Your Own Scuba Regulator, Should you Buy One When Travelling?
A malfunction or failure of any of your equipment can ruin a dive which can even cause death. With diving equipments, one of the most important piece of enjoying a diving with comfort and safely is a scuba regulator.
When planning to go on a diving vacation, there is usually no need to haul along your own heavy tank or even bulky buoyancy control device, but plan to bring your own diving regulator – you will be glad you did. Just like you would bring your own mask and snorkel, it is reassuring to have equipment that you know and trust so that you can enjoy the dive and not waste time worrying about equipment. Why trust your life to heavily used rental equipment when you can easily bring your own regulator.
Scuba Regulator Basics
Diving regulators consist of two stages and connecting hoses. The first stage connects to your diving tank and reduces the very high tank pressure to an intermediate level. The second stage is connected to the first via a hose that is long enough to reach from the tank on your back around to your mouth, but not so long that it will get tangled. The second stage further reduces the pressure of the air to a level that is comfortable to breath. It contains the mouthpiece and the valve that controls the flow of air so that it only comes out on demand.
A complete scuba regulator will also have an auxiliary second stage for use in case of emergency. It is attached with a slightly longer hose that reaches around and attaches to your chest where it can be conveniently reached by you or your dive buddy should either of your primary regulators fail.
The buoyancy control device (BCD) is inflated at the push of a button with regulators having an additional air hose with a coupling attachment.
Picking the Right Scuba Regulator
First you need to decide what features are important to you. Regulators come in two types, piston or diaphragm. If you are planning on doing cold water diving, go with the diaphragm type because it can be freeze proofed.
Look at options when choosing for regulators. An adjustment on the second stage, some regulators allows you to increase or decrease the effort to open the valve and how much effort it takes to inhale through the regulator. As a matter of personal preference, non adjustable models are locked into an average setting which may feel right to you, if not you can go for an adjustable one.
Another option available on some scuba regulators are couplings in the line that allow the mouthpiece to swivel. This is a nice feature that will keep your hose from getting tangled and is usually the sign of a better made unit.
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