Aqualung Mistral Regulator

[Chetb]

Hello, I recently purchased a Aqualung Mistral Double Hose regulator and have nothing but praise for it. The bubbles exhausting in the back definitly make it easier to approach the fish and marine life that are usually spooked by single hose bubbles. Having used double hoses many years ago, I knew what to expect as far as more inhalation resistance, but found that I quickly got used to it, and even enjoyed it. The exhalation resistance is somewhat less than a single hose. If anyone purchases one of these regulators you will definitly need to purchase hose weights that are sold for rebreathers. Otherwise the hose bouyancy will be too much for any length of time. Alternately you can use a rubber band from each hose to the shoulder of your BC. Thanks to Aqualung for bringing the double hose back!

 

[SwimJim]

I haven't dove the New Mistral, but I own and dive one of the originals. As a matter of fact I currently own and dive four vintage double hosers. They are a horse of a different color, they are fun to dive and they don't spook fish near as easy as you mentioned. Now I can't speak for the new Mistral, but with the vintage regs, the height of your tank and and the reg's position on the back is critical to making them work correctly. In an ideal situation the reg's body should be right bettween your shoulder blades. For most people this means lowering the tank in the harness. Then swim in a slightly heads up position getting the mouthpiece more or less even with the reg body. Doing this will decrease the inhalation effort. Give that a try and see if that helps.

Jim

 

[Luis H]

I believe Aqua Lung may be discontinuing it. The prices have dropped tremendously and I have heard that they are dumping the inventory.

I just hope they will support parts for a good long time.

I have one, and at the price they are selling them, I am thinking of getting a second one for spare parts and experimenting.

The new Mistral was an economical attempt at re-introducing the double hose regulator. It was basically put together from the parts bins. It is just a Titan first stage, re-breather hoses, and a single hose second stage hanging from the fist stage. The only really new part was the second stage housing.

Some people say it looks like a junk yard experiment, I tend to agree, but I don't mind the looks. IMHO, for looks and performance it will never compare to a Royal Aqua Master

Now that we have parts for the original Royal Aqua Master, Aqua Master, original Mistral, etc. I much rather dive an original double hose. I still own my original 1971 RAM and I am very glad I kept it for all this years (even thought I didn’t have parts for all those years, especially the exhaust duckbill)

I dove a variety of single hose for decades, but my favorite regulator has always been my original round label Royal Aqua Master. Now I mostly dive one of my modified Phoenix Royal Aqua Masters. The mechanical advantage of the large diaphragm and the simplicity of the second stage lend itself to be fine tuned to be the best breathing regulator.

Like any double hose, the new Mistral also has the potential to be fine tuned without much of a concern of free flow since the exhaust is right in front of the main diaphragm.

I probably never dive the new Mistral much, but I thought it was a piece of gear that belongs as part of my small collection of US Divers double hose regulators. I will dive it some, since I am a diver not really a collector.

One very interesting feature the new Mistral offer is that the second stage can be separated from the first stage. I am planning on experimenting with wearing the second stage on my chest and a long LP hose to the first stage. Cousteau and the Calypso divers wore some of their double hose regulators (mostly the Spirotechnique Mistral) that way since it is supposed to be the easiest breathing. I am just intrigued on how it will perform.

 

[JBRES1]

Something must be going on at Aqualung, there is a guy on E-bay selling 8 of these for a buy it now price of $399.00 ea.
Here is the link.
http://cgi.ebay.com/AQUALUNG-MISTRA...ryZ16056QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Jim Breslin

 

[Nemrod]

I also dive the Royal Aqua Master, one of them with the Phoenix conversion designed by Luis. My short pool dives with the "new" Mistral reveal it to be quite inferior to the Royal Aqua Master and in particular the Phoenix Royal Aqua Master. I also own a brand spanking new Aqua Lung Legend set, top of the line and compared to the Phoenix Royal Aqua Master it is a "Legend" in name only.

If Aqua Lung ever makes a for real new Royal Aqua Master or Navy Mentor spin off then I will be in the market but the "new" Mistral is not the real deal.

Edit, hose weights are not needed on original double hose units because the hoses are rubber and of somewhat smaller diameter reducing the "slinky" effect and excessive bouyancy of the larger "rebreather" type hoses which other than problems offer no benifit.

N

 

[Blacthorn]

OMG you must have been drowning in that pic, right? Total panic and freaking out!! was there a giant spaghetti monster after you underwater? I hope you survived. Since you are (gasp) MOF (cue dramatic organ music)

Just wondering but where did you get your RAM? How long have you been diving with it?

 

[Nemrod]

Cyril, I learned to dive when a kiddo (circa 66-68) and the regulators that made up half the instruction fleet were original Mistrals. I have had an original Mistral forever. I began diving double hose again a few years ago in an effort to simplify for kayak diving and soon I went into full narcosis and tossed all my single hose junk into the back closet.

Yes Cyril, they don't like me on scubaDIRboard because I know that MOFH is the correct surface procedure, long hoses for open water are not holistic and are non optimal and obviously single hose regulaotrs are for beginners and girls and a knife is not a tool, it is a WEAPON and the bigger the better---lol

I have three RAMs, one from ebay, one from a fellow who bought it and stuck it in his sock drawer new for thirty years and another I bought from a friend. I also have a ebay/parts bin "Super" DA Aqua Master and my 1958 Pico Mistral. One of my RAMs is converted to the Phoenix version thanks to Luis and like Luis, I am not really a collector, this is my dive gear of choice.

Happy New Year. It is gonna be a double hose year.

N

 

[scubafanatic]

Something must be going on at Aqualung, there is a guy on E-bay selling 8 of these for a buy it now price of $399.00 ea.
Here is the link.
http://cgi.ebay.com/AQUALUNG-MISTRA...ryZ16056QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Jim Breslin

....I'm gonna assume, that since Aqualung prohibits internet sales, that none of these units will have warranty coverage ?

Karl

 

[spectrum]

Nemrod,

Is that yellow mouth piece & hose set original"

Pete

 

[oscar_2424]

I also dive the Royal Aqua Master, one of them with the Phoenix conversion designed by Luis. My short pool dives with the "new" Mistral reveal it to be quite inferior to the Royal Aqua Master and in particular the Phoenix Royal Aqua Master. I also own a brand spanking new Aqua Lung Legend set, top of the line and compared to the Phoenix Royal Aqua Master it is a "Legend" in name only.

If Aqua Lung ever makes a for real new Royal Aqua Master or Navy Mentor spin off then I will be in the market but the "new" Mistral is not the real deal.

Edit, hose weights are not needed on original double hose units because the hoses are rubber and of somewhat smaller diameter reducing the "slinky" effect and excessive bouyancy of the larger "rebreather" type hoses which other than problems offer no benifit.

N

NIce picture!