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It has been many years since I did any diving, and my main gear has been gathering dust for the duration. About ten years ago, I brought everything up to date, with the intention of getting back active, and then learned (we THOUGHT) that I had gotten far enough out of condition that diving was not in my best interests. Since that time, we have learned that my problem on that dive was caused by an adverse drug reaction. Two months ago, my doctors gave me medical clearance to dive. I own a Scubapro Mark V regulator with a Dacor octopus added, and a Watergill At-Pac BC. The bladder in the At-Pac was replaced ten years ago, but it has not seen service since. The regulator is currently on extended loan to my brother, who is an instructor and is using it a lot more than I was. The first stage and Dacor octopus are currently doing duty as a small shop air source; the Scubapro adjustable second stage is currently doing duty as his octopus; his primary regulator is quite a bit nicer. At the time I bought the Mark V, it was the industry standard for commercial air diving, and I have been completely satisfied with it. At the same time, it is, fundamentally, twenty years old. At the time I bought the At-Pac, it was state-of-the-art (the At-Pac is the original grand-daddy of all of the modern "wings" BCs). I trained on it in Basic, and I strongly prefer it to both the older horse collar design AND the more modern jacket design. Gang, in your collective opinions, is it reasonable to overhaul this gear again and bring it up-to-date? I can see where overhauling the At-Pac might not be worth doing, when compared to buying a new BC. The Mark V is a harder question: it is CERTAINLY suitable for backup duty. Scubapro is still using that same basic first stage design, and there just isn't that much you can say wrong about your basic downstream valve second stage. I am pretty certain I will have to replace the submersible pressure gauge in any event. So. Comments? Initially at least, the gear will be used in pool and fresh water, shallow depths (refresher work first, then getting back to currency). I anticipate doing salt water work with it, probably at shallow to medium depths (say not much deeper than 60 fsw). EVENTUALLY, I know I am going to be buying new(er) gear. The question is how soon am I going to have to start biting bullets. I already know there is a new wetsuit in my future. George, Tom, I'd particularly like your opinions on this.
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