doube hose

[telemonster]

I like to try new things, and from time to time pick up odd kit to take to the local quarry to see how things perform.

My next toy I believe is going to be a double hose regulator.

Aqualung released a remake called the Mistral, which appears to be a hack of a normal regulator with the double hose. They seem to have fallen quite a bit in price. One advantage I imagine is availability of lp/hp ports.

Which would be the better bet? Modern mistral or a true classic Aquamaster or similar? I'm leaning towards a real vintage reg, but not 100% sure yet.

Also in terms of future resale value, in case I get bored with it and decide to seriously look at Drager Dolphin & course. The unit cost there doesn't really hurt as bad as the cost of the computer & o2 monitor.

Opinions?

 

[dbg40]

The "new" Mistral is a piece of junk. period.

 

[Codyjp]

The "new" Mistral is a piece of junk. period.

if i had a dollar for every time i heard this...

 

[SharkDZ]

I got a "limited edition" Mistral off EBay for dirt cheap. I probably wouldn't have bought it otherwise. It is not a show piece for me and I have used it a couple of times. It's not my primary reg, but I do like to break it out once in a while. It does have some odd quirks, but many have already been outlined in the manual, plus I have researched it usage. If you plan on using it quite often I would opt for some hose weights which can be bought from the rebreather places. That being said, it is a good reg, but not one I'd use daily.

...and there's a great article/summary here: http://www.underwaterjournal.com/pdf/archive/UWJ-Issue2.pdf

 

[fishb0y]

Go vintage. My favorite reg is my ORIGINAL USD Mistral.

Check out vintagedoublehose.com for a excellent restored regulators

 

[Nemrod]

Get the real thing, I love my Aqua Master and dive them exclusively just asd if they were a modern Apecks, they do everything better in every way, that is why they call them Aqua Masters. Some of us learned to dive with double hose and dove them for many years. While I abandoned them for some two plus decades due to lack of parts and other things I have now returned to the fold some years ago now. If you have never used a double hose, my point, get a mentor, ask questions, get it serviced by www.vintagedoublehose.com or www.vintagescubasupply.com and do your first dives in a swimming pool. Get a copy of the Basic Science of Skin and Scuba, pre 1970 issue that has all of the secret and forgotten knowledge, most of it anyways.

I want a new Mistral so I can scavenge the hoses and mouthpiece for an experiment, other than that I should ask AL to please give us the real deal next time or don't bother.

Phoenix Royal Aqua Master on Pacific Coast Freedom Plate with OxyCheq Mach V.

Real deal 1958 Mistral on steel 72 with custom SeaHunt harness.

I will go ahead and tell you a few things, if your going to dive double hose your going to have to change some things for example, your tank must be dropped so the regulator centers in the small of the back, you will need a bango fitting for a spg, you will need a LP hookah adapter for your BC, you will proably need to learn to weight and dive without a stink'n BC.

Phoenix Aqua Master conversion:

Prior to the Phoenix you did it like this or better yet did without.

Banjo SPG adapter:

Phoenix Aqua Master:

N

 

[telemonster]

nice photos! Some time ago I did the research... clear by holding mouthpiece above head, roll right to dump water, and get it so the regulator is between shoulder blades for the best performance... I believe?

Last curiosity was a full face mask (somewhat vintage). Picked it up quick with some common sense. Had no problems dumping it and switching to standard reg, and going back. Only issue is it fogging up, and it tends to rise after a bit which makes the nose block rest against the nose, which kills nose breathing.

Okay, I'm going to pick up a Aqua master (rebuilt) when I find one.

 

[Nemrod]

Most "modern" double hose including the Aqua Masters (and new Mistral as well) had cage valves in the mouthpiece which makes clearing simple and negates the need to do the rolling trick--but--still--you should know how to do it just in case. Practice sweeping your mouthpiece back--in the blind--you must be 100% (in the blind means no mask).


Aqua Master with SeaTurtle second stage--if you call it that.

N

 

[Luis H]

IMHO one of the best performing double hose regulators of all times is the Royal Aqua Master. It is the Aqua Master with a balanced first stage. IMO a well tuned RAM will perform as well as the best regulator of any kind once the diver learns how to use it properly. It does perform different than a single hose; not better or worse, just different.

Since the same balanced first stage of the Royal Aqua Master is now used in the Conshelf, the Titan, the new Mistral and several others, parts will be available for a very long time.

If you want a Royal Aqua Master with HP and LP ports, what you are looking for is a Phoenix Royal Aqua Master. You can convert any Aqua Mater (or any Royal Aqua Master) into a Phoenix RAM:
http://www.vintagedoublehose.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=23&products_id=128

The Phoenix RAM is not a true vintage regulator, it is what we call an eclectic regulator (or a hybrid…perhaps, the best of all worlds).


For a RAM (or a Phoenix RAM) most of the internal parts are available from Aqua Lung (as well as some from after market repair kits) and the unique double hose parts are all readily available via reproductions.

http://www.vintagedoublehose.com/store/index.php

Some of the common reproduction parts are as follow:
• Ultra flexible silicon diaphragms
• Main body clamps to replace the old clips
• Duckbills
• Hoses
• Mouthpiece valves
• First stage to main body gasket in nylon or original gasket material
• Mouthpiece valve cages
• Etc.

...and there's a great article/summary here: http://www.underwaterjournal.com/pdf/archive/UWJ-Issue2.pdf

That issue of Underwater Journal (on page 55) and the next issue (http://www.underwaterjournal.com/pdf/UWJ-issue3.pdf) both talk about double hose regulators and the Phoenix Royal Aqua Master.

 

[cudachaser]

I really liked my Royal Aquamaster...Someday I'm going to get it overhauled and put it back in service, hey who needs an SPG and BC.