Environmental seals prevent cold water and particulate matter from entering the first stage, reducing the risk of freezing or fouling. Unbalanced, Balanced and Overbalanced Unbalanced regulators are operated by tank pressure, so breathing resistance increases very slightly as the pressure drops. They are the simplest design, least expensive, and the mainstay of recreational rental gear.
Balanced regulators are not affected by tank pressure, and deliver air at the same pressure throughout the dive. These days, all but the most basic of regulators are balanced. Overbalanced regulators slightly increase the pressure of air delivered to the diver at depth.
Piston or Diaphragm Piston regulators operate using a hollow metal piston opposed by a metal spring. They can be balanced or unbalanced, and cold-water diving requires that they have an environmental seal, or anti-freezing technology. Diaphragm regulators are more complex in design, but they are all balanced, and the rubber diaphragm acts as its own environmental seal, hence they are preferred for deep and cold-water diving.
Some regulators also have an airflow control which affects the cracking pressure. Nitrox All regulators can be used with recreational nitrox up to a maximum of 40 per cent O2. EU standards require the use of tanks and regulators with a non-standard connection for anything above 21 per cent, but are not universally enforced.
Hoses The standard rubber hoses are fairly inflexible and prone to cracking through poor care and maintenance. In recent years, lighter and more flexible braided hoses have become very popular as they are easier to transport, provide better options for hose routing, and reduce jaw fatigue.
Swivelling hose connectors provide similar benefits over the standard, rigid connectors. Some manufacturers are now fitting braided hoses and swivel joints as standard, but they are always available as optional extras.
Chief amongst your considerations is the type of environment in which you plan to dive. For tropical recreational diving, any regulator will do, but cold and deep-water diving require appropriate equipment.
Size and weight may be factors in your decision making, as is the cost and availability of servicing. The general advice is to buy the best that you can afford. For smaller budgets, the basic entry-level regulators are an option, as long as their limitations are taken into account. Spending a bit extra in the first place, however, may save you money in the long-run as your dive horizons broaden.
Need inspiration for your next dive trip? Try one of our featured destinations from DIVE's travel partners. DIVE magazine is the world's leading scuba magazine - both in glorious print or cutting-edge digital app. DIVE weekly updates. Get updates of all the diving news plus all our latest offers and competitions in our regular newsletters. We never share your data. Unsubscribe anytime. Get Our App. The ACT Valve is made out of two stages with both metal and special polymer.
Also, the ultralight technopolymer makes an abrasion-resistant valve that lets your valve be resilient against almost anything under the sun. Also, the dynamic fluid deflector directs air from the bypass tube into the mouthpiece, where VAD creates a swirling vortex of low-pressure central airflow.
It maintains diaphragm activity for sensitive, effortless breaths at any depth! Compact dimensions and low weight blend comfort with a The first stage is a balanced diaphragm type that sports This regulator is perfect for divers constantly on the go.
It will not weigh down your bag and transport easily. It is designed to be lightweight without sacrificing quality or breathability. Likewise, its ACD is safer for higher percentages of oxygen that automatically closes as soon as the core is removed from the cylinder valve. Its 2nd stage allows for smooth, easy breathing. Its adjustment knob optimizes opening. Then, the Mini position allows increased efforts, so free flow at the surface level is avoided.
In the Maxi position, it lowers inhalation effort, which means less work for you! The Twin Power System offers an automatic flow control that manages gas from your natural breathing to power-breathing for an extra push of air when needed.
Besides, the regulator also features VAD, bypassing airflow to create vortexes to keep the diaphragm down during inhalation. AST keeps your first stage dry and has an elegant pearl chrome finish with swivel and tilted HP ports for comfort.
The Seac Synchro second-stage octopus is made out of techno polymers, elastomers that will last for a long time. It also has a yellow purge cover so it can be easily identified in an emergency. In addition, the regulator comes with the low-friction demand lever, which makes breathing more fluid and linear.
The design allows minimum weight and size while ensuring consistent performance in demanding The first stage is made from forged brass and sanded chrome finish material to ensure maximum performance while minimizing weight and size. A-Clamp regulators are often the best choice for divers in places where tanks of the scuba gear have A-clamps.
However, suppose you encounter more DIN valve tanks. In that case, a DIN regulator is better as it screws into threaded openings on these types of tanks instead of sitting over them as an A clamp reg does. Most warm water divers prefer to use an A-clamp valve, also known as a yoke valve. The rubber O-ring on this type of seal makes it less stable than DIN valves.
Still, it is perfect for recreational divers because they are easy to set up and break down and far more durable than their delicate counterparts.
But suppose you want to dive into the cold water with ease. They also scored it very good for ease of clearing, though some found the purge a bit too stiff and eager. The Venturi switch proved capable of taming free-flows, but divers found the tiny lever difficult to reach. The breathing adjustment, however, earned nothing but praise, with the large, easy-to-grasp knob clicking reassuringly as testers dialed in the perfect breathing resistance.
It showed solid performance on the simulator and took very good scores across the board for ease of breathing and dry air delivery in all positions.
Test divers found it easy to purge and clear, helped by a diaphragm cover nearly as wide as the reg. But its trim dimensions and near weightless comfort made it a top contender in its category. The Prana is based on the long-serving GS, with a clear family resemblance. But while the chunky, balanced-piston first stage and top-mounted Venturi control are still there, the Prana has benefited from the makeover. And the Prana has the same smooth breathing and lightweight comfort that we liked in the GS Test divers rated it very good in all positions for ease of breathing and dry performance.
Its compact profile and near-neutral feel in the water tied top score in its category for overall comfort. Divers found the breathing adjustment effective, but also noted that a wide-open setting was a little prone to free-flow.
But test divers also selected it as their favorite in its category. On the simulator, the D1X delivered the lowest work of breathing in its category. That performance carried over to our test dives, where testers rated it very good for ease of breathing and dry operation in all positions. The reg has both a Venturi control and breathing adjustment, features not always seen around this price point. The balanced-diaphragm D1X first stage sports two high-pressure ports and a rotating turret with five low-pressure ports.
The D1X was named among the favorites of multiple testers. The R put in one of the best performances on the simulator in its category, with an excellent score at recreational depth and good scores throughout. It also showed smooth, low-effort performance in our test dives, taking very good scores in all positions for ease of breathing.
The breathing adjustment was rated very good, with divers praising its precision and wide range of adjustment. The reg has two high-pressure ports and a rotating turret with four low-pressure ports, and is also available with an additional in-line low-pressure port. On the simulator it churned out a solid performance, earning a very good score at recreational depths and good scores beyond.
Divers rated it very good for ease of breathing and dryness in swim position but noticed an increase in effort and water entry while in face-up and head-down positions. Testers felt the reg was fairly resistant to free-flow, but some were critics of the tiny, hard-to-reach Venturi control. Another sore spot was the mouthpiece, whose tall, wide tabs were uncomfortable for divers with smaller mouths.
The purge is powerful and kind of stiff, requiring a careful touch when clearing to avoid a strong blast.
0コメント