Questions about regulators.
Let’s discuss the “regulator rental vs. buy” question. Here are the cons of buying:
Buying Cons:
You have to maintain the service on the set of regulators that you buy; the average yearly cost is $145-$175 depending on the type and brand of the regulators.
You have to properly rinse, dry, and store them in an indoor environment.
You have to make sure that you do not use more than 40% oxygen when diving with them.
Renting Pros:
You can generally rent regulators at your diving destination.
You don’t have to worry with the annual maintenance of the regulators.
You don’t have to worry about where to store the regulators.
Renting Cons:
The rental regulators are usually on the low end of the performance spectrum.
You’re using regulators that have been rented by people before you.
They are usually older styles because most shops don’t buy new ones very often.
Depending on your destination they can be priced higher to rent.
You see there is a lot to consider when it comes to buying your first set of regulators.
One of the other tough questions that my students ask is about buying second-hand or used regulators on the internet.
Let’s look at that because with the economy the way it is people want to save as much of their hard earned money as possible.
You see a set of regulators on the net for what seems like a low price. If they are new then beware because a lot of regulators that look good are really junk regulators because they are some off-brand name and are made using cheap components.
I would suggest you call a reputable dive shop and ask them about that particular brand.
Let’s say you see a used set of regulators on the internet for a low price and it’s a recognized name brand. You should call the individual who is selling them to find out what year were they made, when was the last service on them with the receipt, and why are they selling them for such a low price.
If you will look very carefully and ask the right questions then you should be able to find what you want for the right price.
Remember that your life depends on what you use in the open water.
This is a repeat of a column that appeared in August of last year.
– Russell Miller, NAUI instructor #59999