Frustrated with loud air bubbles

[Flatliner]

I think we are missing the point of the OP. He doesn't want a new reg. He wants to know if anyone has any safety concerns with his idea.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Check this one out. I am not sure of the price but seems like what you want.

http://www.aqualung.com/products/mistral.html

Aqualung discontinued them a few months ago but they are still showing up on e-bay for around $300 for the standard model and for around $500 for the limited edition. They are not actually selling at that price but they show up at that price - which is I suspect essentially dealer cost.

They don't perform quite up to the same breathing standard as a single hose reg and they fall a bit short for die hard doubel hose fans who either prefer vintage equipment or get better preformaance from the Phoenix Royal Aquamaster which uses a new first stage on an old DA Aquamaster to create a very good and modern equipment/accessory capable double hose reg.

 

[captain]

Aqualung discontinued them a few months ago but they are still showing up on e-bay for around $300 for the standard model and for around $500 for the limited edition. They are not actually selling at that price but they show up at that price - which is I suspect essentially dealer cost.

They don't perform quite up to the same breathing standard as a single hose reg and they fall a bit short for die hard doubel hose fans who either prefer vintage equipment or get better preformaance from the Phoenix Royal Aquamaster which uses a new first stage on an old DA Aquamaster to create a very good and modern equipment/accessory capable double hose reg.

I sure hope the "suits" at Aqua Lung read the posts about how the Phoenix is better than their cobbled together Mistral.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

I sure hope the "suits" at Aqua Lung read the posts about how the Phoenix is better than their cobbled together Mistral.

I'd love to see them start building an updated DA Aquamaster using a licensed copy of Bryan Pennington's Phoenix conversion.

Of course scuba equipment manufacturers seem to be averse to using any brass where plastic will do so I suspect the case on any new and improved DA would be plastic. Still, it'd be a great regulator with a nice blend of vintage and new technology.

The R and D is essentially done and tooling and suppliers exist for reproduction hoses and silicone diaphragms. All that really would need to be addressed is a mouthpiece assembly that could incorporate modern replaceable mouthpieces.

 

[rndboulder]

If Aqualung were to release a traditional style DH reg they would just release the Mentor to the public:

http://www.vintagedoublehose.com/downloads/MentorRepairManual2ndVersion.pdf

It has everything a Phoenix has and the tooling is current including an updated mouthpiece. The nice thing about the Phoenix is that it allows anyone to update very available and affordable regs. As for a new reg, The Mentor is the reg everyone wanted but they released the mistral instead. The Phoenix & the other repro parts makes the need for a new DH obsolete. -Ryan

 

[DA Aquamaster]

The mentor has 2 LP plugs and 1 HP plug.

The Phoenix offers 3 of each. Granted one each ends up being less than ideally located, but 2 useable HP ports allows an air integrated computer and back up SPG which is something some divers seem to want. Personally, I need an octo, an inflator and a dry suit inflator on mine so a Mentor would require an add-on LP port block to get the additional port.

And the Mentor, being used by the Navy as more or less as a rebreather simulator, seems to have the same overly bouyant and less than easy breathing rebreather hoses as the Mistral.

Aqualung could do a lot better than producing the Mentor for the recreational market. I also suspect that Aqualung is supporting the existing Navy units with parts that have been stocked and have long since been out of production - explaining Aqualung's refusal to sell them to the civilian market.

I also don't agree that the availability of Phoenix and other reproduction parts has eliminated the need for a high quality modern double hose regulator. Production of the Phoenix is small (I bought #136 a month or so ago) and is currently on hold. Reproduction parts availability is similarly limited and spotty with individuals making limited runs of parts and/or small business owners ordering limited runs on a sporadic basis. I buy what I can when it's available. And the availability of suitable DA Aquamaster donors is obviously limited and many that are mechanically sound have seen better days in the scratch and dent department and will not inspire a non-vintage diver to fork over what ends up being $500+ for a Phoenix that looks well used and somewhat abused.

The current parts situation is better than it's ever been, but it only (barely) covers the demands of vintage divers, and is not adequate to feed the demand of more mainstream recreational divers and a well executed double hose reg could increase that demand. And at a minimum, it is not something you can drive down to the local dive shop and order. Putting a PRAM together requires a degree of specialized knowledge and shopping compared to the new Mistral.

 

[Luis H]

I'd love to see them start building an updated DA Aquamaster using a licensed copy of Bryan Pennington's Phoenix conversion.

Actually Bryan is manufacturing and selling my Phoenix Royal Aqua Master conversion under an agreement.

The Phoenix offers 3 of each. Granted one each ends up being less than ideally located, but 2 useable HP ports allows an air integrated computer and back up SPG which is something some divers seem to want. Personally, I need an octo, an inflator and a dry suit inflator on mine so a Mentor would require an add-on LP port block to get the additional port.

The reason I designed the Phoenix with three HP ports is because being a threaded part, there was no guaranty of were any one port would end up once it was tightened down. That is why the ports alternate.

A port will always be blocked by the hookah port, but that is why I use a hookah port adapter for my dry suit. I also need three LP ports.



I totally agree with your analysis for the need of a modern double hose, but after the new Mistral experience I am afraid no one will take the financial risk.

 

[CompuDude]

Bubbles are part of diving. A double-hose setup or a a rebreather are the only ways to make a huge impact to the issue.

ScubaPro made a "bubble deflector" for some of their regs, essentially a 2" extension to their exhaust tee. Works quite well, I use one on my S600. It's not as dramatic as the 4" tubes the OP was discussing, however. They were also only sold in the UK (tho you can find the on the 'net and have them shipped) and were discontinued some time ago so they're getting REALLY hard to come by.

I think ultimately the best answer is "get used to it", or get a rebreather. Option #1 is way more practical...

 

[zonicles]

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[Flatliner]

I think ultimately the best answer is "get used to it", or get a rebreather. Option #1 is way more practical...

BUT... Option #2 has a MUCH bigger cool factor!