Atomic Regulator Question

[Draq]

My wife will be needing a regulator soon, and while I have been pretty happy with my Oceanic Delta 4, I was looking at getting her an Atomic, partly for the longer service interval, then I read that due to the design of the Atomic, one has to be very careful about rinsing the second stage while unpressurized, as it is essentially always open when not pressurized.

We often dive in circumstances where rinsing the regs while still on a tank is not feasible. I really don't think I would want something so easily damaged.

Is this correct information?

[fireflock]

Sort of. You can download the manual from Atomic and read for yourself, but the tradeoff for having the seat saver feature on the 2nd stage is that small amounts of water can get in when the reg isn't pressurized. Your best choice is to rinse while pressurized, but you can also rinse carefully and then purge the regs soon after to blow out any water that might get it.

In practice, I think a lot of divers use Atomics and don't worry much about it when situations make it hard to find tank pressure. I know if I'm diving with an operator who rinses and stores my gear, I don't worry much about it. One of the nice things about Atomic is that the materials are so corrosion resistant. A little fresh water now and then, especially if you're diving to get the water out, might not be that big of a deal.

If you really want to know more, you can find an Atomic Repair Tech who sees a lot of regs and see what they observe on the repair bench.

Rich

[ChrisA]

Oceanic Delta 4 is built like a tank and will take abuse. The atomic don't stand up so well to beach diving, sand and water that you can't see through. If used off boats in clear water they have a long service interval but of you are diving off the beach here in So, Cal they might need service after every six months. In such conditions the Delta just keeps on going....

So it really depends, someone doing 150+ dives a year off the beach shouldn't have one. but if you are in a cleaner environment it could work well for you.

If one of you already has a Delta why not get a second one and then you can get them serviced at the same time and place, swap regs and maybe even keep a spare stage on hand. If you are going to own multiple regs there is some economy in standardizing.

I would not say any of this if the Delta did not breath really well. I think it is as good as my Apex but I've only had the delta down to 110 feet. and I've been told I would not notice a difference until I got to about 200 feet but my limit is 130fsw.

[Draq]

Thanks for the input. We seem to do a lot of diving where we get on a boat, go do a couple of dives, and then get dropped off back at the dock and handed our gear. There is usually a hose or rinse tank not far away, but often no ability to connect a reg to an air tank. After rinsing we usually aren't anywhere near an air tank until we dive again, maybe the next day.

This is always in salt water. I suppose I could ask a repair tech, but they probably don't know much about the conditions under which the gear was used. There is no seawater near me and I suppose many of the regs that are serviced locally are used in fresh water.

Edit: I didn't see Chris' post. We may well add another Delta 4. Actually, my son and I both have them and I will need regulators for both my wife and other son soon. Standardizing is good, but annual service on four regs will be a bit $$. Still, there isn't anything cheap about diving.

[fireflock]

Originally Posted by ChrisA

The atomic don't stand up so well to beach diving, sand and water that you can't see through. If used off boats in clear water they have a long service interval but of you are diving off the beach here in So, Cal they might need service after every six months.

Do you understand the Atomic Seat Saver feature that we're talking about? Based on your comments, it doesn't seem like it. It has nothing to do with clear water, or sand, or boats.

You can roll an Atomic around in the sand, use it for a beach dive, or dive it in murky water, and it won't be any more or less resistant than any other reg.

Atomic is based in SoCal, so I find it hard to believe that their regs aren't up to the task of local diving.

Rich

[SHAGGY]

I use an Atomic ST-1 at work and it is a rock solid reg. You will be hard pressed to find a better breathing reg than the atomics. I will also add that there are probably regs out there just as good as the atomics but I am just going to give my opinion on what "I" use. My dept purchased my ST-1 and I use it primarly diving in muddy and murky lake water conditions most of the time, but I have also used in in salt water as well. It breathes just as easy at 100ft as it does at 20ft as well. As far as being extra careful,.... I usually have been able to rinse mine while still on the boat while it was pressurized, but I dont worry too much about it if I cant a time or two.

ST sells atomics drop a line to Joe or Larry and i'm sure they could give you some advise as well.


shaggy

[BobbyWombat]

Yeah, you have to be a little careful with the Atomic regs, but you can definitely rinse the Atomic regs even unpressurised.

Pressurized is better, but if you need to do it unpressurized you just need to rinse the reg (NOT soak) and keep the 1st stage above the 2nd stage, so water doesn't get in the hose and run downhill to the 1st stage. Give the 2nd stage a little shake when finished and you should be set.

I have an Atomic Z1, and I'm very happy with it. The downside (not a huge one) is that you have to be a bit careful when rinsing. The up-side (and the whole reason Atomic has this feature) is that the valve seat isn't constantly sealed, which helps to maintain the performance of the reg.

-BW

[ScaredSilly]

Just keep the 1st stage above the 2nd when rinsing the 2nd stage. As for standardizing. This is help full when you have lots of regs. Two of each is okay as long as you have a shop to service them.

[BSea]

Atomics have an optional sealed 1st stage (standard on the M1). If you're concerned about silty or sandy conditions, then go with this option. Many cave divers choose Atomics (sealed version), so I'll be surprised if they wouldn't hold their own against just about anything out there. I've had an Atomic for the last 11 or 12 years. I've never had better regs. My 1st one wasn't sealed, and my new B2 is sealed. I've never had 1 problem from either of them. Had them both in water temps to the low 40's in lakes with bad vis. I don't think you really need to worry much about the seat saver. Just rinse your 1st stage 1st, then your 2nd stage & keep your 1st stage elevated. Then purge your reg, & you'll be fine. Even if you can't purge your reg, you'll be fine for a day or 2 anyway. I think you'd just about have to try to get water all the way into the 1st stage for it to happen. I think you just have to use common sense.

Now I'm a 50 to 60 dives a year kind of diver, so I don't put the dives on a reg that some others do, but I think for an average to moderate sport diver, the 2 year interval for service is fine. And talking to the service teck at my LDS, he sees almost 0 problems from them.

[Draq]

Thank you, I am not that concerned about dirty conditions, I am really a Caribbean diver...

I already make it a point to keep the 1st stage above the the 2nd when rinsing or dunking as much as possible. I understood the reason for the "open" second stage on the Atomic...but was concerned that for my type of diving it might be a bad choice. I am sure a lot of people have no problem rinsing regs while pressurized.