It should be noted that it's recommended to turn the adjustment knob all the way out before storing the regs any period longer than a few days. This would relieve the pressure on the spring and help extend the longevity of the regulator
Thirding the drysuit suggestion...and adding in a request for a full mask episode -> buddy breathing, clearing, equalizing, etc. with a full mask. You're a treasure of the diving community!
Could you please make a video about the differences of drysuits? Which one do you have? What do you have to pay attention to, when storing and transporting?
Reversibility is a feature a very small percentage of divers may find useful, it adds O-rings and more steps to the service process. A second stage that is pneumatically balanced would be much more desirable and attention should be paid to the exhalation resistance of a regulator.
I actually switched from a Scubapro reg with these features to the Poseidon Cyklon 5000, which has neither ventury nor adjustment, but is instantly reversible though. I really like this setup, as I never seem to need any adjustment while diving anymore. It works with a higher IP so I never have the problem of overbreathing. Also pretty easy to service.
Been diving a Deep 6 signature Series Reg for about a year and a half now and really love it I'm just getting a handle on how to best adjust the breathing effort for my comfort. I feel like i need to adjust the cracking pressure up at the start of the dive and down at deeper depths to feel comfortable. The reg is so fine tuned that the position of my head makes the difference between free flow and not.
I use Poseidon Cyklon regs. They are workhorses. Service kit is not cheap, but you can use it from both side without any service (air sharing you don't need to think at all), easy to suck air at 6m or 45m no difference, 99% no free flow, and the best thing you don't need to adjust anything they are just fantastic. they will be excellent regs in the next 20 years i'm sure.
Good overview. I have 2 Halcyon Halo (3 by the end of the week) second stages and Halcyon H75P first stages. I also have a Scubapro MK25 + s600 set. I've only tested the Scubapro set once (using it again soon!) and I thought it breathed smoother than my Halo regs. My favourite feature to look for in a first stage is a "5th port" which comes out the bottom. This ideal for back-mount long-hose routing.
I have a particularly long beard and yanked some beard hairs out the other day that had gotten stuck whilst turning the adjustment knob. No fun. Almost considered one of those Mares regs with the little VAD pipe thing as I yelled in pain through the water. 😂🤦♂️
I love dive rite regulators but the first thing you gotta do to them is get that north Florida trailer park mouth piece off and switch it to a comfort bite. Those oem mouthpieces are designed for people who have lost it all except for a few blackened back teeth.
Great video James, as a Dive Pro, it’s things like this that I’ve informed students on when they’ve asked me about kit. I had a student who I doing a review for, and he had an APEKS XTX40 Primary & Octo setup, I have the XTX50 Primary, and the XTX40 as my Octo, and explained the differences during the review. A very informative video which everyone will find value in, from the beginner diver, to a pro like myself who already knows the differences but it’s always nice to be refreshed with knowledge
After over 30 years of diving, I have never used the breathing adjustment. I've used the venturi lever before to stop freeflow but never the breathing adjustment... even on deep dives. After years of never using it, I thought I'm going to adjust it at depth to see what the difference feels like. I couldn't tell at all, I'm sure there was a slit difference, but it was such a macro difference that I seriously couldn't tell. I haven't touched it since on any of my regs.
curious what your take is on Scubapro Mk15 Mk25 G250/A700 vs Hog D2 D3 vs Dive rite Xt1 Xt4 vs Deep Six? curious your thoughts on these regulators and first stages...
James, firstly, great channel. As a new diver I really enjoy and appreciate your content. I recently got my open water certification and now have 11 dives under my belt. I am certifiably hooked on scuba diving. I too have the XT4 regulators and while I only have one dive on them so far (three dives scheduled for this weekend though), I REALLY like them. Certainly heaps better than the rental gear I have used previously. I am assuming that while in storage, it makes sense to back off the flow adjustment knob to relieve pressure off of the spring. Thanks in advance for your recommendation.
