Scuba World
There are so many models on the UK market it would fill the whole magazine to describe them. As all models can cope with 'average' conditions, I will concentrate on leading edge regulators aimed at the demanding UK diver, looking for high performance and cold water compatibility. I will also devote most space to models that are widely available and have a network of authorised service centres. It's of little use mentioning models that you have to travel the breadth of the UK to see.
Without being xenophobic, most diving kit seems to come from foreign shores. It's pleasant then, for a change, to be heaping praise on a thoroughly home grown product that competes with the world's best and in many cases win hands down. Apeks are a UK success story, taking a good share of the national market due to the combination of high performance and a reasonable cost. Not content with just home achievements, badged versions are also widely available overseas, in such guises as Beuchat and Zeagle etc.
While their top of the range TX50 model has a conventional look, its performance is far from 'run of the mill' and has very low breathing resistance 0.93 j/l at 50 metres. Of those with controls, this model is also one of the most ergonomic. The inhalation control stands well proud of the body and has a deep knurling, ideal for cold/gloved hands. Plus the Venturi assistance control is located concentric to the resistance knob and is again a good size and easy to operate. With the Venturi control turned up, even at depth, you can clearly, feel the positive pressure and in shallows it positively blows the air.
The TX50 uses the company's high performance first stage which is medium sized, reassuringly solid with a rotating turret holding 4 LP ports. One negative point - the seal on first stage looks a little fragile. There is also have a range of less elaborate conventional and a side diaphragm second stages. These are also good performers but don't have the controls. At the other end of the scale is a great idea for pony rigs - a full function first stage but with only one LP port - no ports going begging and you save money.
Beuchat are a relative newcomer on the UK market and you won't see them at every dive store. However on their home turf, this French company is a well-established full range supplier. There are three styles of first stage and second stages with or without inhalation resistance controls. For cold water divers there's the option of a retro fitted 'anti-freeze' kit with Teflon parts for £12. The first stage can be bought sealed (the labrador versions) or conventional unsealed stages upgraded for £32.
Cressi-sub has a wide range of popular basics, masks fins and snorkels and three stylish compact regulators. For an adjustable model, their top of the range Air Max is especially small. Controls are provided for inhalation resistance and an anti-free flow switch, which is particularly important when used as an octopus. For the colour conscious the first stages offer a selection of font covers which can be easily interchanged. All models have a compact first stages with rotating turrets. One down point - although they offer DIN fittings, the range is only currently certified to 200 bar.
Dacor's regulators stand out from the crowd, as most have quite unusual designs in both first and second stages. Their Extreme first stages have bodies horizontal instead of the normal vertical layout. All have ergonomic hose directors and the top or the range versions have multiple hose swivels. These models are also fully sealed and use a replaceable central module for reliable maintenance.
The lower cost quantums have a more conventional shape but again good hose routing. Their second stages are also unique with quite compact and flexible rubber bodies. In place of the purge button itself, pressing almost anywhere on the soft front portion, purges. This style of body also means it copes well with normal knocks and is people friendly.
Mares has been supplying fine regulators for many years. Now in particular they have a choice of first range models, at all price and performance levels, that more than compliment their top selling fins.
A common feature on their high performance second stages is a novel, side or in 'Mares speak' 'by-pass tube'. The idea behind this unusual tube is to route the air directly into the mouth-piece in a more efficient manner and also to impart a spin. This spin is called VAD (Vortex Assisted Design) and increases the regulators sensitivity. It improves the air throughput too in just the same way as water empties quicker from an inverted bottle if you create a whirlpool effect. It may seem somewhat far fetched but it really does seem to work - if you purge the regulator with the mouth piece pointing upwards, the air actually spins as it exits into the water. This design means the harder you breathe the more the VAD processes assist.
The MR22 Abyss first stage is a very compact and ergonomic design with good hose routing, leading to a high performance control free second stage. I'm not too sure about paying an extra £57 for the 'designer grey titanium finish' but if you have deep pockets....
For cold water diving, Mares offer sealing or environmental protection kits for the first stage. Also as the air expansion takes place well within the second stage, which is a more open chamber, it's less likely to freeze. The metal portions of the high performance second stages also help to prevent freezing by conduction and holding breath heat.
Many years ago, prior to testing some of Mares new regulators, I felt such small models wouldn't offer 'large reg' performance - in contrast they delivered the goods and I learned my lesson. This is an echo of what I mentioned earlier, about preconceptions colouring one's testing.
Oceanic are another full range US supplier and one with some of the more futuristic products including both open and closed circuit rebreathers. Their three regulator combinations are aimed to span the full sports market. The top range model is the Delta with adjustable inhalation resistance, which come in conventional and a cold water version - the Sub Zero. The mid range Omega II is a diminutive side diaphragm model and one of smallest regulators on the market. The Alpha IV is their conventional work horse. There's a set of complimentary octopuses each in yellow and a Slimline octopus designed to sit on the BCs.
Poseidon has been making leading edge regulators for
decades. Their Jetstream and Cyclon models are well-established
favourites for demanding divers, especially wreckers, cavers and cold
water types. Unlike some suppliers whose products seem to have the
life span of a mayfly, Poseidon opted for evolution instead
revolution. While both models strongly resemble their ancestors, they
have gradually evolved over the years internally and in first stage
ergonomics.
All three second stages now share the same chunky high performance first stage, which has a flow capability of up to 1600 l/m, 300 bar DIN and integral over pressure protection valves. The DIN fitting is standard but also includes a solidly built 'A' clamp converter. The latest version has an improved ergonomic hose layout and a swivel connection on the high pressure port. To be expected from Swedish kit, the unit is cold water tolerant and designed to operate down to 6C without any add-ons. Below this, a simple rubber cap filled with anti-freeze, is added.
The Jetstream and Cyclon second stages are side diaphragm models which are, of course, totally ambidextrous and have no 'right way up'. Both are lightweight but very tough. The Jetstream has a sensitivity switch which is used when near the surface or as an octopus to reduce the possibility of free flow. The octopus versions of both come in bright high visibility yellow. The units breathe well and respond to heavy demands at all conventional depths.
The company are due to launch a completely new second stage called the Triton 2000. I am keen to test this and will be doing so as this review hits the street. Watch out in a future issue for an update. Just to wet your appetite, it's the most unusual second stage on the market. It's a very compact unit with twin fully valved exhausts, a top mounted purge and a hose which enters via an underside central swivel.
Scubapro is one of the most comprehensive of the full range
suppliers, with quality offerings in most product categories. They're
probably best known though for their BCs and first rate regulators. A
particularly commendable Scubapro stance is their retro fitting and
upgrading policy. Many suppliers seem keen for you to scrap last
year's models and commend them to the scrap heap, even though they
work as well as they ever did. In contrast, Scubapro's upgrade scheme
means that models two decades old can be upgraded to today's
standards. Naturally they have to draw the line somewhere and
fundamentally different designs cannot be cross upgraded.
Their mainstay for the demanding diver is the well-established highly engineered Mk20 first stage. This is best teamed with their equally high performance G250 or D400 second stages. The G250 has a conventional look but sports both inhalation resistance controls and a Venturi flow vane adjustment switch. The inhalation control is excellent and easily gripped. The flow control used to be a little on the small side but Scubapro listened to us complaining cold water divers and the latest models sport a good sized and easy to operate control. This combination delivers exceptional performance (1st and second stage flows of 2400 l/m and 1000+l/m) and is amongst the best on the market in terms of both practical use and objective tests.
The D400 has a novel design which allows it to be both very compact, for a model using full size diaphragms, and use whole front as the purge button. The Mk10 is the mid range first stage and is ideally teamed with the M5 polar or the R190 second stages. The Polar has, like G250, both inhalation controls and a Venturi adjustment switch. This is designed for very cold water work and has novel internal fittings made from ice repelling composite materials. At the opposite extreme is the Mk2 first stage and R190, which have the Venturi adjustment only and are an ideal economy and training combination.
Lastly is the metal cased balanced adjustable second stage - ideal for the traditionalist. This model is a perfect example of Scubapros upgrade policy. The original 1965 model will accept the enhancements - even the most skinflint diver should be happy with 30 years of service for their original investment!
All of the first stages have the option of upgrade for cold water diving. Called the SPEC system - this is carried out by a dealer and involves filling the ambient chamber with a silicone grease and then covering the access holes with the SPEC 'boot'.
This Italian company is another relative newcomer to the UK. Like Beuchat they are a well-established full range supplier in their home market. They're currently importing two regulators into the UK; both are good performers and are already CE certified. While neither sports controls, both second stages are internally designed to provide Venturi assistance for improved air flow. The first stages have full hose swivel, 300 bar DIN options and a sealed anti freeze facility.
While suppliers strive to present their regulators 'unique' characteristics, in reality there are more similarities than differences. However, Sherwoods patented 'Dry air bleed system' is found only on their first stages. This serves the same function as a seal and isolates the innards from the water. The system's tell tale sign is a tiny stream of air bubbles when immersed. This isn't the only unusual feature amongst the company's comprehensive range. The Maximus combination is designed to operate with the hose, not over your shoulder, but under your arm, where it's more streamlined and less likely to snag. Inside the second stages are hidden a number of other features. The Blizzard and Maximus incorporate a heat exchanger to reduce the possibility of freezing and Oasis 2 has a similar concept to reduce mouth dryness.
The Minumus and Shadow+ are second stages, specifically optimised for the role of an octopus. Like the Oceanic Slimline, these too are a mini second stage with the mouthpiece at right angles to the main body. The Shadow+ is similar to the Minumus and designed to sit on the BC hose.
Spiro is a well-established choice, with wide selection of models comprising three first stages and four seconds, if you include the octopus. Most of the models occupy upper mid price bands, while the Ranger is an excellent value model ideal for training and the economy minded diver.
The Pioneer XP and Nordic models both use the same new, totally sealed, first stage. This has, to quote, an 'oleo-pneumatic' balancing system, which in essence is an oil filled sealed chamber transmitting water pressure but preventing water ingress to the innards. This simultaneously prevents the possibility of freezing and prolongs the component life. The same first stages are know respectively as the Supra XP and Supra Arctic, when supplied with the Supra first stage, which has been a mainstay for a number of year. The Arctic is obviously the cold water version and uses both a heat exchanger to capture the warmth from exhaled breath, plus a coating on the metal parts, to help prevent ice build up and sticking.
All three first stages are quite ergonomic though in very different ways. The Pioneer has a rotating turret and twin HP ports. The Supra has angled 'flats' directing the hoses toward the diver and the basic Range version is like the Mares equivalent and is in line with the 'A' clamp providing ration without any complexity. All have the same good sized chunky knob that's ideal for gloved or bare hands.
As mentioned earlier more attention is now being paid to hose design. According to Spiro their new Pulsar version boasts 30% more throughput and is made from higher grade materials for an extended life-span.
All of the Spiro models now come in either 'A' or DIN fittings as standard. It's also possible to retro fit with an easy 'diver compatible' conversion kit. For both options there's the DIN to 'A' clamp yoke (230 bar certified) of the same style as Poseidon.
In addition to their first rate basics (masks, fins and snorkel) they also have a range of regulators. The company were unable to provide product details by press deadlines.
US Divers and Spiro (see earlier) are part of the same Aqua-Lung
group and their product sets share many similarities. Many of the
comments on first stages in the Spiro range also apply to the US
Divers models.
Their most unusual model is the Micra+ a tiny yet high performance
first stage. This is about half the size of conventional models and
even includes a Venturi control. This is complimented by US divers
premier first stage the SEA, which is their version of Supra and has
the same ergonomic hose flats. It is available as an octopus, in both
left and right hand versions. It also comes as the Air Mic integrated
octopus and BC inflator system. The BC control fitting incorporates a
female connector, into which a male fitted version of the quick
release, connects.
In addition to the compact Micro, they have a selection of
conventional second stages that span from economy to top of the
range. Most of these are third and even fourth generations of models
that have been on the market for many years, these include the
economy Conshelf 22 and high performance Conshelf XIV, with a
traditional metal second. The 'S' is cold water optimised and
environmentally sealed.
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