New Regs...ATX200 or Mares Abyss

[Twinsetmad]

I'm off to the dive show on Saturday, with the intenion of buying some new regs. Its either going to be the ATX200(which I've had before) or the Mares Abyss. I have Posiedons on my twins, but need a dedicated single set, traditional style, with a frontal purge, for training etc.
I've had the ATX200 before but sold it on as it wasn't getting any use....what I'm after is a comparison really, how does it compare perfomance wise to the Abyss?...money is not the question.

I can get the Abyss for £310 and a Proton Ice octopus for £94...so it comes out the same money as an ATX200+ATX40 octopus.

Thanks Andrew

[J.D.]

I'd get the Apeks. Not a 200 though, I'd go for a 100 or 50

I've got a Mares Abyss/Axis octo and theyre good regs, but I've never been 100% happy with them - I just can't seem to get them to breathe as well as my apeks.

Actually I might put them on eBay and replace them with Apeks.

[Houseplant]

You're going to get a barrage of support for the Apeks, so there's not much point me writing about the Abyss, but this is my experience. 5 years of perfect performance at depth and in cold water (without cold water kit) without a service. In comparison to the Apeks regs I've used, albeit lower spec, the Abyss is a much easier breathe and no freeflows either.

After about 5 years, the HP seat went. No problem got this fixed, however, the first stage is playing up again and it doesn't appear to be the HP seat. We'll see what happens.

The Abyss is a tough reg and certainly doesn't share the perfromance of the cheaper Mares regs, some of which are truly awful. Have never used the Proton and know nothing about it, but I would recommend buying an Abyss octopus.

[Early Rub-up]

so your not thinking about trying apex's new xtx range then

[yellowduke]

I have heard that Mares are expensive to service though not sure if this nis true or not. The ATX 200 costs about £50 for a service and O2 clean. Good reg.

Jim

[Twinsetmad]

I did consider the XTX, but the look doesn't do anything for me. I'm sure it would be as good as the ATX200 but don't need regs for twins, as I would never swap my Xstreams. I really like the look of the Abyss and was hoping it would have performance to match. But I reccon it will be Apeks on the night.

[recurve]

Well if the Abyss breathes as well as the Proton Ice, I suspect you would be happy with that. My PI has a lovely breathe as deep as I've been, which is only just over 30m. I would probably favour it slightly above my alternate Apeks ATX40 (which is why my primary and alternate are the way they are). Check out the hose routing you will end up with, and also the infuriating 1/2 inch port on Mares 1st stages, which, due to the design of the first stage won't accept a standard 1/2 inch blanking plug (although I don't know if the abyss has this same issue).

[gripper]

Go for the Apeks but why not the 50`s they are virtually the same on the inside and use the same service kit and are cheaper especially if they are just for the single tank and training etc unless of course you have lots of money in which case would you like to marry my sister

[StuartC]

I can't offer a comparison as I've not used the Apeks, but I got a Mares Abyss and proton octopus last summer, and would sing its praises to anybody that cares to ask.

The 2nd stage is compact and light, and looks "proper".
The proton ice looks a bit too delicate for me.
The breathe is really nice and easy, and there's not been any freeflow in 3C freshwater in Jan and Feb this year.

The 1st stage is heavy and feels like it means business.
The ports are nicely spaced out and radiate outwards, enabling hoses to spread as they leave the 1st stage. I've not had a problem with hose routing as Recurve thinks might be an issue.

[Freeflow]

As a BSAC-er you should be buying Apeks!

Don't bother with the 200's though, go for a 40 or 50 and spend the rest on some other kit-like getting rid of those Posidons and replacing them with Apeks.

Now I'm a paid up club member you'll have to be nice to me!

And when I'm diving again are you going to bring your twin 15's out to play???