Kirby Morgan vs Ocean Reef for cold water ops - no contest

I spent 3 seasons using an Ocean Reef Neptune in Puget Sound before switching to a Kirby Morgan 37 last winter. The difference in gas consumption was insane. With the Ocean Reef I was burning through 30% more air on a 40 foot dive because the reg just couldn't keep up. The KM 37's regulator is way more balanced and I get an extra 20 minutes per tank easy. Has anyone else swapped brands and noticed a huge change in performance?

3 comments

3 Comments

fionamurphy2d agoMost Upvoted

Oh yeah, "no contest" is putting it MILDLY. I tried a friend's Ocean Reef once and felt like I was breathing through a straw while doing lunges. The KM 37 is basically the Cadillac of cold water regs, your gas consumption difference is exactly what I'd expect. Honestly though, the real test is when you're hanging upside down trying to untangle a line and that Ocean Reef starts free-flowing like it's got a vendetta against you. Kirby Morgan just works, no drama, no nonsense.

kimr912d ago

C'mon, Ocean Reefs work fine if you actually maintain them right, don't they?

henryr451d ago

Dude yes, the free-flow issue is no joke. I've seen guys try to clear a blocked vent on an Ocean Reef and it just goes into a massive free flow that drains a whole tank in like two minutes flat. Meanwhile the KM 37 just sits there and breathes with you like a patient old dog. It's not even about which one is fancier or shinier, it's about which one won't kill you when things get sideways at 100 feet with zero visibility. Some gear looks good on the surface but falls apart under pressure, plain and simple.