Can I go wrong with any of these Octo's

[scubalanders]

Mares Brigade Viper $74.99

Mares Rebel Octo $74.99

Marese Prestige $109.99

I will dive springs in Flordia max depth for me will be probably 100 feet.
I do have a trip to Panama City and Bonaire this summer.

Thanks guys
Andy

[KGNickl]

Originally Posted by scubalanders

Mares Brigade Viper $74.99

Mares Rebel Octo $74.99

Marese Prestige $109.99

I will dive springs in Flordia max depth for me will be probably 100 feet.
I do have a trip to Panama City and Bonaire this summer.

Thanks guys
Andy

I wouldn't go with any of them. I like inflator octos. More streamlined and less stuff hanging around. Anyways sticking to what you have above I would just go with the cheaper one. You will rarely if ever have to use it. It doesn't even have to breath great, it just needs to work to keep you or your buddy alive if you run into problems.

[FyVe]

An octo is an octo... if you ever need to use it, it's not for an extended amount of time, you use it, do a safe accent (from 100' about 4 minutes) and done with it.
i personally use a mares viper brigade, my brother just got the proton.

[BSea]

Originally Posted by FyVe

An octo is an octo... if you ever need to use it, it's not for an extended amount of time, you use it, do a safe accent (from 100' about 4 minutes) and done with it.

I agree. If you like the inflator style, then get that. If you like the traditional style then get that.

As far as which model...go with what you want & can afford. There's no need to overspend on this.

[ReefHound]

The blind leading the blind...

Andy, give Larry or Joe a call and have a chat with them about octos. An octo should not be an afterthought and should not be dismissed because it isn't used often. You don't often use a fire extinguisher or AED or backup parachute either but when you need them they better work well. If you ever need to use your octo it's probably because something has gone wrong and you will be in a stressful situation.

You'll find that the most experienced and advanced divers often shun the inflator octo or low end backups, techies typically use the same exact second stage for their alternate as their primary.

[BSea]

Originally Posted by ReefHound

The blind leading the blind...

Andy, give Larry or Joe a call and have a chat with them about octos. An octo should not be an afterthought and should not be dismissed because it isn't used often. You don't often use a fire extinguisher or AED or backup parachute either but when you need them they better work well. If you ever need to use your octo it's probably because something has gone wrong and you will be in a stressful situation.

You'll find that the most experienced and advanced divers often shun the inflator octo or low end backups, techies typically use the same exact second stage for their alternate as their primary.

If you service your gear as recommended, and test it before and during dives, then any of those octos will be fine.

If you get into tech diving, your gear is going to change. And then an octo isn't just for an emergency accent lasting 5 to 6 minutes. It could be as much as an hour or more. I don't believe anyone said an octo was an after though. Just something that doesn't need to be top of the line for the type of diving he describes.

And if I were going to buy 1 today, I'd get this one. But I'd add a new mouthpiece.

[in_cavediver]

I lean toward reefhound statement for a couple reasons.

1) Good 2nds don't cost much more than 'octos'

2) If you ever need it, you need it to work well. The best way to add stress to a situation is cause MORE breathing problems.


For all divers, I suggest the same quality 2nds for both primary and alternate.

[awap]

I am not a tech diver and most of my gear was bought used. But all my octos are user adjustable which helps me avoid freeflow problems during entry and in current and surge conditiions whil still providing performance almost as good as my primaries. My ostos are probably higher performance than most diver's primaries and were not particularly expensive. The cheapest one cost me $5 plus the cost of a service.

[ReefHound]

Originally Posted by BSea

If you service your gear as recommended, and test it before and during dives, then any of those octos will be fine.

If you get into tech diving, your gear is going to change. And then an octo isn't just for an emergency accent lasting 5 to 6 minutes. It could be as much as an hour or more. I don't believe anyone said an octo was an after though.

First, I didn't say any of those octos were inadequate, I responding to the implication that an octo was only rarely used and therefore not too important. I consider the statement that "an octo is an octo" to be saying octo selection is an after thought.

Second, everyone has a right to an opinion and I don't want to be harsh, but I think divers with 0-24 logged dives are not qualified to be giving advice to other new divers on equipment selection. Doing so is just not prudent. Of course, profiles are sometimes filled out incorrectly.

Third, I'm only familiar with the Viper and the thing I like about it is that it is side vented and can be breathed easily no matter which way it is handed off. Maybe the others are as well, but my "recommendation" was to talk to Larry or Joe because I know they are very familiar with all of their products and have first hand experience with many of them.

[BSea]

Originally Posted by ReefHound

First, I didn't say any of those octos were inadequate, I responding to the implication that an octo was only rarely used and therefore not too important. I consider the statement that "an octo is an octo" to be saying octo selection is an after thought.

Second, everyone has a right to an opinion and I don't want to be harsh, but I think divers with 0-24 logged dives are not qualified to be giving advice to other new divers on equipment selection. Doing so is just not prudent. Of course, profiles are sometimes filled out incorrectly.

Third, I'm only familiar with the Viper and the thing I like about it is that it is side vented and can be breathed easily no matter which way it is handed off. Maybe the others are as well, but my "recommendation" was to talk to Larry or Joe because I know they are very familiar with all of their products and have first hand experience with many of them.

Ok, I can see how someone could take "An Octo is an Octo" as being said that an octo didn't need a 2nd thought. And if that's what FyVe meant by his/her comments, then I agree that's wrong. I looked at in conjuction with the models he asked about, but I should have made that clearer. And giving ST a call is always a good idea. As is talking to your LDS.

I don't have a problem with someone with less than 25 dives giving advice to someone. Especially to someone who is also new to the sport. They have probably just gone through the same buying experience. They might know something because they've researched a product recently that divers that have had their gear for awhile may not know about (I know I haven't bought an octo recently). Plus they don't have the biases that many divers have. (Like the BP/W is the only kind of BC worth having)

Finally, I didn't mean to imply that you thought those octos were inadequate. I'm sorry that it may have come across that way.