You have to be careful when buying a scuba regulator. Some of them are less expensive, but it is because they are harder to use while breathing. If you have ever rented or used an older piece of scuba equipment, you are familiar with this issue. It is hard enough to keep a firm bite on the mouthpiece, let alone trying to breathe through it at the same time. A good scuba regulator will seem effortless so you can enjoy your underwater adventure.
1. Look for a versatile scuba regulator that works in all types of waters. It should specifically say for ocean and lake waters or salt and fresh waters.
2. Find a regulator with a flexible hose that is easy to pack in your gear bag. This may not seem important, but when you only have a limited amount of space, it becomes an issue.
3. Buy a regulator with a DIN or yoke system. It’s up to you regarding preference, but the DIN system requires you to screw the regulator into the valve, whereas the yoke system is a sliding movement.
4. Look for an all-inclusive scuba regulator package. It should come with attachments, clips, hoses, submersible pressure gauge and the alternate second stage. It might be more than you want to pay, but it’s cheaper than buying everything separately.
5. A sealed system is good if you are doing a lot of cold water diving. It keeps the water from freezing in the scuba regulator. If you scuba dive in all types of waters, get a sealed system just in case.
6. Get a scuba regulator with a balanced airflow, which gives you consistent airflow at all times. An unbalanced regulator is harder to breathe through when your tank pressure goes down.
Tags: airflow, cold water diving, mouthpiece, pressure gauge, scuba regulator, second stage, tank pressure, yoke