25% off any single-hose Aqua Lung regulator when you trade in your old valve
Just to let you know I used the new regs and computer over the weekend and I was really happy with them. Thanks again for helping me out with advice etc.....
Cheers,
Matt
Mavericks Diving take regulators very seriously. We sell only balanced and over-balanced regulators to try and ensure your regulator can cope with the very high demands that may, one day, be placed upon it. At Mavericks we assume you will fit an octopus rig. Therefore we anticipate that one day you will depend upon your regulator not just for breathing off yourself, but also to share air with a diving partner or family member. There is almost no objective testing on regulator performance under these circumstances. So we only offer high performance regulators to our clients.
All our regulators are adapted for diving in cold water (considered to be ten degrees or colder), and are fitted with 300 bar DIN tank connectors (the safest regulator to cylinder connection) and supplied with an A-clamp adapter for use on yoke type tanks.
You can find out more about regulators in general in our regulators article.
The Gagnan-Cousteau invention began the sport of aqua lunging. The original aqualung which pioneering sport divers bought was made by the Air Liquide subsidiary La Spirotechnique, founded in 1947. Their first regulator, the CG45, was quickly superseded by the legendary Mistral series. Classic La Spirotechnique regulators include the Aquilon of the sixties, the Alize and 50/10 of the seventies and the Pro models from the eighties.
In 1952, Air Liquide created US Divers to design, manufacture and sell scuba equipment into the States. US Divers is the name behind some of the best known regulators in the World--the fifties' Aquamaster twin-hose, the Calypso single-hose from a decade later and the Conshelf, the choice of our own Royal Navy.
Today, La Spirotechnique and US Divers are known simply as Aqua Lung. Theirs is literally the first name in sport diving. More than sixty years on they are still the last word in regulator design for sport divers.
- Light-weight - only 26 ounces
- Balanced diaphragm first stage for high flow rates
- Pneumatically balanced second stage
The Mikron was conceived as a regulator that could beat the airline luggage restrictions. Aqua Lung are not new to lightweight, high performance regulators. Over thirty years ago they introduced the ultracompact Alize and, of course, Aqua Lung made the first regulators for Captain Cousteau in 1943. So when you choose the new Mikron, you're assured of the highest standards of life support equipment technology.
The Aqua Lung Mikron first stage is a balanced diaphragm design. Balanced diaphragm models provide high flow rates of air with virtually undetectable changes in ease of breathing between high and low tank pressure. High flow rates make breathing easier under high demand situations such as diving in strong currents, deep diving and, in an emergency, sharing using an octopus in which case the first stage must have enough performance to cope with two divers breathing hard simultaneously.
The Mikron first stage is compact, lightweight and tough. One high pressure port accepts your submersible pressure gauge or computer transmitter and three medium pressure ports are provided for octopus rigs and direct feeds. As always, Mavericks Diving Essex provides the Aqua Lung Mikron with a 300 bar DIN tank connector and yoke adapter. The DIN connector is a far safer tank connection than the yoke and more versatile. DIN connectors make it much harder for your main O-ring to blow, are harder to dislodge through impact and can handle cylinder pressures up to 300 bar. Increasingly dive operators offer rental tanks that can accept the DIN connection. However not all operators are forward thinking and for those destinations who only have yoke fittings, our yoke adapter screws onto your Mikron in seconds without tools. So your Mikron can be used worldwide.
Aqua Lung have used a special braided hose to link first and second stages. The hose is exceptionally flexible and can be safely coiled to ensure your Aqua Lung Mikron takes up minimal space in your luggage.
The Mikron second stage is minimalist, but extremely efficient. Aqua Lung has incorporated a pneumatically balanced valve which makes opening or cracking the Mikron almost effortless. Time proven, Aqua Lung's balanced second stage is simplistic, keeping reliability high and maintenance low. Once cracked, the Aqua Lung Venturi assist takes over to keep breathing as easy and comfortable as possible. You can adjust breathing resistance for diving against very strong currents, riding high speed diver propulsion vehicles or to prevent free flows when the Mikron is not in your mouth. The swept back exhaust tee helps keep the Mikron small and the polymer casing keeps it lightweight.
The Aqua Lung Mikron is a superbly executed design concept. Perfect for travelling, light enough to use as a back up regulator in place of an octopus and providing great breathing performance.
- Balanced diaphragm first stage for high flow rates
- Pneumatically balanced second stage
- Environmentally sealed, cold water rated and supplied with DIN and A-clamp
The Titan Supreme first-stage is machined from virgin brass, not recycled metal, for a long working life and is further protected by a hardwearing chrome finish. The first stage is dry sealed which prevents water from being in direct contact with any moving parts. This feature helps avoid costly servicing bills due to corrosion of parts like the spring. It also makes the Titan LX Supreme perfect for diving in cold or ice conditions as icing of the first-stage main spring is prevented.
Mavericks Diving supply the Titan LX Supreme first stage with a 300 bar DIN connector suited for use with high pressure cylinders and accepted by leading dive safety experts as the safer alternative to the A-clamp fitting. However as not all cylinders are equipped with DIN fittings, an A-clamp adapter is included. This lets you use your Titan anywhere.
The Titan LX second-stage is compact and lightweight. This keeps it easy on your jaw even when you spend a lot of time in the water. Ease of breathing is assured by use of a pneumatically balanced valve. Conventional second stages use only a spring to keep the air supply shut off until you take a breath. This spring must be quite strong and on a sixty minute dive a typical diver will use lung power to open that spring around 1500 times. It takes effort! A pneumatically balanced valve still uses a spring, but also uses air to help close the valve as well. While the spring exerts a constant force, the air can be harnessed to help hold the valve shut, yet easilly diverted as soon as the diver starts to inhale. As soon as the air holding the valve closed is removed, the valve becomes much easier to open. In effect the air acts like a second spring. The main spring no longer has to work as hard to keep the valve closed and can be made much lighter and easier to open saving on breathing effort.
The Titan is supplied with the Aqua Lung comfo bite mouthpiece and a standard mouthpiece, giving you a choice. Comfo bites are like Marmite - you either love 'em or hate 'em!
Very favourably priced for such an outstanding performer, the Titan LX Supreme provides excellent breathing characteristics with a good margin in reserve should you ever need it.
- Over-balanced first stage for easier breathing on deeper dives
- Pneumatically balanced second stage minimises cracking effort and decreases inhalation resistance
- User adjustable cracking effort lets you customise breathing characteristics
The first-stage is an over-balanced diaphragm design. The over-balancing is key to the Aqua Lung Legend LX Supreme's ease of breathing during high demand. High demand can easily occur when swimming against currents, diving deep or sharing using a safe second. The over-balancing works by providing air to the second stage at progressively higher pressures than a conventional balanced first-stage. As the diver goes deeper, air becomes thicker and it becomes more difficult for it to pass easily through the regulator airways and hose. Over-balancing effectively gives the air a push! It is able to force through more air to compensate for its greater density.
The first stage is dry-sealed. Environmentally protecting your regulator will reduce servicing costs as no water is in contact with any moving parts and also helps to avoid first stage icing if you are involved in cold water or ice diving.
Mavericks supply the Legend LX Supreme first stage with a DIN tank valve connector and an A-clamp adapter. This makes this regulator ideal for travellers who can then choose either the safer DIN connection or an A-clamp fitting depending on the rental tanks available.
A pneumatically balanced second stage is used with the Legend. Pneumatically balancing the second stage alllows the regulator to operate smoothly with the over-balanced first stage and also lowers breathing resistance. Conventional second stages use a spring to keep the second stage valve closed until you take a breath. The spring has to be fairly strong to do this and you have to use lung power to open - or crack - the valve against the closing force of this spring. The Legend second stage uses air as well as a spring to do the same job. By using air, the strength of the spring can be reduced making inhalation easier.
The second control adjusts the Venturi. This controls how hard you have to inhale once the valve is open and the air is flowing into your mouth. If you are on the surface and have taken out your second-stage this control will prevent it from freeflowing. When you are kitting up it can also prevent a freeflow if the purge button gets knocked.
To ensure your second stage will work well in cold water and under ice, the LX second stage has a built in heat exchanger to keep the inside of the regulator warm and prevent icing.
The LX is supplied with both a comfo bite silicone mouthpiece and a conventional mouthpiece, letting you choose the one you find most comfortable.
- Over-balanced first stage for easier breathing on deeper dives
- Pneumatically balanced second stage minimises cracking resistance and decreases inhalation effort
- Near neutral second stage virtually eliminates jaw fatigue
- Selected for Mavericks Dive School
Most regulator first stages increase the pressure leaving the first stage exactly in line with that of the increasing water pressure. They add one bar of pressure for every 10 metres you descend. However as air pressure increases, air also becomes denser. You can feel this on deep dives as the air you are breathing feels thicker. The over balanced design of the Legend Supreme helps compensate for the extra density by deliberately increasing the pressure by an extra 20% for each 10 metres you descend. On a deep dive to 50 metres, you have an extra one bar of pressure above that of a conventional regulator. This additional pressure literally helps push more air through to the second stage for easier breathing by the diver. It's a simple design feature that makes a big difference to how easily you can breathe during demanding dives. It also means more air is available if you are have to share using your safe second.
The Legend first stage is built to last from virgin brass. It's also chromed to prevent corrosion and further protected from scratching by a polymer coating. By providing two high pressure outlets for your pressure gauge and/or transducer and four medium pressure outlets for safe seconds, direct feeds or air tools, Aqua Lung give the Legend owner lots of scope for perfectly configuring hoses. Hoses lead off from the first stage in a natural curve to route easily over your shoulders or under your arms.
The first stage is dry sealed, so no water is in direct contact with moving parts. This helps minimise service costs and is one of the features which makes this regulator suited to cold water diving. Mavericks supply the Aqua Lung Legend Supreme with a 300 bar DIN tank connector and a screw on A-clamp adapter. This means you can use your Legend Supreme worldwide. You don't need tools to add on the A-clamp adapter. The DIN system is much better by the way!
Aqua Lung's Legend Supreme derives its superb performance through coupling its over balanced first stage with a pneumatically balanced second stage. Although extremely efficient, it's a simple design that's high on reliability and low on maintenance costs. Conventional second stages use a spring to keep air from entering the second stage until you inhale. Without this spring air would simply free flow and be wasted. The disadvantage is that you have to use your own lung power to overcome the spring to get the valve to open to take a breath---something you'll need to do over 1500 hundred times on a typical sport dive. Cumulatively it can be tiring on your lungs, and the more energy you have to expend to breathe, the more air you'll need making your dives shorter. A pneumatically balanced second stage uses air pressure to work with the spring to close the valve. This allows use of a lighter spring, so less effort is needed to open the valve. It makes inhalation easier, so you breathe more comfortably for less effort.
Cracking the valve to start the air flow going is only the first part of taking the breath. The next part of the breathing cycle is keeping the air flowing with minimal lung power from the diver. So that you don't have to suck hard to keep the air flowing, the Legend Supreme has a Venturi action that does the work for you. This routes air entering the second stage to create a vacuum that keeps the diaphragm depressed and the second stage valve open, so air continues to flow with almost no effort from you at all. A switch on the second stage lets you turn this off, so the regulator won't free flow when it isn't in your mouth. This is a useful feature when you are kitting up for example. A heat exchanger is built in for diving in cold water.
For comfort on long dives, the Legend Supreme second stage is near neutrally buoyant in water. So it won't weigh down on your jaw. The fitted mouthpiece is the well known Comfo Bite. This is something you'll either love or hate. For those who don't get on with Comfo Bites, a standard mouthpiece is also included. So the choice is yours.
The Aqua Lung Legend Supreme is a good choice for the adventurous diver, those pushing beyond accepted recreational limits and those who like to have performance left in reserve for those dives that get a little out of hand...
- Over-balanced first stage for easy breathing on deep dives
- Pneumatically balanced second stage decreases inhalation resistance
- Designed for ice diving with heat exchangers in first stage, mid hose and second stage
The Legend Glacia utilises heat exchangers to help prevent icing that can cause a regulator to freeflow, or rarely, to stop delivering air. Air passing through a regulator supercools as the high pressure air from the tank reduces to medium pressure in the first stage and low pressure at the second stage. This is a result of the air expanding. So the air is actually significantly colder than the water surrounding it. Any moisture in the regulator can be provoked into icing that can then block moving mechanisms. An example is mositure in the second stage from humidity in your exhalations or water leaking in through the mouthpiece or exhaust valve freezing and forming ice in the valve seat/spring/lever assembly. The Aqua Lung Legend Glacia is designed to use the warmth from the surrounding water to heat the air on it's way from the tank to your lungs and so prevent ice forming.
Although the Legend Glacia is designated as an ice diving regulator, it's also an excellent choice for demanding diving is warmer climes as well.
The first stage is a modifed Legend. The Legend offers excellent ease of breathing for diving past accepted recreational limits. It's perfect for deeper diving, working dives, swimming against currents and provides a safety margin should you need to share air using a safe second. The Legend has an overbalanced diaphragm mechanism. With increasing depth, air becomes denser and feels thicker as you breathe it. The Legend first stage helps compensate for the increased resistance, effectively givng the air an extra push towards the second stage. It does this by increasing the medium pressure by 20% over and above the surrounding water pressure. Conventional regulators match medium pressure to the surrounding water pressure exactly---increasing the pressure by one bar for every ten metres you descend. The Legend increases it by 1.2 bar. At 50 metres the medium pressure has an additional one bar overpressure helping to overcome the increased density of your breathing gas. It's an elegant engineering solution to a old problem, and very simple.
The Legend Glacia is expected to be used by serious divers who are likely to be using safe seconds, BCD and drysuit direct freeds and possibly air tools. To ensure plenty of attachment points for hoses and lots of options for configuring them, the Legend Glacia has five spare take offs. High pressure outlets for your SPG and/or computer transmitter are provided on the left and right of the first stage. One medium pressure outlet is set on the right and two more sit on the left. The Legend first stage routes your hoses in a gentle arc at shoulder level. It's easy to run your hoses over your shoulders or under your arms as you prefer. For durability, the Legend Glacia first stage is manufactured from virgin brass and partially protected by a PVD coating.
Mavericks Diving supply the Legend Glacia with a 300 bar DIN tank connector and an A-clamp adapter. DIN is safer, because of the captured O-ring, less prone to dislodging from impact (which is why divers working in caves, wrecks and under ice favour it) and more versatile as it copes with higher cylinder pressures. However, despite being a better connection, it still isn't used worldwide. Our A-clamp adapter slips on in seconds without tools, so you can use your Legend Glacia with any rental tank, whichever fitting the cylinder has.
Along with other modifications for cold water diving, the first stage also features the first of three heat exchangers. A series of vanes increase the surface area of the first stage and draw heat from the water into the path of the air to warm it.
The second heat exhanger vane set is located mid way along the delivery hose. The final exchanger connects where the hose joins the second stage. The second stage front cover is metal. Metal conducts heat better than plastic. This further attracts warmth from the water into the second stage. Anti-icing components are also used to protect the second stage mechanism from icing.
The Glacia has a pneumatically balanced second stage for easy breathing. Conventional second stages use a spring to close the valve against incoming air from your tank. This stops your regulator from freeflowing, when you aren't inhaling, so it only supplies air "on demand". The spring is responsible for the cracking effort---the force you have to overcome using your own lungpower to open the valve and start the air flowing. On a 60 minute dive, you'll crack the valve around 1500 times. This spring force is constant on most regulator second stages. The Legend Glaicia's second stage is pneumatically balanced. This allows use of a weaker spring to close the second stage valve until you take a breath. This greatly reduces the inhalation effort, without the complexity or servicing costs of a pilot or servo valve.
Once you have cracked the valve and air is flowing into the second stage, the Venturi takes over. This diverts incoming air to create a vacuum which keeps the diaphragm depressed and the valve open with almost no effort on your part. Because high performance regulators tend to freeflow in certain circumstances, such as kitting up if they get knocked, the Venturi can be turned off using an oversized switch designed to be easy to use when wearing gloves.
The second stage is fitted with a lip shield. This sits against your lips and works like a wetsuit to keep your lips warm. You can remove it in seconds, without tools, if you want. A Comfo-Bite mouthpiece is standard. A regular mouthpiece is also provided, so you can choose the mouthpiece that you prefer.
The Aqua Lung Legend Glacia is the latest in a long and well respected line of cold water regulators produced by La Spirotechnique and US Divers (now Aqua Lung) over the decades. Suited to Nitrox use upto 40% straight from the box, the Legend Glacia is one of the best buys around for the adventure-ambitious diver.
- Over-balanced first stage for easier breathing on deep dives
- Side exhaust diverts bubbles away from your eyeline for clearer vision
- Second stage design eliminates wet breathing often associated with side exhaust competitors
Beginning with the first stage, the Aqua Lung Kronos is made from virgin brass for resilience to corrosion and the knocks and scrapes diving involves. Aqua Lung do not use cheaper reconstituted brass for manufacturing their regulators. Mavericks Diving only supplies the Supreme version of Aqua Lung regulators. This means our regulators are modified for cold water use. Because the air passing from your high pressure tank supply to your lungs at ambient pressure goes through two pressure drops/volume expansions enroute, your breathing gas can be supercooled and is much colder than the water you are diving in. So experts consider that any dive in waters colder than 10 degrees creates a real risk of regulator freeflows. Aqua Lung Supreme diaphragm first stages use a special mechanism that prevents water coming into direct contact with springs used to operate the first stage. This prevents the supercooled air passing through the valve causing water in the mechanism to ice and cause freeflows, or, more rarely, a gas stoppage. It's a safety feature we like to include.
The first stage is an over balanced diaphragm model. The over balanced design was developed to make breathing easier under very high demand and on deep dives. Conventional unbalanced and balanced first stages increase air pressure being fed from the first stage to the second stage by one bar for every ten metres you descend. On deep dives, usually below 30 metres, air becomes noticeably more viscous or thicker to breathe. The over balanced mechanism used in the Aqua Lung Kronos delivers 1.2 bar intermediate pressure for every 10 metres you descend. The additional 20% over pressure helps compensate for the increasing density of the air and makes inhalation easier.
The Aqua Lung Kronos is very well thought through for use with accessories. Three spare medium pressure take offs allow for fitting of direct feeds for your BCD and drysuit and a safe second. As with the Legends, two high pressure ports let you easily run pressure gauges to your left or right or use a dive computer transmitter and conventional gauge simultaneously. Hoses lead off in a gentle curve to easily run over or under your shoulders with minimal hose strain, helping to prolong their lives.
Naturally, as a safety measure, Mavericks Diving equips our Aqua Lung Kronos Supreme's with a 300 bar DIN tank valve fitting. This is far superior to the A-clamp, or yoke, fitting as it allows use of higher pressure tanks, makes it very difficult to blow an O-ring and is much harder to dislodge if you strike the first stage against a cavern roof, ice ceiling or wreckage. The DIN connector is becoming ever more popular, but is still not used worldwide. For that reason we include a simple screw on yoke adapter in the price. This attaches in seconds without tools and allows you to use your Aqua Lung Kronos Supreme even at backward places that haven't switched to DIN yet... The Kronos first stage specifications are rounded off with the Auto Closure Device that seals the first stage when you remove it from your tank to help prevent water or other contaminants entering.
The second stage is compact and near neutrally buoyant. This ensures jaw fatigue won't be a problem on even long dives or when making a lot of short-spaced repetitive dives. To ensure breathing is as easy as possible, the Aqua Lung Kronos Supreme is pneumatically balanced. This feature makes the first part of the inhalation cycle as effortless as possible. Unbalanced second stages use a spring to keep the second stage valve closed against the air coming from the first stage which is trying to force it open. Without this spring, your regulator would freeflow and quickly waste all your gas. The problem is the spring must be quite strong to keep the valve closed even at depth where pressure from the first stage will be much stronger than it is on the surface. Because you must use lung power to open this valve against the spring each time you inhale, you have to work harder and tend to use more gas to compensate. Pneumatically balanced second stages use a lighter spring that lacks the strength to close the valve by itself. Air pressure is used to make up the difference. The deeper you dive the more air pressure is raised, automatically balancing the system and ensuring cracking effort is always minimal regardless of depth.
Once the valve is opened or cracked, the Venturi built into the Aqua Lung Kronos Supreme second stage kicks in. Without this, you'd have to use lung power to keep the second stage valve open to keep air flowing into your lungs. The venturi routes the gas around the second stage to create a vacuum that keeps the second stage diaphragm down, keeping the valve open and the air flowing almost effortlessly. To prevnt freeflows on the surface or for special diving situations such as when facing into very strong currents or riding a propulsion vehicle, the Aqua Lung Kronos can be user detuned underwater. A large lever on the side of the second stage, called a Dualcam, lets you customise breathing resistance to suit the needs of the moment.
The Kronos second stage is equipped with an external heat exchanger to warm incoming air and internal components that avoid ice forming to prevent freezing. A comfo bite mouthpiece is already fitted and a standard mouthpiece is included, so you can choose whichever type you find most comfortable.
The Kronos is a side exhaust regulator with a difference. Side exhaust regulators have a reputation for breathing wet. This isn't caused by them leaking seawater back into the mouthpiece through the exhaust valve, but by having an exhaust valve nearly level with the mouthpiece. As you breathe through your mouth you'll generate saliva. Many side exhaust regulator fans slightly tilt their heads so that saliva leaves with their bubbles as they exhale. Conventional second stages have their exhaust valves placed below the mouthpiece. Saliva drops down out of the breathing loop and is blown out with the next exhalation. The Kronos second stage has this conventional arrangement, so the second stage includes a sump that normally keeps saliva from being re-inhaled. But Aqua Lung keep one of the main benefits of side exhausts by routing bubbles away from your line of vision. Aqua Lung's simple solution is to use a swept back exhaust tube that leads bubbles to the right - it is really that uncomplicated.
The Aqua Lung Kronos Supreme is a very well specified regulator for serious sport diving. The side exhaust feature provides more choice in a market where side exhaust designs are few and far between.
- Bubbles dispersed behind you for unimpaired vision
- Quieter, making marine life more approachable
- Chosen by "Blue Planet" cameraman Peter Scoones, "Save Our Seas Foundation" cameraman Dan Beecham, "Currents of Contrast" and "South Africa's Great White Shark" author Tom Peschak and "Cool Waters, Emerald Seas" author John Collins.
The benefit of twin-hose regulators is that the bubbles are expelled behind your head. Many professional underwater photographers and filmmakers have found that they can more easily approach shy animals using twin-hose regulators. This is because their exhalations are much more dissipated than with a single hose regulator and the animals are much less buffeted by their bubbles. It also helps keep bubbles from entering and spoiling the shot.
The Mistral is a two-stage regulator and is based on the Aqua Lung best selling Titan. The balanced diaphragm first stage is equipped with a HP port for a pressure gauge and four medium pressure ports for dry suit and BCD inflators plus an octopus. Two wide bore hoses lead air to and from the diver. The angle of the mouthpiece is adjustable for personal comfort and a cold water lip shield and comfo bite mouthpiece are standard.
The regulator is supplied with 300 Bar DIN connector and A-clamp adapter in a purpose designed regulator bag.
Commemorating 50 years since the introduction of the original and illustrious Mistral, the collectors' edition of the new Aqua Lung Mistral has really caught the imagination. Featuring a champagne PVD finished first stage and unique mouthpiece insignia, the Limited Edition Mistral is presented in a hardwood display box recalling the traditional packaging of those first keenly awaited Mistrals of 1955.
All DACOR regulators are designed for cold water diving and are rated for use with enriched air up to 40%.
The Dacor Eagle second stage is compact and near neutrally balanced. This ensures it remains comfortable on your jaw for a long day's diving. Venturi assist keeps breathing effort to a minimum. A nice touch are the hose protectors at both ends of the hose to prolong its life.
The Eagle makes a great investment for any diver planning to dive within accepted recreational boundaries.
The first stage is a balanced diaphragm model, associated with providing easy breathing---even under periods of high demand encountered when diving deep, swimming hard or supporting another diver from a safe second. The DPD features Dynamic Flow control which prioritises air flow to the primary second stage, ensuring the lion's share of the air goes there first. This helps minimise breathing effort to the diver. The DPD hose to the primary second stage utilises Dacor's special swivel. This is a comfort feature that lets your primary second stage move with your head. The idea is to reduce jaw strain sometimes caused by your mouth fighting an unforgiving medium pressure hose. A stop prevents the second stage swivelling more than 270 degrees, so relocating a dropped second stage is kept simple.
The Dacor DPD has four spare medium pressure take offs for safe seconds, direct feeds and air tools, plus two high pressure outlets for gauges. These six outlets give you plenty of scope for laying out your hoses exactly as you want them. The safer DIN tank valve connector is included for service up to 300 bar along with a free A-clamp converter. This screws on by hand in seconds and allows use of your DPD worlwide (not all dive centre offer rental tanks with the DIN fitting, despite the benefits).
The DPD second stage is compact and near neutral. This keeps your valve comfortable on long dives. It is Venturi assisted for easy breathing with a detuning switch to prevent freeflows when the DPD is out of your mouth. A hose protector is included.
The Dacor Eagle is an excellent choice if you plan ambitious dives, but want to keep to a modest budget.
The Vyper Tec first stage is a balanced diaphragm model. Balanced diaphragm regulators are synomomous with providing high gas flow rates under extreme demand. Peak demands on regulators occur with deep diving, working against currents and when sharing using a safe second. To maximise air flow to the primary second stage, Dacor use their Dynamic Flow Control to route air to here first, before sending air to less demanding outlets used for BCD and suit inflation. The first stage is equipped with three spare meduim pressure outlets for direct feeds, safe seconds and air tools. Two high pressure outlets are provided for pressure gauges. Hoses are led off the first stage at shoulder level, helping to avoid kinking, and prolonging hose life. The hose to the second stage has protectors fitted to both ends as standard.
The second stage is very lightweight, so it won't irritate your mouth on long and repeat dives. The purge button is easily activated by pressing the Vyper Tec Metal's front panel, so it's simple to use even while wearing cold water mitts. The Venturi assures you of an easy breathe.
The Vyper Tec Metal is a good choice for those making demanding dives or those preferring a side exhaust model with plenty of performance in reserve.
The first stage offers four medium pressure outlets for running safe seconds, direct feeds and air tools. There are also two high pressure outlets for your pressure transducer or gauges. So there lots of options for how you layout your hoses to suit your own preferences.
The second stage is very lightweight, so it won't irritate your mouth on long and repeat dives. The purge button is easily activated by pressing the Vyper Tec front panel, so it's simple to use even while wearing cold water mitts. The Venturi assures you of an easy breathe.
For the serious diver, the Dacor Vyper Tec makes an excellent workhorse, yet costs very little for a premium performer.
A Cautionary Tale of Regulator Servicing
Following servicing by a qualified regulator repair technician, two Apeks regulator second stages were found to be faulty. The regulator belonged to a divemaster who is based overseas. We offered to bring the regulators back to the UK. We sent them to the manufacturers and their comments are printed below. We think this underscores the importance of selecting very carefully indeed who you let loose on your life support equipment...
From Apeks:
Dear Steve,
In regard to two XTX 2nd stages returned for
inspection after service the findings are as follows:
Both valve spindles have been built upside down. This is potentially
life threatening as the valve lever can completely detach and close the
valve cutting all air supply.
Both 2nd stages had incorrect O rings fitted in incorrect places internally.
The XTX200 2nd stage blanking pice was damaged.
The XTX40 adjustment knob was missing, presumed broken. This can happen
if the adjustment knob is wound out too far as the tension pin holds it
in place.
Both 2nd stages have been fully serviced and tested and are now in
perfect working order. I find it difficult to believe who ever has
serviced these valves was a fully qualified Apeks service technician.
Gill Hook,
Apeks Technical/customer Service
Regulator performance can be badly diminished over time as parts wear.
Moisture entering the first stage through carelessness when soaking or
rinsing post-dive, or from a poorly maintained compressor (over which you
usually have no control) will also damage your valve and impair
breathing. We do not service regulators ourselves. We believe that to
provide proper servicing of your life support equipment requires a full
time, factory trained technician and a comprehensively outfitted workshop
decked out with specialist equipment for assessing breathing performance.
We use Midland Diving Equipment for our regulator servicing. MDE have been in business since the 1950's. They are manufacturers of breathing systems for the military and emergency services. MDE have a superbly equipped workshop which includes a breathing machine that costs more than most dive shops. This is the type of machine either owned or rented by regulator manufacturers for product testing. With their experience and equipment they can carry out regulator servicing to a very high standard. MDE are also partners with Aqua Lung UK.
Typical turn around is three to four weeks.