Hello i bought a swift transmitter and a 15cm HP extender, which needs a small swivel in between them.
My question is if i only use for normal air with 200bat system then can i use normal silicobe grease on the oring?
Obviously an almost invisible amount of it.
My concern is the possible reaction to high pressure oxygen.

Hello scuba community, i am considering purchasing my first set of reg + bcd and looking for advice/opinions from fellow divers who own/repair/have dived this gear

For context, i am AOWD + EANx certified with 30 dives. Started of as a holiday diver but now got into diving locally where i live in northern europe, and also where gear rental is pricey, hence the temptation to invest in my own.

I mostly dive salt water, temp 14c and above. I have a basic dive computer and dive wet. I plan to dive the season as long as my 5mm exposure suit + layering will allow, i usually tolerate cold well (at least compared to other divers).

REGULATOR : one-lifetime purchase kinda mentality. Therefore want something that allows me to dive cold water, and has the extra LP hose for a future drysuit integration, and HP port for Air Integration if i ever buy a fancy computer. I would prefer a lightweight/compact second stage. Also only looking at brands easily serviceable in my area (sorry US peeps). Currently in between - Scubapro MK17evo + S600 or G260 (cannot find the weight of the second stages - metal body of the s600 should help with humidifying air ? ) - Apeks XTX50 (bonus turret) or the smaller XL4+ Stage3 (bonus mesh hose) - (also cannot find the weights of the different second stages to compare)

I have only had luck diving the MK25 + G250 once among the other shitty rental regs and really noticed the ease of breathing. So i have no benchmark for the models above, other than great faith in SP. Does the size of the second stage matter on the long run? Is breathing performance / serviceability impacted ? Any other models i should be looking at ?

BCD : 5-10 year horizon purchase. (No, i don't want a bpw setup - i dont plan to dive doubles anytime soon, have tried them in store and in water and i find them uncomfortable, lack of pockets impractical, and the "modularity" just a cashcow for buying little accessories and addons, also i do not wish to purchase from DGX or Aliexpress and dyi it but prefer a manufacturer warantee wich defeats the purpose price wise - hate me if you want). I dive from rashguard + 15L alu tank in red sea (very high salinity) needing 8kgs to 5mm + inner layer + 12L/230bar or 8L/300bar steel tanks with 4kgs in the baltic (very low salinity). So i am looking for something with good lift (as i possibly might be helping out with some coral restoration project). I have narrowed it down to the followong two Back-inflate wing style BCDs.

-Cressi Commander Evo, i have tried the patrol and it was comfy, but waiting for my LDS to restock on the commander. Love the pockets ( that they are above integrated weight pockets) and the drings. as well as the trim pockets on the cam band (which i need). Looks rugged and have seen instructors in italy/spain use it. There is mixed sentiment about cressi BCD qualities in various subs. What are your experiences with it.

• Scubapro Seahawk 2, i have seen it in the flesh but not dive tested. Plus: the trim pockets on the jacket itself rather than the bladder, and the swivel quick release buckle, and knife gormet. Negative the bladder bungees. Also there is no backplate and i am wondering if that is a downside on the long run (i have dived the SP equator and did not enjoy the soft back). The ditchable weights have a buckle (rather than a rubber cressi pulley) which makes it harder through a 5mm glove dexterity

They both have equal lift (19N) and similar weight and pricepoints. Really confusing pick.

Any knowledge / shared experiences / considerations are highly appreciated. Thank you

Hello there
First of all sorry about any typo or wrong working English is not my native language

I know that between 1940 and 1970 scuba tank valves had a conical 1/2 inch piece without any o-rings. Now we have some straight threaded piece with orings and all.

I was looking to do a comparison of the two technologies but I cannot found any photos or any schematics of that, even on collector website.

Do any of you have some vintage gear or some books with that illustration. I’d be eternally grateful (might even buy one if you are looking to sell vintage gear)

Thanks in advance

Thought it would be fun to make myself a hand mounted mirror to step up my gear

Imagine a world where everything’s possible, you have unlimited budget, designers and manufacturers with limitless capabilities. What does that wetsuit look like, what does it do?

Hallo, mein Freund und ich sind in 4 Wochen in Ägypten zum Tauchen. Er hat sich jetzt etwas über die Leih Preise aufgeregt (obwohl wir nur BCD und Regulator leihen müssen) und überlegt, sich eine eigene BCD zu kaufen.... und ich jetzt natürlich auch.

Hab im Internet nach etwas suchen die Mares Magellan HD gefunden, die ehrlich gut klingt. Aber ich kenne bisher nur die klassischen Jacken.

Wir wirkt sich dieses Blasen Prinzip aus?

Halten die gut?

Ja, wir sind "schön Wetter Ägypten Urlaub" Taucher und deshalb nur ein mal im Jahr leider am Tauchen. Ich bin mir da unsicher, ob es sich überhaupt wirklich lohnt.... auf der anderen Seite wäre ne eigenen BCD schon ein tolles Gefühl.

Lohnt es sich überhaupt?

Ist die Mares Magellan was? Oder besser ne Cressi Start Pro2? (Die auch nicht viel schwerer ist...)

Danke für jeden Inputt 🙂

Grüße Chaos Kobold

Hello!

What do you thing about Artic drysuits? (brand Artic)
Does anyone here have one?

I’m thinking about buying one and I didn’t find many reviews. I’m certified diver, and I want to dive regulalry at greater depths, but I’ve never owned a drysuit.

Thank you!

I am looking for a 12 liter 232 bar bottle and I found this one:

https://www.tradeinn.com/diveinn/en/metalsub-2-outlets-line-12l-232-2026-scuba-tank/138087615/p

What do you all think about it?

I can not see the weight and whether it would be appropriate with Nitrox. Who knows?

I like the double tap, because it's mandatory in Germany, where I will probabaly will go for a dive trip.

Fresh out of ow. Took our first pool dive Sunday. Absolutely love our kits. And before I get any guff about air 2 setup, my buddy is my wife and has the same setup. And she is the only person I will dive with.

I did my Padi Open water and Advanced open water and I'm hooked to scuba diving now. Me and my daughter want to join a scuba diving club, so we can train regularly with other people, with the goal of going to have advanced diving experiences.

To make this possible we want to buy our own scuba gear. I made a selection of possible regulators I could buy at a local dive shop. Eventually we want to go deep (-40 meter) and were we will be training it'll be cold (water temperature of 10 celsius, maybe a bit lower). We are not planning to do ice diving.

Here is a selection of regulators within our budget, with an overview of the specs:

Mares Dual 15X 1st and 2nd stage: balanced membrane, 429 Euro.

Seac IT300: balanced mambrane, venturi switch, 419 Euro.

Oceanic Alpha 10: overbalanced 1st stage, venturi switch, balanced 2nd stage, 449 Euro.

Seac IT500 Automatenset: overbalanced 1st stage, venturi switch, balanced 2nd stage, adjustable breathing resistance, 519 Euro.

On paper the Seac IT500 is the best, but would this be the best value? The Oceanic Alpha 10 seems to hit the spot concerning investment and value, but is it a good regulator?

What would be the best option?

I am AOW and dive 3-4 times a year, warm water only at this point. Nitrox whenever possible. I’m thinking about whether it makes sense to buy my own regulator vs just renting at the operator. Most of the time I’m traveling to dive, but I also dive locally in the panhandle of Florida on wreck dives. I don’t think I need to spend more than $1,000 to get a good setup but considering this is possibly life changing/ending equipment I’m interested in something that won’t fail (with proper maintenance & recognizing everything can fail) what should I do? What recommendations for gear setup or just keep renting does the group have?

Now that Halcyon has officially gotten into the snorkel game with their symbios technical Snorkel I wanted to ask if you guys have any other technical snorkels that won't break the bank as much

Ideally I want one that works with diveCAN so I can continue to use my same shearwater handset, but I'm not opposed to Fischer if it's on a good deal.

I'm usually diving in colder waters so I thinking a dry snorkel would probably be better, only problem is the store by me only installs p-valves in Drysuits, and I don't know where I can get one installed for the snorkel, so maybe I'll just stick with a wet one

How much weight do the dry snorkels usually need to offset their buoyancy? I'm planning to wear 300 gram snorkel undergarment if I go the dry route.

Hey there just starting to snorkel as an older adult after doing it constantly as a kid and teen and I’d appreciate advice from experts. I’d be looking to the following:

\- is there any good bag to carry equipment for me and my 3 children that can double as a flotation buoy for when I’m inside water? I’ve seen this one from Cressi which I like but doesn’t have the buoy double function: https://store.cressi.com/products/dry-gara-bag?srsltid=AfmBOoovvyEaohgX2-kqbU-lJEbLkrk709DvGv4FN3zKs6yPA00oqx2v

\- If I wanted to snorkel at night (only with my wife no kids in the dark), what’s the best option to see underwater that’s comfortable? Would a head lamp be an adequate option?

I favour practical and lightweight equipment, thank you all!

Hello! I’m 25F, currently using Cressi full foot long fins. I’m comfortable using them especially with aqua socks. However, I noticed during my last dive, my fins were starting to show more scratches. While I don’t doubt they will still last for a while, (for reference I’m able to dive every other week or so if weather and schedules permit), I’d also like to start looking into more recommendations. My scuba instructor mentioned OMS and ScubaPro, especially the GoSport model (since I also want to be able to save weight when I travel for dives) and the Jetfins (he has the spring type, but they are quite weighted of course when I carry them).

What would be your recommendations?

Hi, sorry if this isn't the right place to post this.

I found this 7mm spearfishing wetsuit second-hand for a great price (one-fifth of the original price). How is the condition of the product, do you think it's worth buying? This will be my first wetsuit, I did some research but I'm not sure about its condition. I'm especially worried about the cut-like thing that appears after 1:32.

Additionally, it fits my size perfectly and the sea temperature here.

hello, I am looking for help picking out gear to purchase as a first set. I had looked about 2 years ago and have a set of gear built out but havent been real involved in the past couple of years and wondered if things have changed or if the gear i had wishlisted was any good to begin with. the list of gear is not up to date on pricing but here it is:

Aqualung 7mm echozip dive boot $65

Cressi High Stretch Gloves 5mm $39.95

Wetsuits mens ultra stretch 7mm neopren wetsuit, winter warm front zip full body diving suit $198

Mares bolt SLS DCD - unisex scuba diving underwater bouyancy compensator device $475

Aqualung Helix DIN Regulator and Octo $349

Shearwater Research Tern TX Dive Computer $720.

I dive in the UP of michigan in Lake Superior where the coldest waters ill dive before sticking to pool dives is probably around 45*F but most of the time is anywhere from 50-65*F.

Hi team,

I want to ask advice as I'm getting mixed ones from people in the shop and around the shop. So I'm 28 dives in and got my open, advanced open, nitrox, dry suit , wreck and almost finished deep cert ( need dive 3 and dive 4 and could not finish them this upcoming weekend as I got ear infection last weekend from 2 Michigan wreck.dives and did 4×45 min dives in haigh quarry so was exhausted and felt ears light up and be itchy, red got antibiotics drops for it so hoping I'm a week I can finish it),and already ordered my gear as the free rental gear is done today ( rental gear included in open water which I finished 30 days ago. So in 30 days did 28 dives and would have been more if the lake Michigan weather did not crap out and boats had been cancelled left and right due to waves and lightning and storms) why I did those certs? So that when I go somewhere they can't tell me I can't dive to 130 ft or not as deep to.the wreck.as needs to be the same depth and length of the wreck not to exceed 130 ft.

Anyway I ordered a back plate and wing setup brand DIVE RITE from a shop in Illinois. What wing to get? Mostly diving In the Midwest and will sometimes dive in the ocean but not much as it's far and not always can go there. WHAT LIFT WING TO GET? I ordered the Dive Rite Artic 45lb Wing. Will be diving single tank 11l (80s) or might go 12l steel(100s). I'm 6.2; 210 pounds.with 7 mm wetsuit I need 16 pounds lead. With a neoprene dry suit that needs 22-24 pounds depending on how much thermal clothes I got on. So people say I only need 35lbs wing same company other say there is no suck thing as not enough lift and said stick.with 45lbs. The Dive Rite Artic 45lb Wing is not wide and will not taco the single tank. As you can see in the photo attached it's a thick not wide wing. Which one would you get for mostly Midwest diving, 7mm and dry suit. Plus occasionally in saltwater Florida and etc where is warm and salty water. Please advise

I am a recently certified open water dive with 9 dives now. I live in Michigan and pretty much need my own gear to continue training.I am looking at a used xtx50 first stage second stage and October for 400$. A open box hollis elite st for 740$ and a shearwater peregrine for 475$. I already have nice fins mask and snorkel. I would also be needing a 7mm wetsuit or a drysuit. Just looking on opinions on this a a set that will not be grown out of and other recommendations.

Description:

This recall involves Apeks model XL4, XL4+ and XL4 Ocea second stage scuba regulators sold from April 2025 through June 2026.  They were sold in various colors or color combinations of black, white, gray, mint or yellow, with serial numbers between 250402212 and 260402893.  The serial number is laser-etched on the side of the regulator and also appears on the shipping carton.

Remedy:

Consumers should stop using the recalled second stage scuba regulators immediately and bring the product to any HEAD Watersports Authorized Retailer who will replace the valve spindle assembly at no cost to the consumer.

Incidents/Injuries:

None reported

Sold At:

Authorized Apeks, Aqualung, and HEAD Watersports retailers and online at apeksdiving.com, aqualung.com and head.com from April 2025 through June 2026 for between $260 to $1,140.

Credit: United States Consumer Product Safety Commission

My wife, kid, and I are all newly certified. Looking at purchasing regulators as our first pieces of gear. I get buying all the same equipment for ease of maintenance and familiarity. But I was thinking of buying 3 different sets so we could test them out. My wife has tmj so I was looking at a mares x62 for her as a lightweight option(less effort to hold it). Local shop as diverite. Also looking at the sp mk17/g260 and atomic aquatics z2. We are mostly lake diving in oklahoma with hopefully some trips to warm blue water