First set of Regs

[mikecsmith]

Hello again,

Bit more advice please.

I've been offered a second hand set of Apeks regs with a DST 1st, TX50 2nd and ATX40 Octo with a SPG that were fully serviced last week for £170 and I have to admit I'm highly tempted to take the offer over a £339 set of XTX40's from Deep Blue. Any thoughts?

Oh and as I'm hoping to possibly switch to a twinset in a year or so once I have a bit more experience should I take the plunge and buy a wing straight away and just dive single tanks on it until I upgrade or should I buy a BCD and continue on that for a bit first before upgrading?

Thanks for all the advice so far.

Mike

[Twinsetmad]

If I were you I'd be looking for a cheap second hand BCD.. £50/60 worth to get you diving.. then If you intend to for a twinset in the near future.. and you want Apeks... then buy a new set XTX50/40's on a DS4 not a DST... that way when you do go twins.. all you need to buy is one more DS4 and your sorted.

[Woz]

Originally Posted by mikecsmith

Hello again,

Bit more advice please.

I've been offered a second hand set of Apeks regs with a DST 1st, TX50 2nd and ATX40 Octo with a SPG that were fully serviced last week for £170 and I have to admit I'm highly tempted to take the offer over a £339 set of XTX40's from Deep Blue. Any thoughts?

Oh and as I'm hoping to possibly switch to a twinset in a year or so once I have a bit more experience should I take the plunge and buy a wing straight away and just dive single tanks on it until I upgrade or should I buy a BCD and continue on that for a bit first before upgrading?

Thanks for all the advice so far.

Mike

Sounds good to me. DST perfectly fine for twinning.

[Subvynal]

Either the DS4 or DST will be fine for twinning. Personnally I like the Apeks DS4, it has one HP port and 4 LP ports. If you are planning on buying an isolator manifold twinset, then these will be fine for the future. Also brand new reg's over second hand ones every time, esecially if you are considering technical diving.

Sub

[mikecsmith]

Heh,

Wondering if I'll start a debate about wing or bcd for newbies here. If I were to buy a wing and dive single tank on it should I go second hand or buy new and if I buy new what should I be looking at for future proofing purposes, Apeks WTX, Halcyon?

If a BCD is what I should go for then I'd definitely go second hand, so on that note anyone have a cheap second hand XL (needs to be XL not L, made that mistake already) BCD that I wouldn't need to have serviced? :P

[DougA]

Originally Posted by mikecsmith

Heh,

Wondering if I'll start a debate about wing or bcd for newbies here. If I were to buy a wing and dive single tank on it should I go second hand or buy new and if I buy new what should I be looking at for future proofing purposes, Apeks WTX, Halcyon?

If a BCD is what I should go for then I'd definitely go second hand, so on that note anyone have a cheap second hand XL (needs to be XL not L, made that mistake already) BCD that I wouldn't need to have serviced? :P

What swung it for me was reading the argument for how much you use BCD underwater? For me (in my limited experience ) I add abit of air to dry suit and thats all thats needed so why bother with a wing if you only use it at surface? This is of course would change with the added weight of a twin set.

Getting something cheap second hand is your best bet. I just didn't trust Ebayers enough so bought new. I've noticed that diving gear goes for silly prices on ebay anyway so buy new and, if you have to, sell it on ebay. Seems to work well if you buy name brands - appears to go like hot cakes for near new prices.

[mikecsmith]

To be honest I tend to stuff a bit of air in my dry suit and swim around using that on a single tank so yeah don't use my BCD much on a single tank. Bought my drysuit second hand from a guy in our uni Marine Bio department, unfortunately it leaks and I'm too lazy to actually sit down and find out where it's leaking from to repair it, fortunately the undersuit is fantastic and keeps all the moisture away from my skin so I don't know I'm wet until I dekit.

I agree, ebay stuff sells for ridiculous prices, I intend on selling my drysuit for more than I paid for it when the time comes...

There are a few really good deals on brand new XTX40's on Ebay if you search for them directly, 160ish for an XTX40 on a DS4 which isn't half bad but that's about the best I've seen.

[DevonDiver]

i'd go for a Halcyon eclipse...that takes care of your single tank needs. when you want to dive twins, just buy an Evolve wing and use the same backplate and harness.

[scubagit]

I'm using the MK17 which is the cold water version of the MK11 so maybe that may suit your diving a little better. The R395 is a great 2nd stage as well. Good breathe at a reasonable price!!
Had mine for about 3 years now and no problems whatsoever.

[mikecsmith]

Know anywhere I could get a decent quote on a Halcyon Eclipse full system?