What First Stage Regulator do You Use

[Muddiver]

If you are diving Nitrox, Tri Mix or deep, what regulator do you use? What is your reason for that brand and model? I am looking to upgrade my rig as I move into diving breathing mixes other than just air and I am trying to figure out which first stage regulators will support the second stage I prefer. My standard Sherwood Blizzard will not do the job anymore.

[TobinGeorge]

If you are diving Nitrox, Tri Mix or deep, what regulator do you use? What is your reason for that brand and model? I am looking to upgrade my rig as I move into diving breathing mixes other than just air and I am trying to figure out which first stage regulators will support the second stage I prefer. My standard Sherwood Blizzard will not do the job anymore.

ScubaPro Mk25 for everything.

One set of repair parts, one set of tools, one reg to learn.

I'm sure many makes and models will work as well or even better, but I now own a pile of Mk25's and life is simple.

Tobin

[Muddiver]

Thanks Tobin

[AzTek Diver]

Apeks DST or DS4, one set of parts, one set of tools, one reg to learn, I can rebuild 2-3 Apeks for every SP MK25. I own 40+

[Stryker1775]

Scuba Pro Mk17's for me, for much the same reasons as above. Only reason I have Mk17's instead of Mk25's is that I prefer the enviromentally sealed aspect.

[Mark Vlahos]

Apeks DS4. There are newer design regulators. There are fancier regulators. There are probably better regulators. The DS4 is a regulator that is proven over time. It is a conservative choice. In a cave, or deep I would rather have a dependable regulator.

Mark Vlahos

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[fdog]

Atomic Z2's. Because I really like the way they breathe, and all our regs are Atomics.

Hmmm. I am sensing a trend here....


All the best, James

[TobinGeorge]

Hmmm. I am sensing a trend here....

Lemme know if you succeed in "teasing" it out of the available data.

Tobin

[rjack]

Pretty much any balanced 1st will be fine with trimix. Shoot even an unbalanced piston would probably be fine, but the hose routing will almost assuredly suck.

What 2nd stage do you prefer?

[spencer!]

Atomic M1's I have 5 so far (doubles, singles, spare)

great breathing, good routing, supposed to be atomic's cold water reg (i'll be testing them in antarctica next year!).

I got them initially because the shop i was affiliated with sells them, but i've been exceedingly pleased with them.

gf prefers them over her aqualung legends too.

spencer

[Mo2vation]

Atomic Aquatics - various (whatever I can find on eBay for cheap)

Our Original B1's from 1999, and a B2, several Z1's and a Z2 or two.

One set of repair parts, one set of tools, one reg to learn.

Breathe great, take a beating, last forever. I now own a pile of Atomic regs and life is simple.

---
Ken

[Muddiver]

Pretty much any balanced 1st will be fine with trimix. Shoot even an unbalanced piston would probably be fine, but the hose routing will almost assuredly suck.

What 2nd stage do you prefer?

I dive a Kirby Morgan Superflow 350. They have amazing flow and are fully adjustable. Also parts are easy to order and rebuilding is pretty simple.

It's the same demand regulator as my commercial diving helmet which have been tested to some pretty deep depths by the Navy.

[do it easy]

I have 6 Mares MR22 regs. Like a broken record, the maintenance is easier having all the same regs. I do have an MR12 for my argon reg.

I like the MR22 because:

• It's a diaphragm reg, so the only part that gets wet is the main spring
• It has a simple, robust design that breathes decently without any knobs or adjustments.
• It has a metal second stage that breathes a little more moist (or wetter, not as dry, more moister?) than a plastic bodied reg.

There are a lot of good regs out there- some other factors that might influence your decisions:

• price
• cost/availability of service parts
• possibility of local service or self service

[fdog]

Since you were specifically asking about First stages, I can pass this on:

Janet tried to order just a first stage (no 2nd stage) from Aqualung recently. Oddly, the cost of <1st only> was only $10 or so less than the cost of <1st & 2nd complete>.


All the best, James

[Thalassamania]

I have a bunch of old Cyclon 300s, it's about the best first stage I know ... just be sure to set the IP to the second stage you're using.