Product Review

Often when a dive product is designed with weight saving in mind, there is usually a compromise to be had along the way.

Be it less durability, comfort or simply performance.
It is then up to the diver whether this compromise is worth the saving in weight.
As more and more divers travel to far flung corners of the globe with their gear, combined with stricter airline luggage allowances, the balance has swung towards weight saving being more important.

The great news with this regulator from Aqualung, is that it not only gives you a great weight saving over standard regulators, it actually out performs many of them in many ways too. Have we found the best overall regulator?

Global dive has been supplying this particular model for over 2 years now, so we have gained the confidence to truly believe that this is not a travel only reg. In fact it is a fantastic choice for almost all divers.  The first stage was so well received, that when Aqualung upgraded the popular Titan LX model, they chose to use the same first stage as the Mikron, the second stages are very similar in design. It is just the size and weight that have been reduced on the Mikron, as well as not having the extreme cold water (read less than 10 deg C) capability of its bigger brother.  The reg comes standard with a braided hose, which have become very popular as upgrade items for all regs, these are super flexible, as well as being durable and not to forget light!!

Breathing performance of the Mikron is fantastic. It is right up there with the top of the range Legend, the difference being the low weight and size of the Mikron makes you feel like there is nothing there.  They even have a smaller mouthpiece available on the white and pink version which is great if you have a smaller mouth. (We carry these smaller mouthpieces in stock if you wish to upgrade your current reg.)

>Andrew and Anna have been field testing other travel regs. In calm relaxed conditions, many perform well, but when pushed the other styles show their compromised performance. It is for this reason that our chief instructor, Anna Clague has chosen to use an Aqualung Mikron as her regulator, for teaching courses in the pool, through to ocean diving and overseas trips.  As with many products that we sell, we are happy for you to try them before you buy, Anna will be more than happy to talk you through the benefits of the Aqualung Mikron regulator.

If travel is your thing, be sure to check out our special travel package in store. We have a Mikron regulator and octi set, mated with a new Aqualung Zuma travel BCD for the ultimate travel package.

Related Pages

• Tek3 Apeks Regulator Set
• For Sale : School/Rental BCDs and Regulators!
• Scubapro Jet Fin
• Neptune Godzilla Bag

Two brands of regulators have dominated technical diving worldwide, these two styles being Scubapro and Apeks.

Both regs perform exceptionally well, with the choice often coming down to personal preference.  However, one slight advantage Scubapro had was their clean hose routing on twin cylinders.
Apeks responded with their 5th port adaptor which allows the DST first stage to be routed like the above mentioned competitor and they also decide to produce a regulator that is clearly designed for a twin set diver. They produced the Tek3 set.

The Tek3 set consists of 2 first stages with all their ports facing down, so hose routing is clean and efficient, also these stages are specific for right and left.
Apeks then included 2 XTX50 2nd stages with a 2m and a standard hose allowing the diver to configure their gear in the now standard way of primary reg on a long hose with the back up reg positioned under the chin.
They even included an Apeks branded necklace for this purpose.

The performance of the Apeks reg has long been recorded, so I don’t need to tell you how amazing they are to breathe.
The new Tek 3 set is just a great product for those wanting the best.  They look tidy, streamlined and without fuss.

As with all performance Apeks regs, they share the same service kits with the rest of the range, which means if the technical diver is heading away on an expedition, with their Tek3′s as back gas, and a couple of other Apeks regs for deco, they can take just one first stage service kit, one second stage kit and they have every spare part they would need.
(The servicing of any life support system should only be carried out by a qualified technician)

We have stocked the Tek 3′s for a couple of years now.
We have a set on display on our display twinsets so you can see for yourselves what we like so much about them.

Related Pages

• Aqualung Mikron Regulator
• For Sale : School/Rental BCDs and Regulators!
• Scubapro Jet Fin
• Neptune Godzilla Bag

Miflex Colour Selection

How do you redesign a regulator hose I hear you ask?
Well the guys at Miflex have, and here is what they have produced.

The Miflex Extreme-Hi high pressure hoses are one quarter the diameter of a standard high pressure hose.
This helps keep them very flexible when the gas pressure is on, while standard ones become quite rigid.
With the reduction in size so is the reduction in weight making them approximately 50% lighter, also the outer braiding promotes great abrasion resistance and avoids dragging on neck seals and suits. Extreme-Hi hoses only come in black, and in lengths from 150mm (6”) to 2.1m (84”). The 150mm hose is ideal for pony or stage cylinder gauges.

The Miflex Extreme hose range for low pressure is the same diameter as standard hoses but approximately 40% lighter.

They come in five awesome colours (Black, Carbon black, Blue, Fluro yellow and Mellow Yellow).

You can tie these hoses in a knot and they still work, where standard hoses will collapse and greatly reduce gas supply.
They can be coiled up tighter than standard hoses making them easier to pack away in smaller spaces.

A choice of lengths are available from 150mm to 2.1m, so can cover any application you can think of from open circuit to full rebreather hose kits.

With the decrease in travel baggage allowance, the weight saving these hoses afford, make it more realistic to take your regulators traveling with you.
Great for those trips to Fiji.

You can also tell when a product has made a difference in the diving world when top manufacturers put Miflex hoses on their regulators as standard.

So come in and feel the difference and see how great these hoses look.

Related Pages

• Aqualung Mikron Regulator
• Tek3 Apeks Regulator Set
• Apeks Flight
• For Sale : School/Rental BCDs and Regulators!

Apeks regulators always offered good options with hose routing and have recently stepped it up a notch with the release of the tech 3 specifically designed for double tank setup’s. Now they have taken it a step further. Many divers already have one reg setup for single cylinder diving and upon upgrading to twins realize that they need another first stage as opposed to two entire new sets of regs. Some divers will opt for a complete new setup as it allows easy changeability between singles and doubles, but for others they would prefer to just simply upgrade their existing setup. With this in mind Apeks have announced a 5th port upgrade kit for the DST first stage that allows both twin and single tank divers to re-configure the hose routing for a more user friendly and streamlined rig.

The 5th port replaces the HP (high pressure) balance chamber on the 1st stage with a new one which re directs LP (low pressure) gas to a new LP port for a regulator, without compromising the overall performance of the 1st stage. The new LP port is located on the lower end of the reg making it easier to use an under arm hose routing for a second stage eg. a 2m hose on a singles tank system. It also allows doubles configuration the chance to rout the backup regulator and BCD inflator neatly behind the neck (see pictures).

I have personally used this system with both the double’s and single tank system and found them extremely comfortable to breathe and wear in water. The upgrade must be installed by a Service technician but can be done while you wait as it is a 5 minute job. For anyone thinking of getting into double tank diving or simply want a 2m hose for short wreck penetration’s I would highly recommend this option as it’s simple, reliable and you won’t have to take out a mortgage to get one (or two).

Tom Crisp

Related Pages

• Shearwater Predator Computer
• Sidemount BCD
• Product Review : Heser Back Up Torch
• Making The Transition

The lightest scuba regulator in the
world…

Apeks Flight is lighter than any other comparable regulator made by any other  manufacturer in the world.
It is the most compact regulator Apeks has ever made – the Flight 2nd stage is approximately 20% smaller than the Apeks XTX range.

The Apeks is so good that one of Andrew’s contacts at Apeks in the UK persuaded him to buy one before any images were even released!!  We are expecting to see it in the next few weeks – but then we probably won’t see Andrew for a month or so afterwards.

No-Tool Second Stage Removal
The unique, secure attachment of the second stage to the hose offers a quick removal without the use of tools.

Unique Yoke Operation
Flight offers another first.
The operation and design of the handwheel actually prevents accidental snagging during a dive as it remains in the same position whether it’s open or clamped. A key safety feature.

Lightweight Hose
The double braiding resists UV rays out of the water, thus extending the life of the hose. The hose is lightweight and extremely flexible but is also strong with a burst pressure more than twice that of most traditional hoses.

Testing Beyond Limits
Over one million breathing cycles prove its robustness and reliability. Rigorous and thorough tests have proven Flight will withstand limits beyond any that a diver would ever experience and it easily surpasses the European Authorities requirements for cold water use.

Related Pages

• Scubapro A700
• Tek3 Apeks Regulator Set
• Aqualung Mikron Regulator
• Apeks 5th port Upgrade

Your dive experiences are also for a lifetime.

Make them exceptional.

Like a precious diamond, the A700 attributes include brilliance, durability, uniqueness, timelessness, and tradition.
Both invoke desire. Both go beyond aesthetics.
Its beauty will seduce you. Its performance will amaze you. And nothing compares to this jewel of a regulator from SCUBAPRO.

Our exclusive piston MK25 and high performing diaphragm MK17 have both been redesigned in polished chrome finish editions, specifically for the A700, giving an exquisite look and feel to systems built to last. Paired with either first stage, the SCUBAPRO A700 systems are phenomenal in beauty and in breathing performance.

• Precision handcrafted construction and design for a unique masterpiece.
• Polished chrome exterior for a life time of quality and timeless styling.
• Compact dimensions for lightweight comfort, yet solid for safety.
• Innovation & engineering as only SCUBAPRO expertise in regulators can do.
• Core SCUBAPRO features insure safety & reliability for a lifetime of varied diving experiences.
• Exceptional breathing performance at any depth, any temperature, in any position.
• New aligned VIVA system for more precise control and comfort.
• Full metal body and metal components assure maximum performance and quality.

There is a lot more information available on line – click here to take a look Scubapro’s MK25 A700 site

Download the A700 brochure

Related Pages

• Apeks Flight
• Dry Suit Rental
• Sea&Sea DX-2G
• Suunto Vyper Air

We are  in the process of renewing our school/rental regulators and BCD’s, so will be selling off the gear currently in use.

These are really well looked after and well maintained, so if you’re after a second hand set of kit it’s first-come, first-served.

Related Pages

• Seaquest Pro QD
• Aqualung Mikron Regulator
• Tek3 Apeks Regulator Set
• Scubapro Jet Fin