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I dive the DR 200 BAR DIN manifold with an isolator on a set of AL80s.
Works great and the hard plastic valve knobs are good in cave diving because
they don't have the same tendency to roll shut as would a valve with a
softer rubber knob (Sherwood).  Some Sherwood manifolds angle the 1st stage
away from your head a little.  This may look more comfortable,  but also
places the 1st stages into a more precarious position if you are in an
overhead environment.  If you are very experienced at such types of dives
the probability of hitting your 1st stages so hard to cause a failure are
slim.  I am less experienced and on occasion I will hit, expecially if I'm
stressed during an out-of-air, lost line, or no light drills.  TRuthfully I
have never dove the dbl80's in a cave as they are not the appropriate tanks
for this activity,  but I have used a variety of other setups that included
both the Sherwood and DR manifolds.  Also, I believe the ScubaPro manifold
is manufatured by the same company as the DR manifold.

The only complaint that I have with the DR manifolds is that it is difficult
to crack open the valve only a little bit to achieve the correct air flow
for O2 analyzers.  However, the more appropriate method for O2 analysis
involves getting a constant flow adaptor with a flow guage as many O2
sensors are fussy about flow rates.  

I also know of many experienced cave divers who use the Sherwood manifolds
and don't seem especially concerned about their durability.  

Regards, John


>Looking for some input on a which type of manifold.
>
>I have the ability to purchase either a Dive-Rite manifold of a 
>Sherwood mainofold at a very good price.  I have been getting a lot 
>of advice from people who really don't use them so Iam would 
>appreciate some specific pro's and con's of each from those of you 
>who have actual experience with them.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Bob Wright
>rwright@is*.ne*
>http://www.iserv.net:80/~rwright
>
>
>
>--
>Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@terra.net'.
>Send subscription/archive requests to `techdiver-request@terra.net'.
>
>

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