Choosing The Right Regulator
When buying your very own scuba diving kit, investing in a well-suited, good quality regulator is probably one of the most important decisions you’re likely to ever make. It’s the key piece of any diver’s equipment and the only connection between yourself and your air source, so you’ll definitely want to make sure it’s the right one for you!
But when searching for the perfect regulator, what should you be looking out for?
Why Do We Need a Regulator?
Simply put, a scuba regulator is the reason why we’re able to breathe underwater. It links many pieces of equipment together such as the tank, the BCD (buoyancy control device), the SPG (submersible pressure gauge), the alternate air source and then yourself! Both the tank and regulator together, are what make up the Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus known as SCUBA, with the regulator providing air from the pressurised tank for us to breath underwater.
What To Look For!
There are 2 stages to a scuba regulator:
First Stage: The regulator first stage is what is attached to the tank valve. It breaks down high-pressure air into intermediate pressure air, then releases the air into a hose which feeds to the second stage.
Second Stage: The regulator second stage is the part you stick in your mouth. It breaks down the intermediate pressure into ambient pressure, which is essential for breathing comfortably underwater. As well as having a mouthpiece, the regulator second stage has an exhaust valve and a purge valve. The exhaust valve is a one-way valve that lets the air escape each time you exhale whilst refusing water to enter from the outside. The purge valve forces the air to continuously flow through the second stage chamber, forcing any water to exit straight out of the exhaust valve.
When looking for a scuba regulator there are a few factors to consider and it's necessary to understand the differences in each design.
First stage options -
First stage pressure-sensing mechanisms:
Piston first stages usually have fewer moving parts, are more compatible with swivels and are generally easier to service.
Diaphragm first stages are better suited to cold and dirty water, reduce internal corrosion and contamination, therefore may need servicing less often.
Unbalanced, balanced or overbalanced?
Unbalanced first stages are the cheapest option but as your tank pressure lowers, breathing resistance becomes harder.
Balanced first stages are able to maintain a steady intermediate pressure, meaning as your tank pressure lowers, your breathing resistance will not be compromised.
Overbalanced first stages increase intermediate pressure as depth and gas density increases.
Shape and number of ports -
The basic regulator will have one high-pressure port and a few low-pressure ports. A more advanced regulator will have two high-pressure ports which allow for more hose-routing options.
DIN or yoke system?
Yoke fittings, also known as A-clamps, are the more popular option in the recreational diving community which simply screw onto the standard K-valve.
DIN fittings are more popular in Europe, fit to the tank more securely and are designed to withstand higher pressures.
When trying to decide which is best for you, it’s probably better to go with the most used system in your diving region. There are adapters available if you have a DIN and need to adapt it to a yoke however there is no adapter that easily converts a yoke to a DIN, for this, it may require taking it to a technician.
Second stage options -
The second stage regulator can come in a variety of different shapes, sizes and colours but the most common design will have the diaphragm and purge button on the front. Some do have it on the side, or on the bottom, although much smaller with the exhaust valve and diaphragm combined.
Downstream or Pilot?
The second stage has two basic valve types:
Downstream valves are usually the most common, are easy-breathing and are mechanically simple, therefore highly reliable.
Pilot valves provide greater airflow with much less effort. These are typically more expensive and may be more difficult to repair.
Adjustable or non-adjustable?
All second stages have internal adjustments that are automatically set by the technician after the manufacturing process but with some models, an external adjustment (just for the diver to use) is installed. This means the airflow can be controlled by either setting it to ‘pre-dive mode’ which makes it harder to breathe (avoiding free flow) or ‘dive mode’ which makes it easier.
How To Decide!
Judging from all the above information, it sounds like it’ll be hard to know which regulator to choose, right?
Well actually, it’s not!
The main things to focus on are safety, quality, ease of breathing and maintenance. Firstly, always buy from reputable manufacturers with reliable and proven designs. Secondly, don’t skimp on quality, investing in greater performance and durability will always pay off in the end. Next, make sure the regulator breathes well and be sure to check and see if it’s compatible with enriched air/nitrox. Lastly, pay particular attention to the level of maintenance needed.
Just for good measure, here’s a couple of tips to ensure correct regulator care -
Rinse with fresh water after use (failure to do so will result in performance decline). If there’s no fresh water available, try keeping a salt removing solution in one spray bottle and fresh water in another, to spray down the regulator until you can rinse it properly. At the first opportunity, rinse the regs in freshwater!
Leave the regs to dry in a cool place, out of direct sunlight
Store properly and protect the hoses by coiling them up neatly without any kinks or sharp bends
Lastly, don’t attempt to service it yourself or disassemble it unless fully qualified to do so
When Is It Time For A Service?
Firstly, check the manufacturers guide and service your regulator at the specified intervals.
If your regulator has had 6 months to a year of heavy usage, is hard to breathe from, has any damage and/or excessive wear, then yep, it's time for a service!
Best Place To Buy
The best place to buy a regulator is at your local dive centre, the staff there will be the most helpful when making your decision and will be able to answer any questions you may have.
If you find a regulator elsewhere, be sure to check with the dive centre you most frequently dive with, to see if they can service it there.
Hopefully, this quick guide has helped and now you can get searching for the right regulator for you!
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