What To Look For When Buying A Regulator | Scuba Advice

What To Look For When Buying A Regulator

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Buying your first regulator can be daunting because it isn’t always as simple as picking a size and a colour. Regulators can come in what is often referred to as Stage 4 sets, where everything is picked and assembled for you, but more often regulators come in separate parts that you, or better a technician, has to assemble. But not all parts are compatible and even once it’s assembled it may need some tweaking.

Regulators are a big pressure balancing machine that takes 300 bar of gas in one end, it regulates it down to 9 or 10 bar and fills the hoses with that. Your 2nd stage holds off that 10bar of gas pushing its way in and releases a bit as you inhale. But both the 1st stage and 2nd stage need to be in balance and need to be adjusted together because if the pressure the 1st stage pumps out is too high or the valve on the 2nd stage isn’t strong enough then your regulator will leak.

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Sources

Regulator Page

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Let's Get Social

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[simplyscuba]

So regulators? Which regulator did you end up with? What was the reason you chose that regulator? Let us know in the comments below.
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*Useful Links*

[MidoLapseit]

it would be more informatrive if you showed us the different types of 1st stages, its all behind you, thank you for the awesome channel

[boardathome]

I finally made the plunge on an Aqua Lung Len3nd Elite. I loved the adjustability and ease of breathing. I’m not a cold water diver, but I love the option. It has the added bonus of looking awesome!

[dbayboyds]

Brilliant and comprehensive! Thank you

[MrJustinreese]

I am diving my first regulators which I've had for over ten years now. A Scubapro MK10 with a G250. Both of these were given to me by a friend who got them from a police auction. (Prescott PD upgraded equipment.) I would upgrade except that every single dive shop I've entered sings praise of the G250. If/when you find a regulator you love, stick with it. You'll save money and have a regulator you love. If you service it regularly, you'll have it for life. Use the money you save for a dive trip.

[OG_JimboSlice]

I picked up a demo model Apeks XTX50 for 1/3 retail cost at my dive shop when they had their annual used and demo sale. I'm knew to diving and had seen in the facebook groups Apeks is a reliable brand that can carry you into tek diving. After talking to several of the shop personnel who happened to be instructors and tek divers I discovered they were all using Apeks gear and highly recommended grabbing that as that was an unbelievable steal of a price. It had been handled but hadn't even seen water. Had it serviced and also bought an Apeks AT20 also for a little under half retail and had the AT20 2nd stage moved to the XTX50 for the alternate 2nd stage... Now that I've been diving with it I love these Apeks regs. The AT20 likes to freeflow a little easy sometimes entering the water but thats a minor nuisance. I'll see if it can be adjusted at all next time I have it serviced

[drdanielvicente]

Thankyou, you have solved most of my questions!

[janin]

Just few days ago I've had my new reg set delivered. SP Mk25evo with 620ti 2nd stage. It sure looks great and feels mighty powerful... based on garage testing. Have to wait a bit to get in ocean but we have a pool session next tuesday. 😁

[AndrewR]

I have 3 xtx50 and my wife has an xtx50 too. Our back mount setup uses the apeks egress.

[TheMarsMarine]

I've been using my U.S. Divers - Aqualung Conshelf XIV for years, manufacture date is in 1981, I've always serviced it myself. Think for it being 40 years old and cost me the grand total of £10, it's done me well.

It may just be a placebo affect because it's mine, but I've yet to try another regulator that delivers the same silky smooth air delivery.

I'd highly recommend it (I believe Aqualung still make it) to anyone.

For a bit of a history lesson, the Conshelf 14 was the original regulator used on the early U.S. Divers Bandmasks, and overtime (with little alterations) became the Kirby Morgan 350 Superflow on the commercial hats.

[leemoore]

The only backup gauge that I think matters is pressure, but I don't really feel strongly about that. If my computer dies, my dive is over. Assuming I'm responsible about gas management (which I am), I will have plenty of gas to surface, which I will do immediately. That said, there's not a big downside in having a backup pressure gauge, so why not. But I can base my safety stop depth and time on my buddy's depth gauge/computer.

[deboraheppler]

Apeks xtx50: was my instructor's recommendation and i have to say, that i absolutely love it! Extremly easy to breath from and super comfortable!

[frankwittig]

Apeks XTX200 and Poseidon Cyklon 300 for cold water dives. Apeks because of the canonical devotion of some of my dive buddies, but I must say that the streamlined shape of the Poseidon primary is really growing on me. The Apeks once froze up on me, but these things do happen...

One dive store owner once I told me it was idiotic to mix manufacturers, but I figure that having different mechanical designs lowers the chances of encountering a repeated maintenance error...

[somethingawesome]

My local dive shop sponsors oceanic. I decided on the delta 5. I have used it for 15 dives in one season and I’m very happy

[Ben-ieht]

My current setup is the MTX R for my twins. Iam currently thinking abut xtx 50 for my stages

[alisonanthony]

I bought Apeks Flight regs because most of my diving was overseas. Now I'm diving more in the UK so I'm thinking of buying a DS4 first stage that I can swap out for the Flight first stage when I'm diving over here.

[hlgykorea]

Hey, thanks for the video, but it fell short without actually showing the regulators you were talking about. Your hand gestures didn't quite fill the gap. I still have no idea which is which by sight. Which seems like a no-brainer because all the regulators were right behind you! Otherwise, you make some great videos. I enjoy watching. Thanks!

[JimmieJohnsonCar]

I went with the SP Mk25 EVO/A700 Black Tech (DIN)

[HellrazorDogsnDives]

I dive Mares Mr22 Abyss, NO KNOBS or valves, Never free flows, gives more air then i need even when breathing fast. I tried scubapro 2nd stages, and i feel it delivers less air than the abyss, and it free flows regularly...

[bloodymarvelous]

I decided to go with a long hose setup from Apeks.
First stage: Apeks MTX
Primary second stage: Apeks MTX on a 210cm rubber hose
Secondary second stage: Apeks MTX-V with a 90° elbow on a 65cm rubber hose
SPG: Apeks black dial brass and glass
BCD: Stainless steel backplate with an Apeks WTX-D40 PSD wing
'Puter: Shearwater Perdix