I have been diving my Scubapro A.I.R.1 since the early 1980's. I went to my LDS recently, and was told that none of the manufacturers are now publishing the performance characteristics of their regulators. Is this because the current regulators have not yet matched or out-performed the Scubapro Air Inhalation Regulator secord stage (A.I.R.1)? My gut feeling is that this is the case, in which case one has to ask, what's all the hype about current models?
One thing I do know, not many regulators will match the exhaust valve area of the A.I.R.I, and the inhalation performance characteristics start at about 1 inch of water and go down from there. At depth, there is almost no inhalation resistance other than cracking resistance.
My theory is that if they are set up with an exhaust valve that is not on the diaphram, then there must be at least 1 inch cracking pressure in order for the regulator not to bubble in certain positions. Therefore, current regulators with separated diaphram and exhaust valve have met a design wall when trying to get better breathing resistance. Any comments?
SeaRat
One thing I do know, not many regulators will match the exhaust valve area of the A.I.R.I, and the inhalation performance characteristics start at about 1 inch of water and go down from there. At depth, there is almost no inhalation resistance other than cracking resistance.
My theory is that if they are set up with an exhaust valve that is not on the diaphram, then there must be at least 1 inch cracking pressure in order for the regulator not to bubble in certain positions. Therefore, current regulators with separated diaphram and exhaust valve have met a design wall when trying to get better breathing resistance. Any comments?
SeaRat
