2013 Dive Gear Buyers Guide - Regulators & Octos
You can breathe easy now. Gone are the days of 10-pound first- and second-stage regulators. The new breathers are lighter and more compact; you’ll breathe so easily, you’ll almost forget you’re 60 feet underwater.
First Know This
A regulator converts high-pressure air from your cylinder to ambient pressure air so you can breathe. It also supplies this stepped-down air to your BC’s power inflator. Modern regs are easy to use and reliable, and deliver superb performance. Available with either piston or diaphragm first stages, a variety of models come in a range of price points — basic models with unbalanced first stages and no-frills second stages; midrange models with balanced and environmentally sealed first stages and balanced second stages; and top-end models that are fully balanced. You can find more than a few models in each of these categories that will deliver from good to outstanding breathing performance for recreational diving, and in some cases, well beyond that. It all comes down to your style of diving and what’s in your wallet.
Editor's Pick - Atomic Aquatics T3
This caviar-class titanium reg continues to set the bar for cutting-edge features and superb breathing performance. The T3 comes with lighter component parts and a new three-year, 300-dive service-interval lifetime warranty, plus a deluxe padded travel bag.
Contact: atomicaquatics.com
MSRP: $1,699
Carrie Garcia
APEKS XTX200
One of Apeks’ topperforming regs comes into 2013 with an improved first stage with fifth-port availability and a large progressive second-stage purge. Diver-changeable exhaust tees, reversible valve spindles and flexi-hoses are all part of the package.
Contact: aqualung.com
MSRP: $745
Carrie Garcia
APEKS XTX40
The XTX40 brings you all of the quality and breathing performance, and many of the features, of Apeks’ top-rung regs at a more affordable price. Features include an environmental dry-sealed first stage, a reversible second stage and Venturi control.
Contact: aqualung.com
MSRP: $535
Carrie Garcia
AQUA LUNG LEGEND LX TWILIGHT
Offered with the twilight color accents of Aqua Lung’s women’s line of dive gear, this is the same high-performance breather (except for a smaller mouthpiece) that has been earning praise since its introduction in 2012.
Contact: aqualung.com
MSRP: $745
Carrie Garcia
MARES INSTINCT 52
It’s the partnering of Mares’ flagship balanced-diaphragm first stage with the unique Instinct second stage in a new eye-catching color. The Instinct has an efficient purge and side exhaust that deflects bubbles away from the eyes.
Contact: mares.com
MSRP: $500
Carrie Garcia
SCUBAPRO MK11/R195
Scubapro’s time-proven MK11 first stage has been paired with a brand-new second stage. The reversible hose-attachment feature enables you to use the R195 as a primary second stage or an octo reg.
Contact: scubapro.com
MSRP: $475
Carrie Garcia
SCUBAPRO MK25/S600
This best-selling reg is available in three new styles — Anniversary, Titanium and Black Tech — to commemorate SCUBAPRO’s 50th anniversary. Each model — including the Classic (pictured) — has its own unique features, but what all models share is time-proven performance.
Contact: scubapro.com
MSRP: $729, Classic
Carrie Garcia
SHERWOOD SCUBA BLIZZARD
Designed for cold-water diving, the new version of the Blizzard has a larger diaphragm and adjustable Venturi control. A second-stage heat-retention vane captures warmth from exhaled air to enhance cold-water use.
Contact: sherwoodscuba.com
MSRP: $460
Carrie Garcia
Subgear SG100
The SG100 comes with a downstream-piston first stage for reliable breathing and easy maintenance. The second stage offers a choice of left- or righthand hose attachment to increase your options.
Contact: subgear.com
MSRP: $254
Carrie Garcia
Subgear SG500
The SG500’s balanced-diaphragm first stage is fitted with a dry chamber, and two of its four LP ports are high-flow. The second stage comes with a diver-adjustable Venturi lever.
Contact: subgear.com
MSRP: $386
Carrie Garcia
Cool Deal - SUBGEAR SG1000
Subgear’s top reg features a balanced-diaphragm first stage with a dry chamber for all-temperature diving. The pneumatically balanced second stage has a diver-adjustable Venturi lever and breathing resistance knob so you can easily regulate airflow.
Contact:subgear.com
MSRP: $539
Carrie Garcia
SHERWOOD SCUBA SR2
Built on the platform of the SR1, the SR2 features an environmentally sealed dry-chamber first stage and single-touch secondstage controls. Subtle changes to the secondstage geometry make this high performer an even better breather.
Contact: sherwoodscuba.com
MSRP: N/A
Carrie Garcia
TUSA RS-860
The balanced-piston R-800 first stage offers two HP and four LP ports. The S-60 second stage features a diver-adjustable air-delivery control knob and a choice of left- or right-hose layout.
Contact: tusa.com
MSRP: $489
Carrie Garcia
APEKS XTX50
Modeled on the pneumatically balanced XTX50 second stage, this octo offers left/right reversibility and diver-adjustable airflow controls. It comes with a 36-inch yellow hose. An efficient heat exchanger produces reliable cold-water performance.
Contact: aqualung.com
MSRP: $265
Carrie Garcia
APEKS XTX20 OCTO
Apeks’ entry-level octo is designed for water temps above 50 degrees F. It includes left/right reversibility and a diver-adjustable Venturi lever to control free-flows. It’s also pneumatically balanced and comes with a high-visibility yellow hose.
Contact: aqualung.com
MSRP: $195
Carrie Garcia
TUSA SS-60
The SS-60 shares the same features as the S-60 primary, but it has a high-visibility yellow purge cover and a 39-inch yellow hose. A dive/predive lever lets you detune it when not in use.
Contact: tusa.com
MSRP: $159
Carrie Garcia