Hollis

Hollis 212 + DC3 (DIN)

The same sealed DC3 first stage as Hollis's entry-level combo, paired with the fully diver-adjustable 212 second stage.

Environmentally sealed, cold-water rated

Sealed first stage keeps water and ice crystals out of the internal mechanism, the standard for diving below 50°F/10°C.

Hollis 212 + DC3 (DIN)
4.1Comparison Score
Released2009
First stagediaphragm
BalancedYes
Environmentally sealedYes
Cold-water ratedYes
ConnectionDIN
Max pressure300 bar
HP / LP ports2 / 4
Adjustable 2nd stageYes
Weight1219g
Nitrox-ready (EAN40)Yes
Octo includedNo

"HP / LP ports" is the number of high-pressure and low-pressure ports on the first stage, which caps how many accessories (transmitter, SPG, inflator, second second-stage) you can run at once.

Pros
  • 212 second stage adds true diver-adjustable airflow and venturi control on top of the automatic "Dynamic Adjustment" system
  • Same environmentally sealed, over-balanced DC3 first stage that carries Hollis's coldwater EN250:2000 rating
  • Dynamic Adjustment automatically maintains consistent inhalation effort through the dive without diver input
Cons
  • Heavier and pricier than the entry-level 100LX/DC3 pairing
  • Smaller current retailer footprint than the 100LX combo, can be harder to find in stock
  • Also sold in yoke, confirm the listing matches this DIN spec
Diver community sentiment
Mostly positive

Across several Scubaboard threads, divers consistently praise the 212 second stage for easy, effortless breathing across pressure ranges, comparing it favorably to Atomic and Scubapro regs, and note it breathes dry even inverted, including solid performance in cold water. Several posters note the 212 is functionally identical to the Oceanic EOS (Hollis and Oceanic share manufacturing), reassuring buyers about parts availability, though servicing is generally restricted to authorized dealers. The most consistent complaint is build quality of the second-stage housing: one detailed post describes the plastic case as thin and "flimsy," and the swivel mechanism can't be individually replaced if it fails.

Scubaboard: Hollis DC2/212 opinionsScubaboard: Hollis DC1/212 praise threadScubaboard: Hollis 212 vs HOG D1/2 comparison

Summarized from public forum discussion (Scubaboard, Reddit, and similar), not a survey we ran ourselves. See the linked threads for the original conversations.

Hollis sells the DC3 first stage across several second-stage pairings, and the 212 is the step up from the entry-level 100LX combo for divers who want manual fine-tuning on top of the automatic Dynamic Adjustment system. It’s aimed at divers who’ve outgrown a basic reg but don’t need Hollis’s full technical DC3 lineup.