Double hose regs

[Z-D-Strong]

hello my name is zak.
i have a question about double hose regs. i despise the bubbles. if i lean back i see them. if i lean forward they hit my ears which makes it difficult to equalize. does anybodey know of a new one still in production. i cant find any. i know aqualung made one but that was for a short time only. thanks

 

[mfalco]

aqualung recently made one, but it is discontinued now. There is one for sale on the board.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/gear-equipment-classifieds/234607-aqualung-mistral-se-450-a.html

 

[herman]

Welcome to the board.
At present, no one I am aware of makes new ones that are available to the public. The Mistral listed above was a poor attempt, pitty they did not do a better job. So far I know of no one who liked it esp those who dive the old DH regs. There are quite a few of us who rebuild and dive the old double hoses, I know of at least 4 others on this board besides myself. All the needed parts are available and there is a modification (none available now but hopefully more to come soon) that adds LP and HP ports to the older regs. I just spent a week in Roatan diving my modified DA Aquamaster, really fun watching the faces of the other divers and answering the questions about the reg.

 

[TN Traveler]

There is no comparison between the new Mistral that Aqualung produced and the old double hose regulators.

As Herman said there are a number of us here on SB that dive old DA Aquamasters (DAAM) with the Phoenix Nozzle (PRAM) installed. But even an old DA Aquamaster can be refurbished with new parts and is a better diver than the new Mistral. If you can find a Royal Aquamaster, they breathe as good as the PRAMs, once fitted with a silicone diaphragm.

With the availability now of improved mouthpiece cages & silicone mushroom valves, silicone duckbills, silicone mouthpieces and silicone hoses a DAAM can last forever and breathes smoother and easier than any single hose reg. The only problem, is without the Phoenix Nozzle, you will have to add an adapter for low pressure air for your octo and BC inflator and a banjo fitting to allow the use of a SPG. All of which are available or will be shortly.

The only problem you might have is finding a basic DAAM at a reasonable price - values keep climbing since they are not only collectible but also very usable.

Once you try one, however, you will probably join the dark side and never want to go back to a single hose reg.

 

[captain]

Here is a nice DA AquaMaster ready to go diving that can be converted to a Pheonix for a couple of hundred more.

Warner DA Aqua-Master [Warner DA Aqua-Master] - $390.00 : Vintage Double Hose!, Your online source for all things related to vintage diving

 

[KeysCuda]

All I remember about the 1960's-era double-hose was that they flooded if you rolled upside down.
They made us use them for at least a couple sessions in my 1971 certification class, in case we ran across one as a rental (some were still around, I guess). Don't think I've ever seen one used in a contemporary recreational tank setup.

 

[Jimmer]

Don't think I've ever seen one used in a contemporary recreational tank setup.

You haven't looked very hard then

 

[Nemrod]

All I remember about the 1960's-era double-hose was that they flooded if you rolled upside down.
They made us use them for at least a couple sessions in my 1971 certification class, in case we ran across one as a rental (some were still around, I guess). Don't think I've ever seen one used in a contemporary recreational tank setup.

This is not exactly correct, not meaning to be dismissive.

First, plenty of people still use the double hose regulators, enough so that they have become a cottage industry. Not all twin hosers are born equal, the USD Aqua Masters and original Mistral and various Voit units are excellent for diving even today. The Aqua Masters can be adapted to support modern configurations. I dive a Hog rig, Oxy Mach V with a Phoenix Royal Aqua Master.

Second, it is not true exactly that they flood if you go upside down. Very early, back in the 50s, twin hose regulators had open mouthpieces, these could and would flood and required knowing how to roll to clear etc. By the late 50s and early 60s twin hose regulators were equipped with cage valves in the mouthpiece that virtually eliminated flooding and made purging very easy. You still need to know the "old" methods just in case but I cannot recall ever having to roll to clear or flooding with a Aqua Master in normal operation. It can happen if the cage valves are torn or missing. It really just is not a big deal. I am sure the usual suspects will show up to defend the twin hose.

Yes, an Aqua Master is very quiet, very smooth, no bubbles in your face or ears. The original Mistral single stage has a jet venturi that goes woosh, woosh when you inhale so it is not quiet like the Aqua Master. It is so easy to sneak up on fish who normally run from a single hose diverand the fish get the most surprised look when you do.

The modern and now discontinued Mistral while not totally unfortuante is not an equal to the old Aqua Masters. It is sort of a junkyard parts shelf Frakenstien monster put together by a company that has forgotten where they came from to begin with. Not a very good attempt. In fact, it was downright, uh, Frankenstienish and totally clunky compared to the real deal.

A friend drifts by at Silver Springs last weekend:

Me on the deck of the Mighty O at 140 feet:

Single hose, how do you guys live with those things?

N, double hose since 1966 with a little single hose interlude in there

 

[DA Aquamaster]

A Royal Auamaster with a banjo fitting or a DA Aquamaster upgraded to a PRAM is a much better way to go.

There are a variety of new reproduction parts available including rebuild kits, new silicone diaphragms, new hoses and new mouthpieces making it possible to refurbish just about any DA or Royal Aquamaster in decent condition.

There are also custom labels and rechroming services available as well if you want to get carried away.

Attached are images of my Phoenix Royal Aquamaster with new label, new diaphragm, new chrome , new hoses and new mouthpiece. The total was about $600 but at the time that was less than the retail on a new Mistral that would not have performed nearly as well.

I really like a double hose reg for photography, especially macro as fish will swim right up to you. The exhaust is much more diffused and not as startling to a fish as it is with a single hose reg, and if anything fish will hide behind your head to peak over the top at the bubble source - meaning they are literally right in front of your mask.

US Divers came out with the Klear-Eze mouthiece in the mid 1950's and the cage valves it used, in combination with the butterfly exhaust valve virtually eliminated the need to roll to the left (exhaust hose side) to clear the reg. In the event you get the mushroom valve on the intake side stuck open and flood the reg, you cans till easily clear it by just rollling to the left. Purging the reg is easily done by just holding it over your head and/or just pushing it outward to extend the intake hose.

 

[TN Traveler]

DA

That is almost too pretty to dive. My PRAM is still the satin chrome and has the label from 1959 - has that "well used" look - just like the owner