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Right out of my o/w cert I have dived the mares MR22 titanium Abyss and then also purchased the MR22 titanium Ruby when they first came out. IMHO they are an outstanding basic recreational reg(non DIR). I have always had mine tuned for AIR in "Ferrari" mode with the i.p. set @155psi with the second stage tuned to "smoking", they breath like a dream and remain fairly dry even while inverted upside down. The deeper you go the better they perform... The Abyss is the better performer of the two. The standard viton O-rings in the Ruby drop performance considerably and the first thing I did when I bought it was to do a full rebuild with "standard O-rings. They both have great hose layout. BUT... They don't measure up for DIR configuration.The covers on the 2'nd stages are unable to be removed without tools...and all come 1/2 inch dfc ports. Then I discovered DIR/WKPP...woke up and smelt the coffee. I am very happy with my Apeks...and they aren't the DIR reg of choice by accident. They have been proven and have a track record second to none. I recognise the value of the choices made by WKPP/GUE. IMO they breathe very nicely (albeit a little damp inverted upside down)but are extremely reliable. I can live with that! Paul Berry Southern Ocean Explorers DIR-N.Z. -----Original Message----- From: Martin.Goldberg@hy*.co*.au* [mailto:Martin.Goldberg@hy*.co*.au*] Sent: Friday, 31 August 2001 4:49 p.m. To: barlowg@gt*.k1*.oh*.us* Cc: techdiver@aquanaut.com Subject: RE: Mares Regs-DIR? I have tried the following regs even fiddled with them to get better performance. One restriction is that I have tried them all at a maximum depth of 40m: Poseidon: Can't pull it to bits without tools. High cracking resistance at any depth. Gives plenty of air at depth (50m). Will flutter at some time with either "condom" but the blue one is the best. Scuba Pro 190: Hard to breath on any where, any time. Scuba Pro G250: OK, but a bit hard to breath on but gives more air at depth than the 190. Command Air: Like the G250 but cheaper. Sherwood: Yeh right! Apeks Tx50: Nice but the first stages are a bit big and swivel. Apeks Tx100: Nicer. Has small first stage and is sealed but the high flow LP port is not an "off the shelf size" so rigging for DIR needs other bits. They breath excellent any time any where, reliable, easy to adjust, don't free flow, can breath on them on your back ie upside down (I like doing this while on deco) without problems. Give plenty of air when needed without resistance. Need I go on?!?!? I did read however that the Mares regs breath really well (even upside down), even better than the Apeks. I didn't look at the Mares regs, but can they be pulled to bits ie the "mushroom cover" without tools? I bought 2off Tx100 a few months ago for the tech dives. I couldn't be happier. I now want to use them for rec diving as well. I have to admit though Apeks are the "business"! Marty trey@ne*.co* (Trey) on 31/08/2001 11:37:07 To: <barlowg@gt*.k1*.oh*.us*>, <techdiver@aquanaut.com> cc: Subject: RE: Mares Regs-DIR? Greg, lot's of good regs including Mares out there, but Apeks is the best. -----Original Message----- From: barlowg@gt*.k1*.oh*.us* [mailto:barlowg@gt*.k1*.oh*.us*] Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2001 10:07 AM To: techdiver@aquanaut.com Subject: Mares Regs-DIR? First off, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Greg Barlow and I have been an avid reader of the postings for the last year. The information presented has been very educational for me as I slowly make the move to become a DIR diver. As a writer for Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine I have been fortunate enough to watch the evolution of DIR from various avenues, and have been impressed with the forethought and experience that has made the DIR philosophy what it is today. My rig consists of the following: Halcyon backplate and harness, Explorer 55# wings, Highland Mills bands, and AL80's for backgas. I chose the aluminum cylinders due to the fact that I make at least 25% of my dives while diving wet. I had a real fear of not being able to swim up a doubled pair of steel tanks, despite the loss of a considerable amount of gas due to the low volume of 80's. Anyway...I use Mares MR12 regs exclusively (exception of Mares R2 piston regs for side bottles), and am curious as to why more divers don't use the MR12. I see the benefits as: 1. A very robust first stage with minimal parts considering that it is a balanced diaphragm. 2. There are a total of 5 LP ports, which greatly aids in hose placement. 3. Provided you use a polymer second stage, it is easily disassembled underwater allowing full access to the diaphragm and exhaust valve. 4. The second stage is very simple, yet provides Navy Class A performance. 5. The Vortex Assisted Design limits free-flows, while providing little to no positive pressure. 6. I can rebuild a second stage in around 15 minutes even while in the field. As a regulator tech for different brands, I understand and appreciate the wide spread exceptance of the Apeks and Scuba Pro models, but feel that the MR12 has a lot to offer. I don't claim that it is better, but still deserves consideration. I'm not alone in this opinion either, as two of my fellow dive buddies also use the MR12's, and they are both GUE trained cavers. My intent is not to come on board as an "expert", but merely as a student. If I am totally out of line, then I'm certain that I'll hear it. In closing, I've been diving since 1975, and as you may have guessed, the original Voit MR12 holds many warm memories in my heart. Yeah, I'm sure that my bias toward the MR12 comes from sentimental reasons as much as from any other.... GREG -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'. -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'. -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'. -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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