. So there ya go - DS4 + XTX/ATX40s will do the job nicely, sir...

As for where to buy them - god knows! Most people seem to check out Kent Diving and Go Dive for good prices on Apeks regulators so I'd give them a try for a start!

[steve6690]

Give Phill a ring at Divingniknaks and see what he can do for you.

0121 707 5783

[Alex85]

thanks for the replys guys, i'm liking the prices on the kent diving and go-dive, what are the differences between the xtx40 and 50, and is it worth getting the xtx50 or is the xtx40 more than adaquate.

Another question when it comes to guages, i really don't like the clubs one which are huge and just get in the way. Is it okay just to go with a pressure guage and use my dive computer for depth or with redunancy is worth while having a 2 guage console.

If thats the case are they all pretty much the same, and is okay to just go for a nice compact one?

[Woz]

Just go for an SPG and don't bother with the rest.

Have a look on ebay.de (German one) there are a few sellers on there who ship to the UK who have great deals on Apeks. Phil at Diving Cellar is doing DS4 1sts for £76 too.

I'd also go for the 50 2nd stage over the 40 as the 2nd seat beds in and can be adjusted on the boat with the knob rather than scratting about for an alley key.

[RobbieS]

I was in the same position as you but further away from twinset diving (also had to pay for them myself!).

I got xtx40s on a DS4, long hose, single SPG and Uwatec depth timer for a very good price from Go-dive.

I haven't been on the site recently but the SPG I received was pretty far from the nice brass Apeks one in the photo so watch out for that. Other wise can't fault them.

As for the regs I'm well happy with them, nice breathe and they have the feel that they'll just last and last. In regards to the xtx50s or not I'd probably go for them if your folks can stretch to it. Mine, after 5-10 dives have started to get a little 'lively' so allen key required!

That said if you're not too worried abot warranty etc you can buy the adjusting shiny bit for about a tenner and fit it yourself. I can't be arsed to look for it but there's a thead on here somewhere about upgrading your xtx40s.

HTH

Rob

[Ahoy]

I have Oceanic regs which are very good. But if I was buying now i'd go for Apeks XTX50 and consensus seems to be DS4 1st stage! I like the look of the FST mind...
S.

[Mal Bridgeman]

If you are planning on twinset diving then I would highly recommend looking at the rig of someone with a set of DS4 first stages, then have a really good look at the gap between the regs and whether you would be able to fit your head in there. Most people I know can't so they twist the first stages a little which lets them get their head in the right position. This has an adverse affect on the hose routing which causes the hoses to buckle.

Then go look at someone who has Scubapro Mk25s and look at the gap and their hose routing.

The MK25s are more expensive but it seems you either pay a little more for the reg .... or an on-going replacement cost for the hoses.

HTH
Mal

[dct]

I had to make the same decision this year, and ended up with XTX40's. Very glad I got them. At the time I was worried that I would wish that I had the 50's, but now I have used them for a season, I am pleased with my choice.

Daniel.