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Diaphragm first stages offer air at a lower flow rate, so they are less likely to freeflow. The body of the second stage is reminiscent of the lightweight Flight reg, except this has a large purge on the front, and an easy-to-operate venturi lever. There are over 12 different models of ScubaPro regulators. Top 10 Best Scuba Diving Regulators 2020 | Mike's Dive Store The innovative second stage has a cracking resistance control as per the norm, but the venturi control is located around the braided hose, and resembles a motorcycle throttle. Unusual, but it works extremely well. It is made with nickel-plated brass. The Cressi T10 SC Cromo Compact Pro is a higher-end version of this regulator that is good to use when diving in cold water. Its first stage is robust and requires little maintenance. That first stage is certainly an eye-catcher. Plenty of regulators are suitable for diving in cold climates. This is a unique swivel, mounted on the face of the first stage instead of the top. The Apeks MTX was built based on a military design, featuring a nearly bulletproof sealed and balanced brass exterior. This is because the connection of the yoke regulator is the weak point. There are external fins on the brass regulator which help prevent it from freezing when diving in cold weather conditions. It can also be converted from right-hand to left-hand if you so wish. Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. This third-generation model is no different. It is available both as a yoke and DIN configuration of the first stage. You may be wearing thick gloves during your dives, so youll want to choose a regulator with easy-to-use switches and levers made from thick durable plastic. These days, there are plenty of options weighing in at less than 2.5 lbs. A comfort-fit silicone mouthpiece is soft and has tear-resistant bite tabs. Lastly, there is a cap that helps to protect the diaphragm from ice build-up. Most regulators can be converted from a DIN to a Yoke or vise versa but converting the regulator from one to the other cost about $100. The second stage is more-traditional, with a cracking resistance control and venturi lever. First, some DIN regulators are rated to hold about 1,000 more PSI than yoke regulators. It has been improved upon by Scubapros G260 via the micro-adjust and exhalation effort. Cressi air gauge with integrated Leonardo 2 dive computer. The Zeagle Onyx II is a great-looking regulator, benefitting from a stylish metal insert into the front of the second stage around the large, soft purge, which belies its price point and youd be mistaken for thinking it was in the next test bracket. 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. This is a decent regulator for warm water diving in under 60 feet of water. The first stage is chunky but quite compact, while the second stage is extremely small and lightweight you almost dont feel it in your mouth. The overall work of breathing past legend models was .74 J/l but is not listed for the third generation. Hollis popped back into the market with a bang last year, and the 150LX follows on nicely from where the 100LX left off in this price bracket in 2019. 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 comfobite mouthpiece is nice when diving for long periods. The Test Team comprises Editor in Chief Mark Evans and a squad of volunteers, whose dive experience ranges from a couple of hundred dives to well over 8,000 in all conceivable diving conditions and temperatures. It is paired with the trusty 52X balanced diaphragm first stage. The AL Legend can be tuned to breathe quite easily, even a little easier than the G250. If the tank pressure ever falls below around 300 psi the tank should also be visually inspected as seawater could have entered the tank. You must log in or register to reply here. A DIN valve can work with a yoke regulator if a plug adapter is placed into the scuba tank. It has two high-pressure ports and four low-pressure ports. BEST FOR: BEST OF THE BEST. These programs pay this website advertising fees for products purchased through links going to other websites including Amazon. It may not display this or other websites correctly. This over-balanced diaphragm reg features an innovative over-moulded first-stage endcap, one high-pressure port, four low-pressure ports and comes with a braided hose. This regulator is good for cold water or warm water diving. When looking at the second stage the first thing people notice is the unique shape. A turreted (vertical tower shaped) first stage offers many advantages over a traditional horizontal valve, especially when diving in cold water. The MK21 is Scubapros most-compact air-balanced piston first stage has a compact chrome-plated brass body and boasts four low-pressure ports and two high-pressure ports. If cost is not a factor the T3 is the best regulator on the market. Each month, the Scuba Diver test team assembles to rate and review a selection of dive equipment from a range of manufacturers. Key features of the second stage include an adjustable Venturi vacuum assist, a super flow hose, a comfortable mouthpiece, and metal valve housing. While it is a very reliable second stage modern second stages have been improved on. Yoke valves attach to the tank using an external rubber O-ring. The first stage of a regulator set-up comes in two guises DIN valve, and yoke valve. Having a wrist computer is great for non-technical diving. It comes with two high pressure and four low-pressure ports. The regulator has a three year 300 dive service interval. The venturi is a bit dinky compared with some of the others, so a bit more awkward with gloves on, but still workable. Its also easy breathing at every depth and temperature. But if you are planning to take the plunge in extreme cold or icy conditions, you should choose a regulator specially designed to prevent freeflow and freezing over. I think you'd be happy either way. Youll only consider the absolute best scuba regulators, and nothing else will do. For the average diver that dives a few times a year in warm water, this is all that should be needed. And, while it wont win any points for style, its one of the best values on the market dollar for dollar. This is a great regulator for warm water diving. The system can be balanced or unbalanced. 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. The Elite is the latest and highest-end model of the Aqua Lung Legend series of regulators. It has five low-pressure ports and two high-pressure ports on its DCX first stage. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions. It is equipped with a factory sealed first stage, huge purge button, comfort swivel, and no less than seven low-pressure ports and two high-pressure ports. For this test it was paired with the proven MK25 EVO flow-through piston first stage, which is fully insulated from the environment by the XTIS (Extended Thermal Insulating System) and has numerous innovative design features to aid cold-water performance. It is easy to see the benefits of being part of the Huish Outdoors family. The all-metal second stage has a unique pivoting purge valve, lightweight braided Superflex hose, and a neat twist control to boost the flow rate from natural breathing to power breathing, all of which was seen on the Fusion reg. For more of our top scuba diving gear recommendations, check out these popular buyer's guides: Jessica is a PADI dive instructor, travel blogger, and underwater photographer. It has four low-pressure ports and two high-pressure ports on its DC7 first stage, which is pneumatically balanced and chrome-plated brass. The first stage of the F8 is a compact but well-made unit, but we have to say that the second stage doesnt actually look as eye-catching as its cheaper sibling, the Onyx II (which scored well last month). CRACKING RESISTANCE:Yes |VENTURI:No|VERDICT:The renowned MK25 in its latest EVO guise is a fine first stage, and with the XTIS thermal insulating system, it is great in cold water. For non-technical diving, many people use a wrist computer with the standard analog air gauge. Engineered to provide a comfortable, low-effort work of breathing in warm and cold water, the Leg3nd is ready for any environment. The Comfo-Bite mouthpiece is also very comfy. It has a soft, comfortable mouthpiece, and utilises Mares Fluid Dynamic Deflector, which receives and properly directs the airflow from the Vortex Assisted Design bypass tube to the mouthpiece. The D420 is reminiscent of previous D-regs, with its unusual shape of second stage. The Aqua Lung Legend is an excellent regulator, no matter what climate you're diving in. A lot of scubaboarders will argue it is the best breathing reg to there. Having a pressure gauge that also has a depth gauge is a good idea. A key feature of the regulator is the automatic flow control that regulates the Venturi effect when diving deeper. The MK 25 Is a better breather ,but the legend is a better cold water reg. Scuba tanks need to be visually inspected every year and have a properly dated VIP sticker to be filled. It does come nitrox ready up to 40 percent. These days, you can find her living and work on Mexicos Pacific coast. All metal components have a PVD coating for added durability. It has two high-pressure ports and five low-pressure ports. The wide exhaust tee disperses exhaled bubbles well clear of your face. It has four low-pressure ports and one high-pressure. The reason many people do not use DIN regulators and steel tanks is that some scuba shops will only fill the tanks to 3,000 psi anyway defeating the purpose of having a setup that can hold higher pressure. Its got all the perks you expect from a midrange regulator, but its outfitted for the cold. Sometimes the second stage is a lower-cost version of the primary second stage. I have the MK25/S600 and really enjoy it. The AC2 first stage is a simple, reliable, and robust unbalanced piston design. DIN valves screw directly into the dive tank, to form a highly stable seal. An environmental seal is a protective outer casing around your regulators first stage. Partly cause i like the metal body and the perforated diaphragm cover but it def doesn't breathe as easy as the legend. If the regulator falls out of the divers mouth the diver should exhale to not hold their breath. 9 Best Scuba Regulators in 2020 over 475 - Scuba Diver Mag Aqualung Leg3nd MBS - good or bad? vs Elite? | ScubaBoard It provided a smooth breath in all positions, and the cracking resistance control gave a nice degree of control to the user. This is a plug adapter that threads into a DIN scuba tank. But, if youre diving in cold climates, you may need more attachment points. It is equipped with Scubapros X-TIS (Extended Thermal Insulating System), which fully insulates the international mechanism from the environment. 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. Cressi Leonardo wrist computer. JavaScript is disabled. The large circular purge button is also simple to find and operate. The first and second stages can both be balanced or neither can be balanced. The Leg3nd Ultra has a venturi lever and a cracking resistance control knob, for completely independent control over the ease of the breathe. This is especially important if youll be diving in extreme cold and using thick gloves. There are also low-pressure steel tanks that are rated between 2,400 and 2,640 psi. And, even lightweight options should feel strong and stable, with no flimsy plastic pieces. Zeagle have long been producing top-quality BCDs and wings, and now they are well-established in the world of regulators after teaming up with the knowledgeable team at Atomic Aquatics. Atomic Aquatics Z2 octopus as the secondary scuba regulator. The ScubaPro MK25 A700 EVO carbon black tech is a top-quality durable scuba regulator. It is about the same price to get the dive computer integrated with the air or as a separate wrist computer. Scubapro has been churning out high-quality dive gear for over 50 years, and the MK21/C370 certainly slots into the roll-call well. Its first stage is a balanced piston design. Most DIN regulators can hold pressures up to 4300 PSI. Now that you are a Scubaboard junkie, you too can collect regulators and then wonder where all your money went. Zeagle have worked with Atomic Aquatics to produce a solidly constructed regulator. Regular with a longer then normal service interval? The first and second stage weighs under 1.8 pounds which makes it the lightest regulator in the world. It is pneumatically balanced and is designed to work with the Legends first stage. When using a steel tank with a yoke regulator the diver should make sure the tank was not filled above 3,00 psi. So, to utilize this new technology, youll need a regulator with 2 high-pressure ports. The xDeep regs provided a smooth breathe, and the controls were simple to find and use. A great little reg and dont forget that superb limited lifetime warranty. Overall, both the MK17 and Legend Supreme offer high-quality technology at half the cost of the T3. The LS200 second stage is eye-catching but quite traditional, but the NX700 first stage is extremely innovative, with a rotating turret on the front for some of the low-pressure ports. The secondary second stage is either a duplicate second stage that is yellow or a second stage regulator that is built into a BCD. While it performed well straight out of the box, we liked the ability to tweak the breathe to our liking the venturi and the cracking resistance control were both large and easy to locate and operate while wearing gloves. The second stage regulator is the part the diver breaths from. As with all Hollis regulators, it comes with a lifetime warranty, only requires a service every two years and you get service kits free of charge for the life of the regulator. There are several types of scuba tanks that have different pressure ratings. Its pretty hard to improve on the G250 and as James points out even older stuff performs great. The overall work of breathing on past Legend models was .74 J/l but is not listed for the third generation. This is a low-cost reliable regular that is popular for a primary regulator and the XS2 in yellow is common as an octopus in warm water scuba locations. I have a LX Supreme for my back mount rec diving and a pair or Apeks for . It comes with a lip shield, which does actually assist in keeping your lips warm(er) in cold water, but if you dont want this, it is quick and simple to remove. In this case, the only difference between the octopus and the primary second stage is the hose and case are yellow to make it clear that it is the back-up. Yoke valves are more common but only work with tanks filled to less than 3000 PSI. Each "breath" of the machine moves a specified amount of air, called the tidal volume, through the reg. The Legend also features Aqua Lungs unique first stage auto-closure designed to close your dust cap in case you forget to do it manually, so youll never flood your filter while washing gear. For those who are regularly diving, these scuba regulators will meet your needs and last a lifetime. Again, regardless of the thickness of exposure protection on the hands, the controls were easy to use, especially the cracking resistance control knob. An adjustment Venturi switch allows the regulator to be set at pre-dive or dive settings. This is the number one rule of scuba diving to never hold your breath. A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world. I don't think there are any bad choices. The F8s first stage is sealed and insulated, with a watertight exterior to prevent corrosion. It is also now smaller and lighter for a more comfortable dive. The XS compact second stage has an adjustment for the Venturi effect and a low noise semi-rigid case. In addition to these checks, the tank condition and valve conditions should be checked before each use. If the LUX catches your eye, that 1st stage has a PVD coating. The breathe is smooth and dry in all orientations, and the big, chunky venturi lever, which has a rubber grip built in, is easy to use even wearing drygloves, as is the monster purge, which is effectively the entire front of the second stage. It looks good too, in an understated way, with the 316 stainless steel elements, and I like the red-and-black colour scheme. If you learned to dive in warm water, you might be wondering why its important to have so many ports on your regulators first stage. VERDICT: Excellent little regulator which could hold its own in the mid-range price bracket.