u/Dread-Pirate-E

Hey guys, I’m looking to get a new pair of fins after mine had a slight disagreement with my dog.

I’ve done some research and narrowed it down to the Apeos RK3 and the Deep 6 Eddy.

Or just getting another pair of Scubapro Jet Fins, which served me well for years.

I’ve already tried the RK3s and liked them a lot, but I’m particularly interested in hearing from anyone who has experience with the Deep 6 Eddys. How do they compare in terms of stiffness, propulsion, control, and overall feel?
Also, I could use some help with sizing. I wear a US size 9 and dive with Fourth Element Amphibian boots, which have a fairly thick, hard sole.

For anyone using a similar setup, what size did you go with?
Appreciate any firsthand experience.

BARE 7mm Ultrawarmth vs Fourth Element 6.5mm Amphibian boots — durability and Deep 6 Eddy fin fit?

Hey everyone,

I’m trying to decide between two dive boots in a similar price range:

1. BARE 7mm Ultrawarmth Boot
2. Fourth Element 6.5mm Amphibian Dive Boot

I’m looking for input from people who have used either of these, especially regarding fit, durability, comfort, and how they fit with Deep 6 Eddy fins.

My use case is mostly scuba diving, with some moderate/cooler water use, boat diving, and occasional shore entries. I want something warm and comfortable, but I also don’t want a boot that starts falling apart quickly or gets destroyed from normal shore-entry abuse.

A few specific questions:

Is either more durable or a reason to recommend one over the other?
How well do the soles, stitching, zippers, and toe/heel areas hold up?
Has anyone used either boot with Deep 6 Eddy fins?
If so, what boot size and Eddy fin size worked for you?
Did either boot feel too bulky or too tight in the fin pocket?

Is the Fourth Element Amphibian noticeably harder to fit into fins because of the thicker sole/toe box?

Is the BARE Ultrawarmth durable enough for occasional rocky entries, or is it more of a boat-diving comfort boot?
For sizing context, I normally wear around a US men’s 9, but with some little extra room, so I may be between sizes depending on the brand.

Any real-world experience with either boot — especially paired with Deep 6 Eddy fins — would be appreciated.

I’m setting up my sidemount kit and I’m trying to decide whether I should go with a redundant bladder or keep the system simpler with a single bladder.

For context, I’m interested in progressing into technical diving, and I’m trying to understand this from a tech-diving perspective rather than just a recreational comfort/preference perspective.

My main question is:

Is a redundant bladder actually necessary for technical sidemount diving, or is it only necessary in specific situations?

Hi everyone,

I’m currently comparing the XDeep Stealth 2.0 and the Dive Rite Nomad Ray, and I’d appreciate feedback from divers who have actually used both systems.

I’m especially interested in:

What made you choose one over the other?

How do they compare in terms of trim, stability, and comfort?

Any noticeable differences in buoyancy distribution?

Which one felt easier to fine-tune?

Which one feels better overall on the body?

I personally like the material on the Dive Rite because it feels soft but still durable. For those who have used both, did you notice any meaningful difference in materials, comfort, or long-term feel?

Any other pointers you think are important for someone trying to choose between these two?

I know both are strong systems, so I’m mostly trying to understand the real-world differences beyond the spec sheets.

Hey everyone,
I’m currently putting together my sidemount regulator setup and I’ve narrowed it down to two options: the Apeks MTX-R series and the Dive Rite XT1/XT4 regs.

I’d really appreciate hearing from people who have actual long-term experience with either — or ideally both.

A few things I’m trying to understand:

Reliability over time
Ease of servicing/travel servicing
Hose routing and sidemount friendliness
Breathing performance under workload/depth
Overall build quality and durability

I’m also trying to understand the price difference with Apeks.

Is the premium mostly coming from the UK manufacturing/brand positioning, or is there a genuine performance and engineering difference that justifies the higher cost compared to Dive Rite?

Would love honest opinions from people who’ve actually put serious dives on these regs.

Hey everyone,

Looking for some advice from people with more experience on backmount setups.

For context — I just finished my Divemaster and went pretty much zero-to-hero over the last couple of months (~140 dives). I’ve really fallen in love with diving (didn’t expect it to hit this hard), and I’m now at the point where I want to invest in my own gear, but do it right and avoid buying unnecessary stuff.

I’ve already decided on my sidemount setup, but I’m still figuring out my backmount configuration.

I’m planning to run a Hogarthian setup, which is why I’m specifically looking at a stainless steel backplate + simple harness. I’m not too concerned about regs or other components right now just focusing on the plate itself.
Specifically, I’m trying to understand if there’s any real difference between stainless steel backplates from brands like Dive Rite, Apeks, HOG, Xdeep, etc.

From what I can tell, they all seem pretty similar:

Same general shape
Same material (stainless steel)
Same purpose

So my question is:

Are there actual technical differences that justify the price gaps? Or is it mostly branding, finish, and small ergonomic preferences?

Things I’m wondering about:

Plate thickness / weight differences
Edge finishing / comfort
Hole placement / compatibility
Durability / corrosion resistance
Any differences that actually matter in the water

I’ll be using it for single tank for now, but want something that can grow into doubles later.

Would really appreciate any insights — especially from people who’ve used multiple brands or dive a Hogarthian/DIR-style setup.