Bad cold water reg

[Colliam7]

Several threads over several years have addressed the issue of 'What is a good cold water reg?'. The list collated from the testimonials is long, and begs the question, 'What is a really BAD cold water reg?' Separating the issue of tuning, and acknowledging the value of environmental seals, are there regs that are truly poor performers in colder (e.g. <40 degrees F) water? Just curious.

 

[fisherdvm]

Regs not designed for cold water. Sorry, I see that you are an instructor. So I guess my comments would only be for novice divers.

 

[The Chairman]

Any reg that is in MY mouth is not suitable for cold water diving!!! What's wrong with you people? Below 40???

 

[fisherdvm]

Non environmentally sealed regs which let water into the spring chamber of the first stage are prone to freezing at the first stage. Environmentally regs are filled with silicone grease, oil, alcohol or other antifreeze to transfer the external water pressure into the first stage. If this is not the case, then the cold water proof first stage of sherwoods send a stream of air bubble into this chamber and keeps it dry.

The design of cold proof second stage is that they are either made of metal which has good heat conduction, to conduct temperature of the surrounding water (higher than freezing point) to the valve and keeps it thawed. Or, as in some of the plastic regs - heat directing fins direct your warm exhaled breath air into the area of the valve. If a reg is not designed with these features in mind, it will freeze at the regulator end.

Basically, anything not made for cold water shouldn't be used in cold water. A while ago I posted something on the regulator section comparing cold water reg. It was quite old and might not be applicable now. They did a disproportionately large number of dives with the blizzard, but very few with the other regs - which did not make it a good study.

 

[Rick Inman]

Any reg that is in MY mouth is not suitable for cold water diving!!! What's wrong with you people? Below 40???

It's not nice to gloat! Insulting, in fact, all us cold water divers.

I'm reporting this post...



OK, as to the OP, I have an aversion to the SP MK25. There are lots of reg that are not suitable for water temps below 40 degrees, but one of our LDS in my area sold a boatload of the 25's, and now us guys who take these good folks diving have to deal with the free-flows and with giving them the bad new that, if they're going to dive with us through the winter, they need a different reg.

MK25=baddddddd cold water reg.

 

[Dive1Dennis]

Any reg that is in MY mouth is not suitable for cold water diving!!! What's wrong with you people? Below 40???

Come on now Doc, look at all the great diving you miss out on with those wimpy warm water only regs.......

 

[Dive Right In Scuba]

Environmentally regs are filled with oil to transfer the external water pressure into the first stage. .

Environmentally sealed regs are sealed off from the outside......Im not a reg tech, but I have never seen one pulled apart on our bench with oil anywhere or having the tech have to put oil in it, or in a product description about a reg having oil in it to transfer the water pressure....do you have a source for this info? Im not saying your wrong as most likely I am uninformed, I just have never heard of this and would like clarification...

 

[PhilEllis]

Environmental sealing of a first stage, regardless if it is air sealing or oil sealing, has very little to do with most regulator freeze-up events. ANY regulator that goes into a free-flow will freeze. The freeze-up can be in the first stage, the second stage, or both.

Many companies, like Dive Rite, have stopped the use of terms like "ice" to imply that sealed regulators are more suitable for cold water by the addition of a sealing mechanism. They realize that it is the FLOWING AIR that causes the freezing.

Go outside on a warm spring day and open a valve on a full scuba cylinder. This will clearly demonstrate how freezing happens.

Phil Ellis

 

[FFMDiver]

Environmentally sealed regs are sealed off from the outside......Im not a reg tech, but I have never seen one pulled apart on our bench with oil anywhere or having the tech have to put oil in it, or in a product description about a reg having oil in it to transfer the water pressure....do you have a source for this info? Im not saying your wrong as most likely I am uninformed, I just have never heard of this and would like clarification...

I would second this, please do tell of the make and model of such regulators, I'm fascinated to learn more..

 

[Jimmer]

Environmentally sealed regs are sealed off from the outside......Im not a reg tech, but I have never seen one pulled apart on our bench with oil anywhere or having the tech have to put oil in it, or in a product description about a reg having oil in it to transfer the water pressure....do you have a source for this info? Im not saying your wrong as most likely I am uninformed, I just have never heard of this and would like clarification...

Some older Oceanic's required alcohol in the first stage, I don't know specifically about oil tho.

As for the main topic here, I've been present to see the massive freeflow of a Cressi Ellipse "Alaska" in cold water twice now. I have some serious apprehensions about that reg.