Any Mares Concerns?

Hi folks!

I'm in the market for a new regulator. The Mares Abyss comes highly
recommended by my instructor. However, the LDS is pushing another
brand, namely the Scubapro MK25/S600 combination. I'm under the
impression that both regs are top shelf stuff. However, the Scubapro
comes with a higher pricetag.

What's the feel for these two regs, and more importantly the ability
to have them serviced? Any issues with warrantly claims with either
brand? Any red flags I should be aware of?

Please advise.

Thanks,
Larry

On Thu, 29 Jan 2004 19:52:13 -0500, LCM <hoggy@home.com> wrote:

>Hi folks!
>
>I'm in the market for a new regulator. The Mares Abyss comes highly
>recommended by my instructor. However, the LDS is pushing another
>brand, namely the Scubapro MK25/S600 combination. I'm under the
>impression that both regs are top shelf stuff. However, the Scubapro
>comes with a higher pricetag.
>
>What's the feel for these two regs, and more importantly the ability
>to have them serviced? Any issues with warrantly claims with either
>brand? Any red flags I should be aware of?
>
>Please advise.
>
>Thanks,
>Larry



Mares is much easier to work on if you do it your self..But on the
other hand their customer service is PATHETIC.

LCM wrote:
> Hi folks!
>
> I'm in the market for a new regulator. The Mares Abyss comes highly
> recommended by my instructor. However, the LDS is pushing another
> brand, namely the Scubapro MK25/S600 combination. I'm under the
> impression that both regs are top shelf stuff. However, the Scubapro
> comes with a higher pricetag.
>
> What's the feel for these two regs, and more importantly the ability
> to have them serviced? Any issues with warrantly claims with either
> brand? Any red flags I should be aware of?

I don't know much about the Mares regulators. The most information I have
on the company is that I love their fins, but have not had any luck with
their masks. Quality assurance for them is not up to par. If, and it's a
big if, the same is true for their regulators, I think I'd pass.

I do know something about the Scuba Pro line. It is top quality and covered
by a warranty that covers parts required during annual servicing for life,
for the original owner. That can be a pretty large benefit, but be careful.
You are required to have the regulator serviced annually to get the free
parts. Miss a service and . . . I an also tell you that Scuba Pro sets
the retail price and prohibits their dealers from selling them at a
substantial mark down. The combination of quality and price control has a
lot to do with why they are expensive and still get their price . . .
unsually.

I grew up with USD regulators. I still have most of them, but, these days,
I use my Scuba Pro Mk 20/G250/R380 setup. It's the best I have and the best
I've ever had . . . but it's not the only good regulator ever made.

In the long run, you're just going to have to try different regulators and
decide which you prefer for the diving you do.

Lee

Larry asks:
>> Any red flags I should be aware of?<<

Other than the Hub, no. <G>

http://www.scubastore.com/producte.a...o=3790&desde=1

I bet that's cheaper than your LDS.

http://www.scubastore.com/producte.a...o=3637&desde=0

That's almost half the price for an equally good (and dry sealed) reg.

"LCM" <hoggy@home.com> wrote in message
news:3eaj10hmkhlr41l2hld1g86d19ntichbav@4ax.com...
> Hi folks!
>
> I'm in the market for a new regulator. The Mares Abyss comes highly
> recommended by my instructor. However, the LDS is pushing another
> brand, namely the Scubapro MK25/S600 combination. I'm under the
> impression that both regs are top shelf stuff. However, the Scubapro
> comes with a higher pricetag.
>
> What's the feel for these two regs, and more importantly the ability
> to have them serviced? Any issues with warrantly claims with either
> brand? Any red flags I should be aware of?
>
> Please advise.
>
> Thanks,
> Larry

Shops push the brands they carry, plain and simple. Although fair trade laws
were dicontinued in the sixties to promote true competition, and although
price fixing is illegal, there are some lines which are somehow never
discounted because the rep tells the dealer that he won't sell the line to
anyone who discounts it. Scubapro never allows it's stuff to be discounted.
There are many excellent regulators which can be bought at a very reasonable
cost. Mares equipment comes from Europe where they have been selling diving
gear for over 30 years, but part of the cost of their gear sold here
includes the shipping cost from across the ocean! To grasp the value which
can be had when buying a regulator visit leisurepro.com or scubatoys.com.P.



"LCM" <hoggy@home.com> wrote in message
news:3eaj10hmkhlr41l2hld1g86d19ntichbav@4ax.com...
> Hi folks!
>
> I'm in the market for a new regulator. The Mares Abyss comes highly
> recommended by my instructor. However, the LDS is pushing another
> brand, namely the Scubapro MK25/S600 combination. I'm under the
> impression that both regs are top shelf stuff. However, the Scubapro
> comes with a higher pricetag.
>
> What's the feel for these two regs, and more importantly the ability
> to have them serviced? Any issues with warrantly claims with either
> brand? Any red flags I should be aware of?
>
> Please advise.
>
> Thanks,
> Larry