Piston Regulators for Women

[AugInBethany]

Hello!! I am new to the boards and apologize if this is a dupe post, I searched for it and couldnt find anything.

I am a petite female diver and am looking for a good Piston Regulator that will fit my mouth. Most of the Pistons I have tried or seen are all fairly large and I was wondering if anyone knows of any reliable and durable Piston Reg that is smaller than average.

Thanks in advanced!

 

[Peter_C]

Sounds more like the regulator is not the issue but the mouthpiece is. You have a few choices. You can easily replace the mouthpiece with a new one. Trying a few different ones may lead you to one that works. They also make one that is moldable called a Sea-Cure. The bite wings can be cut way off to fit better into your mouth. You then heat the mouthpiece and barely bite into it to mold it to your teeth. I personally find they are easier to get into my mouth and help keep me from getting a sore jaw.

As to regs make sure to purchase a high quality reg that will last you throughout your diving adventures.

 

[mike_s]

You can change out the mouthpiece if it won't fit your mouth on any reg and put on a smaller mouthpiece....

just something you should consider.



EDIT: Peter posted about the same time I did with the same suggestion... (I didn't see his reply when I posted).

 

[AugInBethany]

I am sorry I mistyped- I was meaning a smaller second stage, weight wise. I have a mouthpiece that is fit to my mouth. A lot of the piston second stages are the size of my head!! *not really...but still...*

Thank you for your help.

 

[divad]

Sherwoods are small and light. They are probably smaller than your head.

 

[Peter_C]

The problem is the smaller the diaphragm in the regulator, the more inhalation resistance they will often have. It is a trade off, that I would not be willing to accept. I have two Scubapro S600's for my second stage regs and have been very happy with them. The MK25 is what I use for my first stages.

Mares makes a tiny reg. Why does it have to be a piston reg? Many prefer a sealed diaphragm first stage, especially for cold water diving or much diving. My personal preference is for my second stages to have an adjustable cracking pressure utilizing a knob. That way they can be tuned to breathe to the point of free flowing, but be closed up while at the surface to prevent free flows. Also my backup bungeed around my neck can breathe easily at depth but not free flow. Regular none adjustable "octo's"/"second stages" tend to breathe hard when deeper than 60 feet.

This might help explain a few things.
http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/scuba2.htm

Take this with a grain of salt.
http://www.scubadiving.com/gear/2009/06/top-guns-of-2009

I do like the look of the new Scubapro A700 reg.

 

[tc]

If you want a small second stage find an Oceanic dealer and try a Zeta-

Oceanic Worldwide - Scuba and Snorkeling Gear, Scuba and Snorkeling Equipment and Dive Gear

Very small but breathes great.

 

[v--Locke--v]

the gt3 second stage is smaller but it is very! light. oceanic has replaced it with the NEO, i'm sure you can find plenty of oceanic dealers in Cali to try it or find a used gt3 they are all over the place even try ebay. the zeta is very small but they are hard to work on.

 

[jobsinscuba]

This is the smallest lightest reg I have seen
Aqua Lung Mikron Lady

 

[halocline]

I am sorry I mistyped- I was meaning a smaller second stage, weight wise. I have a mouthpiece that is fit to my mouth. A lot of the piston second stages are the size of my head!! *not really...but still...*

Thank you for your help.

Piston refers to the design of the first stage and has nothing to do with the 2nd stage. While you can get small 2nd stages, larger ones are not by any means necessarily heavier in the water. Remember that the 2nd stage is filled with air, displacing water, so larger means more displacement and this counteracts any extra weight they might have.

If you have an uncomfortable 2nd stage while diving, it's likely that your mouthpiece and hose set up are not right for you.

What reg in particular has given you the idea that piston regs 2nd stages are bigger? If it's the MK25/G250V, that's too bad, because it's a fine reg. You could try the S600; that's a smaller 2nd stage.

There are many, many excellent performing regs, so you probably won't go wrong. Consider a custom mouthpiece and miflex hoses.