I had thought that freezing regulators was an issue when diving in ice or there abouts. But in another thread a member was talking about seeing ScubaPro Mk25/S600 regulators freezing in water as warm as 55 degrees down to 42 degrees. I understand that where I dive in Texas, ~55 degrees is about the lowest temp I am going to find. But I am wondering for my safety and my daughters safety if we should avoid that ScubaPro model and look for one of the environmentally sealed regs like the Zeagles. We are going to buy tomorrow morning and would like to feel confident in our purchase. Any info would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.
When do regulators freeze?
- Thread starter Jarrett
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If you free flow the reg (or are sucking air like a race horse 
), you can freeze it, which then puts it into a fixed free flow state until you warm it back up (melt the ice formation). This can be done in less-than-frigid water, because the air flow acts as a coolant.
http://www.divernet.com/gear/flow396.htm
), you can freeze it, which then puts it into a fixed free flow state until you warm it back up (melt the ice formation). This can be done in less-than-frigid water, because the air flow acts as a coolant.http://www.divernet.com/gear/flow396.htm
It's that first stage freezing up that causes the freeflow that Mark mentioned.
Another advantage to having an enviro sealed first stage is that it keeps the gunk that's in the water out of the first stage where it can gum things up.
Another advantage to having an enviro sealed first stage is that it keeps the gunk that's in the water out of the first stage where it can gum things up.
(Or go Sherwood -- the little bubbler works pretty well )
)
rescuediver009
Contributor
No you will not have a problem with the Scubapro.
MarkH
Contributor
I've done hundreds of dives in water way colder than 55 degrees and never had a hint of a freeze-up. In some places here, a layer of fresh water on the surface of the ocean can be almost at the freezing point in winter. Sometimes there are patches of ice. -Still no freeze-up. I dive with an old Conshelf 14 by the way, -sturdy, but not exactly high-tech.Jarrett:
MarkH
Contributor
Oops. I realised this was an older post and that you already have your new reg by now. Sometimes I wonder if freeze-up is an urban legend among tropical divers. I've never met anyone that actually had it happen to them.
Yes, it does happen. First OW/drysuit cert dives, I had a reg freeze on dive 2. Lake Ontario in April isn't tropical
Drove the reg into freeze and freeflow, right off the bat during descent. I needed to detune it, no problem once I found out (though diving was done for that day)
Drove the reg into freeze and freeflow, right off the bat during descent. I needed to detune it, no problem once I found out (though diving was done for that day)
MarkH
Contributor
It must be the completely fresh water that does the trick.markfm:Yes, it does happen. First OW/drysuit cert dives, I had a reg freeze on dive 2. Lake Ontario in April isn't tropical
Drove the reg into freeze and freeflow, right off the bat during descent. I needed to detune it, no problem once I found out (though diving was done for that day)
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