Regulator Freeze Question

[squidster]

I have a Scuba pro MK 11 Diaphram regulator,i dive some times in lakes around the blackhills.
The MK11 is a basic balanced diaphram Reg. How do these kind of regs do in 35-40 degree water temps ?

The MK11 is the same regulator as the MK17 without the dry amb. chamber.

 

[John C. Ratliff]

Really, it is not a first-stage freeze-up that you are worried about, its a second stage freeze-up. I would contact Scubapro and ask them this question. It could also be that you could purchase the dry chamber and turn your Mk 11 into a Mk 17--your dealer should know about that. But at 35-40 degrees F, you probably won't have a problem with the first stage.

Of course, the other way to check is to dive it in that water, and simply see. Stay shallow and make it a test dive for those conditions. I say this because I had an MR-12II which had second stage freezing problems in 35 degree F water, but not the first stage (which also is a diaphragm first stage). The second stage freeze-up will start as a bit of an air leak, which will accelerate into a real air leak if allowed to go much further. That's why I said to get into shallow water and try it. It could be that Scubapro has developed a second stage that is relatively immune to freeze-up, in which case you are probably good to go. If not, and it freezes, then you kont you have a problem.

Also, there are a lot of hints about how to dive single hose regulators in cold water on these pages. If the search engine is working, try to look it up. Try this thread for starters:

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=152335&highlight=freeze

SeaRat

 

[TeddyDiver]

Really, it is not a first-stage freeze-up that you are worried about, its a second stage freeze-up.

In my experience it's just the other way around... And the way you described it goes with frozing 1st stages too.
For a diver it really doesnt matter bcs the result finally is, that both (1st and 2nd stages) have frozen...