Buying a Scuba Regulator - A scuba gear guide on how to choose a great regulator 

The scuba diving regulator is an integral part of scuba systems. The ability to breath underwater is only possible thanks to the invention of the scuba regulator.

The regulator is designed to reduce the amount of high pressure of air within the scuba tank to acceptable levels of pressure which is provided only when you inhale from your mouthpiece.

You have to, however, understand that although they may seem similar in design, not all scuba regulators are the same.

Some will perform better than others. Others may feel like you have to breathe much harder to get air.

If you have rented an old scuba diving regulator you might know what I am talking about. You may struggle just to keep the regulator in your mouth by making that extra effort by biting on the mouth piece.

When you exhale, the air bubbles may also flow directly in front of you, therefore restricting your vision. A not so good regulator will distract you away from the pleasures of diving.

Typically, scuba regulators can cost anywhere from around $150 to over $1,000 where, like anything else, the more you spend, the better the quality of the scuba regulator.

 

If you are going to be budgeting for your scuba gear, I suggest that you be more generous in spending slightly more for for a good scuba diving regulator. Investing towards the upper end regulators, will give you better performance and are the easiest to breath with.

Remember, the regulator is your lifeline underwater, so better get a good one that you can use in all types of waters. Within this page, you should find useful information which will help you in determining what you should look for when buying a good scuba regulator.

Let us first look at some of the features which form part of the design of the scuba diving regulator.

 

 

Required features

Regardless of the style of scuba diving regulator you choose to buy, all scuba regulators should consist of the following features:

 

First stage – The first stage reduces the high tank pressure to an intermediate pressure above the surrounding water pressure and subsequently flows through the hoses.

 

Second stage – The second stage is found towards the end of a hose and consists of the mouthpiece. This part of the scuba regulator reduces the intermediate pressure air to acceptable levels of pressure required for breathing comfortably.

 

Alternate second stage – Also known as the octopus, is similar to the one you breathe from, however this is used in case of emergencies and to share the air from your tank with your buddy should they find themselves in difficulty with their air supply.

 

Low pressure inflator hose – This hose is used to supply air to your Buoyancy Compensator allowing you to to increase your buoyancy simply by inflating your BC.

 

How to choose your scuba regulator

The first and foremost most important feature when choosing your scuba diving regulator is ease of breathing. So how would you know whether a regulator is better than an other when breathing underwater?

It's simple really... Just ask around... Most divers will be more than willing to give their own opinion as to which scuba diving regulators provide the greatest performance. Some equipment review sites will also help you to identify top rated scuba diving regulator models.

 

Desirable features which make a good scuba diving regulator

When buying your new scuba regulator, ensure that it has at least some of the following features :

• When buying your regulator, try and opt to get it as a package with all the accessories including the alternate second stage, Submersible pressure gauge (SPG) and hoses.

• Be sure to get clips and attachment devices for your SPG and alternate second stage so they will not be left hanging when you are diving.

• DIN or Yoke system – Regulators and tank valves come either as DIN (where the regulator screws into the valve) or Yoke (regulator bracket slides down over valve). Your regulator and tanks should both be either DIN or yoke system.

• Try to go for flexible hoses— The regulator will be easier to pack and fit in your scuba gear bag. Also get hose protectors to reduce the risk of corrosion at attachment points.

 

Well that's about it when it comes to buying your regulator. Once you have bought it, it is time to follow these scuba diving regulator maintenance tips to keep it up to shape.