It has dry chambers that reduce the potential for ice build-up. This change in flow can serve as a good reminder to check your pressure gauge and can prevent out of air emergencies while diving in warm water. The first-stage regulator is the part that is screwed onto the scuba tank. Gauges do not have to be from the same company as the regulator but it is common to have matching gear. The dive/pre-dive lever is mounted on the top, and is easy to find and operate even when wearing thick neoprene gloves. Having said all this a new Mk25/G260 would probably be your upgrade although I don't think there is anything wrong with what you have. The C370 second stage body is made from fibreglass reinforced nylon and now features a balanced valve and new exhaust tee. Scuba regulators have a first stage and second stage. If you are planning to take on the planets coldest underwater environments, this regulator is your best bet. Aqualung Leg3nd MBS - good or bad? vs Elite? | ScubaBoard Check out our, For more of our top scuba gear recommendations, check out the, For the best experience turn your device horizontally, THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A COLD WATER REGULATOR. The first choice needed to be made when purchasing a regulator is whether to get a DIN or a yoke regulator. CRACKING RESISTANCE:No |VENTURI:No|VERDICT:The MK21 is a robust air-balanced piston first stage, and paired up with the C370 makes for a great reg package. The D420 is reminiscent of previous D-regs, with its unusual shape of second stage. Regular with a longer then normal service interval? The oval face has a decent-sized purge, and a swivel aids comfort in use. The regulator mouthpiece is placed in the mouth and the diver breathes in and out like normal. Blackburn-based Apeks Marine Equipment has been around for over 40 years, and since that time the companys regulators have found a special place in the hearts and kit bags of many divers. Higher-end models are environmentally sealed and balanced. Atomic Aquatics Z2 octopus as the secondary scuba regulator. This regulators first-stage has the auto closer device and a pneumatically balanced diaphragm for consistent breathing at different depths and tank pressures. If youre diving in warm water, you wont notice much of a difference in performance between the two. Zeagle is a US brand that has built up a strong following for its robust, well-made BCDs, and it looks set to follow suit with its regulators. Even if you do not like to fish getting rid of the lionfish on the reefs is beneficial to the ecosystem. The Z3 scored very highly with the Test Team and it is a keenly priced way to get on the Atomic ladder. The yellow color also helps the dive buddy know which regulator they should use in the event of an air issue or low air situation. What temperature? It has a sealed first stage that protects the diaphragm from freezing and can be used in cold water environments. This is a great regulator for warm water diving. CRACKING RESISTANCE:Yes |VENTURI:No|VERDICT:The MK21 is a robust air-balanced piston first stage, and paired up with the C370 makes for a great reg package. Growing up in Pennsylvania Cody has also done extensive freshwater fishing including bass fishing tournaments. Best Scuba Diving Regulators | PADI Unbalanced regulators becomes more difficult to breathe from as your tank has less air. This model comes standard with high-end features like a turreted first stage and swiveling joints for easy hose routing and comfort. An efficient heat exchanger makes it so this octopus can be used in cold water without freezing up in most conditions. And, its rated for even the coldest of climates. Yoke scuba tanks can dive with a DIN regulator with a yoke adapter for the DIN tank. It is an environmentally sealed overbalanced diaphragm design, with a heat exchanger wrapped around the HP valve, so perfect for cold-water diving. The compact second stage looks great, and is lightweight in your mouth, so no jaw fatigue. It does come nitrox ready up to 40 percent. It balances air pressure for consistent breathing regardless of depth or tank pressure. This is a plug adapter that threads into a DIN scuba tank. It is up to divers with DIN regulators to have this adapter. The second stage has a tough nylon case and has a seat-saving orifice, zirconium-plated inlet tube and heat sink for superior corrosion resistance, and a new inhalation diaphragm. This is for two reasons. The MK25 offers plenty of ports for all your accessories on an ergonomic swiveling turret, compatible with traditional and sidemount configurations. The 200LX features a braided hose, large venturi lever, chunky cracking resistance control, and has a big purge. The first stage is pretty small, which helps keep the weight down, and with its shiny chrome and polyurethane protector, it certainly looks eye-catching. The colder the conditions, the more likely our second stage is to freeflow on the surface. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions. CRACKING RESISTANCE:Yes |VENTURI:No|VERDICT:The MTX-R set the bar high for a cold-water reg, and the MTX-RC builds on this platform, adding a highly efficient venturi lever and cracking resistance control into the mix. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. DIN valves can have a working pressure up to 300 bar, hence why they are favoured by technical divers. It was nice and dry in all positions, coped admirably with whatever we threw at it, and the venturi and in particular, the cracking resistance control really did make a difference to the breathe. The second stage has built-in anti-freezing features, yet is still compact and lightweight. If the regulator falls out of the divers mouth the diver should exhale to not hold their breath. This is a unique swivel, mounted on the face of the first stage instead of the top. Hollis continues to forge a path into regulators, and the flagship 200LX DCX is well worth a look. The exhaust is fairly compact, but the routing is sound and it disperses exhaled bubbles efficiently. As for the Octo - it's the base level leg3nd with just the venturi. Want to learn more about a technical term? 9 Best Scuba Regulators in 2020 over 475 - Scuba Diver Mag Key features of the second stage include the patented automatic flow control, seat saving dynamic orifice, elliptical exhaust valve, and comfort fit mouthpiece. Also, more expensive modes have more high-pressure and low-pressure ports which are important when adding extra gauges and equipment like dry suits which require an additional low-pressure port. These days, you can find her living and work on Mexicos Pacific coast. It incorporates Mares VAD (Vortex Assisted Design), an air bypass tube that delivers air to the mouthpiece, creating a swirling vortex with a low-pressure area in the centre that keeps the diaphragm down during inhalation, for easy breathing at all depths. If you want to get a high-performance DIN regulator the T10 SC is a great option. When diving the pressure gauge and dive computer should also be secured and not dangling. And, its large easy-to-grip knobs (to customize airflow) were designed for divers wearing thick gloves. It is about the same price to get the dive computer integrated with the air or as a separate wrist computer. The Leg3nd Ultra has a venturi lever and a cracking resistance control knob, for completely independent control over the ease of the breathe. I think you'd be happy either way. In the picture, I am diving with an aqualung legend regulator. AquaLung Legend vs. ScubaPro MK25 | ScubaBoard The NX700 is the definite show-stopper when it comes to this reg. The Zirconium thats what the Z stands for delivers corrosion-resistance apparently three to four times that of conventional chrome plating, and the second stage lever, orifice and spring are titanium, as with the higher-spec (and price) models. Second, the o-ring seal on a DIN tank is within the regulator and typically has fewer issues than yoke tanks external o-rings. It comes with two high pressure and four low-pressure ports. Yoke valves are more common but only work with tanks filled to less than 3000 PSI. On current generation Legend 1st stage, the only difference between LX and LX Supreme is chrome finish on the LX and satin finish on the LX Supreme. But, some divers feel that they are harder to breathe from. And, for some climates a dry suit is mandatory. It breathes super easy at any depth. So, to utilize this new technology, youll need a regulator with 2 high-pressure ports. Maybe look toward the MK 25/19/17 and a G260 for the future, Im not much of an Aqua lung fan but they are good regulators. If you stick with diving, this regulator will make an excellent backup and is a top pick for deco tanks, too. The 15X first stage has pre-oriented ports two high-pressure and four low-pressure, including one DFC port (Dynamic Flow Control), which minimises intermediate pressure drop during inhalation, thus maximising gas delivery for optimum routing, yet retains a compact, travel-friendly size and weight. A key feature of the regulator is the automatic flow control that regulates the Venturi effect when diving deeper. Features of the first stage include a jet seat high flow piston, factory sealed, and nitrox ready. Great all-round regulator. Good-looking, great-performing regulator. It also has an anti-pressure drop pneumatic spring and high capacity filter. If you dont have a huge budget, then these scuba regulators are some of the best low-cost options. CRACKING RESISTANCE:Yes |VENTURI:No|VERDICT:The second stage of this set-up is very reminiscent of the 150LX, which is no bad thing, as it is a good-looking unit, but the DCX first stage resplendent in its PVD plated finish is a top-performer, especially in cold water. Plus, this regulator only needs to be serviced every 3 years or 300 dives. Joining is quick and easy. It has at least one high-pressure output port to measure the pressure in the tank with a manual gauge or a dive computer. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. We push the units to their max by extensively purging them underwater and topside, over-breathing them underwater to simulate a panic situation, breathing them in every orientation, working any Venturi and/or cracking resistance controls, and various other trials if they can handle this over-the-top usage, they can handle a normal diving situation. When using a steel tank with a yoke regulator the diver should make sure the tank was not filled above 3,00 psi. In the video below my friends and I are scuba diving at Looe key in the Florida keys at night. It is common for the octopus to have a long 36-inch hose which is helpful when sharing air with a buddy. To confuse you even more my wife has a Deep6 Signature series first and second and it is every bit as good as the Mk19/G260 set up for less money. Did early Aqualung Legends have fixed (built-in) crowns in the first stage? This is because the connection of the yoke regulator is the weak point. Cold water regulators utilize special features to prevent freezing and freeflow and are often made from more robust materials than their warm water counterparts. The durability of this setup is why this regulator is often used as rental gear for dive operations. The ScubaPro MK2 EVO is a scuba regulator with an unbalanced piston first stage. We do this at 2 liters/20 breaths per minute, 2.5 L/25 bpm and 3 L/25 bpm. All the features and breathing performance of the MK25 EVO/A700 with the addition of a Black Tech coating that protects both stages against the ravages of salt water and corrosion. Products are split into price categories and are then evaluated for performance, comfort, ease of use, build quality, looks and value for money. You may prefer this setup, as it is more comfortable and ergonomic for routing your hoses, especially if you are diving with a dry suit. The average breathing effort is 1.35 J/l. The Scubapro MK2 EVO/R195 is ideal for newly certified divers exploring in cold climates. CRACKING RESISTANCE:Yes |VENTURI:No|VERDICT:The Zeo FDXi is great for travelling divers thanks to its compact first stage, but as it is also rated for cold-water use, it is the perfect all-round package for divers who dive in temperate and tropical waters. This is because the computer can be worn like a watch and is easy to check the depth and remaining bottom time values. The simulator pressurizes the chamber to simulate depths of 132 feet of seawater, 165 fsw and 198 fsw. Technical divers, cave divers, and wreck enthusiasts prefer this style because it is so secure. No doubting the performance of the F8, though the breathe was nice and smooth in all positions, the cracking resistance control is large and easy to use, as is the venturi lever, and the mouthpiece is comfortable. It can also be converted from right-hand to left-hand. Its second stage features the comfo-bite mouthpiece and a Venturi knob to control the airflow and breathing effort. A DIN regulator can not be used with a yoke valve scuba tank unless the regulator has an adapter. This massively improves the cold water/freezing resistance without compromising its breathing performance. On the second stage, the soft co-moulded purge button is effective and easy to locate and operate even with thick neoprene gloves, the Comfo-Bite mouthpiece is still one of the best on the market in my opinion, and the co-moulded exhaust tee efficiently vents exhaled bubbles either side of your face. These are important factors when diving deep and in cold water areas. The first stage will also reduce the tanks pressure to around 140 psi for low-pressure ports that can be used at the second stage regulator, octopus, BCD inflator, and drysuit. Mares gave their regulator line-up a serious overhaul for 2019, and the Epic Adj 82X still represents a formidable unit. There is a conical filter on the first stage which helps prevent any large particles in the scuba tank from entering the first and second stages of the regulator. The regulator has a three year 300 dive service interval. both are great - go with the one you can get serviced locally at a dive shop you like. The F8 has an environmentally sealed balanced diaphragm first stage made from durable brass, and featuring a precision-machined neoflon seat.
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