reViews
Atomic M1 Atomic B2
This 2003 Testers’ Choice breathed effortlessly
on the simulator, delivering perfect scores on
Conclusion The key to the success of the Atomic brand
ScubaLab’s standard tests. When pushed
“At the end of five days of exhaustive testing seems to be not to make things particularly
to its limits, the reg was able to achieve a
and comparison the test divers had got to different but the make them better.
breathing rate of just a tad over
know each regulator pretty well. We then
75 RMV.
spent a day of leisure diving when each one
The B2 is a second-generation design which
could use the regulator of his own choosing.
combines a new second stage that has an
Take the B2 into the water and it breathes
This revealed true preferences. First choice
all-Titanium mechanism with the previously
easily in all positions and is dry as a bone.
was clearly the Atomic M1, closely followed
available B1 chromed brass and 316
by both the Apeks ATX100 and the ATX200
stainless-steel first stage.
MUSCLE REGS
and then, in no particular order the Aqua-
I never found this regulator wanting in the
SCUBALAB SPECIAL REPORT
Lung Legend LX Supreme, the Scubapro
SCUBA DIVING MAGAZINE
amount it could supply, yet it was discreet
5600/MK25 and the Mares Abyss.”
NOVEMBER 2005
and subtle in its delivery. There were no
____________________________
ARE HIGH PRICED REGULATORS
sudden and dramatic rushes of air – it
WORTH IT?
flowed. It was sublime.
Atomic Z2
DIVER MAGAZINE (UK)
Added to the fact that it is a jewel in the way
DECEMBER 2002
it is made, any purchaser is likely to be a
THE Z2 ONLY RECENTLY hit dive stores,
____________________________
proud and long-time owner.
but already it is developing a reputation
as a superb breather. When subjected
…this reg turned in Excellent performance on THINK ROLLS AND BUY ATOMIC to ScubaLab’s standard simulator test
the breathing simulator, earning perfect work
AQUATICS DIVER TESTS
protocols, the Z2 delivered perfect simulator
of breathing scores when subjected
DIVER MAGAZINE (UK)
scores. When pressed to the limit, it was
to our standard reg tests. In the muscle test,
APRIL 2004
able to achieve one of the best breathing
it reached a breathing rate of just over
____________________________
rates of this group, just over 87 RMV. This
81 RMV. superior performance carries into the water
Atomic Aquatic’s B2 breathes effortlessly on
as well, where test divers found the reg a
Past and present in-water tests have shown
the simulator, regardless of RMV or depth.
very easy and dry breather in all positions
the M1, a 2002 Testers’ Choice, to be a real
with an excellent purge.
easy breather in all positions. The reg has
But this isn’t just a laboratory reg. The B2
a very efficient purge system and minimal
earned the highest total score for in-water
The Z2 has a new high-flow second stage
bubble interference. Test divers liked the
performance of any reg in any price. It
casing similar to what’s on the new T2. Like
mouthpiece and low-pressure port turret on
breathes easily in all positions and is the only
all Atomic regs, the Z2 also uses Atomic’s
the balanced piston first stage that simplifies
reg to earn an excellent score for dryness.
patented Automatic Flow Control and comes
hose routing.
The B2’s dual silicone mouthpiece,
with a great dual composite mouthpiece.
MUSCLE REGS
introduced last year, is still a favorite
SCUBALAB SPECIAL REPORT
among testers.
MUSCLE REGS
SCUBA DIVING MAGAZINE
SCUBALAB SPECIAL REPORT
SCUBA DIVING MAGAZINE
NOVEMBER 2005
BEST NEW REGS SCUBALAB REVIEW
SCUBA DIVING MAGAZINE
NOVEMBER 2005
NOVEMBER 2003
regulators
Our 2007 regulator reviews (primary regs in July and alternate
Sherwood Scuba Gemini
inflator regs in August) showcased one of the most outstanding The Gemini is a new star among alternate inflator regs, and for good
crop of new breathers we’ve ever evaluated. As a group, they reason. This backup breather turned in some of the best ANSTI breath-
earned more Excellent ratings on the breathing machine than any ing machine scores in August’s review of inflator regs. In fact, it was only
test group in recent memory. Several featured radical new designs and features, and some introduced one of two units tested that was able to survive all four of our breathing
new materials in order to improve comfort, performance and corrosion resistance. If you’re in the market machine tests, and in real-world use-test divers reported it breathed
for a new regulator, now is a great time to buy. Here are some we consider standouts, but be sure to as well as some primary regs. It also does a great job as a BC power
read both full reports at
www.scubadiving.com/gear/regulators. inflator, thanks to a slim profile and diver-friendly buttons that make
ascent control smooth and easy. All in all, a well-deserved 2007 Best
Bu y . $200.
www.sherwoodscuba.com.
Atomic Aquatics ST1
En route to earning a Testers’ Choice nod in this year’s review, the ST1 proved
to be the latest in a long line of top-performing regs from Atomic Aquatics. It " Y *
( O / H N 7 " R U M M ( / $ 9 3 3 % 9
sports a balanced piston first stage with a body milled from 316 stainless steel,
while the pneumatically balanced second stage features a valve body and lever . % % $ ! . k % f Y 8 l 7 p # X 5 e \ 3 n % % i \ ^
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machine and was named the “smoothest breather of the bunch” by test divers. ` e ^ Z f e [ ` k ` f e j % F ] k _ \ ( / e \ n f 7 i i \ [ E \ j ` ^ I e N \ [ V d I f T [ E \ c j D ` e A L L M A J O R M A N U F A C T U R E R S T O S U B M I T
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$899; $939 w/sealed yoke or DIN valve.
www.atomicaquatics.com. / & : _ f ` Z \ # X e [ e f i \ ^ l c X k f i ` e f l i i \ m ` \ n \ X i e \ [ X e T f H m \ i X E c c I R I N F L A T O R R E G S F O R T H I S R E V I E W ! F T E R M A K I N G W H I C H I S T H E V E R S I O N W E T E S T E D 4 H E ) N F L A T O R 0 L U S
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0 5 4 3 I N D E P E N D E N T T E S T I N G F A C I L I T Y 7 E P U T T H E U N I T S 0 % 2 & / 2 - 4 H E ! ) N . F L A # T O % R 0 L U S R E C E I V E D
0 U T T I N G 4 H E M T O T H E 4 E S T O N A N ! . 3 4 ) B R E A T H I N G S I M U L A T O R T O M E A S U R E 6 E R Y ' O O D R A T I N G S A C R O S S T H E B O A R
D I N T H E E R G O
Atomic Aquatics SS1 . % 7 ! . $
F l i X e e l X c i \ m ` \ n f ] e \ n i \ ^ l c X k f i j i \ g f i k j k _ \ i \ j l c k j
f ] J Z l Y X C X Y Ë j d f j k Z f d g i \ _ \ e T j H ` m E \ \ I m R X c l B X k R ` f E e A g i T f H Z \ I j N j G R E S I S T A N C E O R W O R K O F B R E A T H I N G N O M I C T E S T S 4 H E S M A L L R O U N D I N F L A T E B U T T O N A N D
] f i d f i \ [ \ k X ` c j j \ \ È ? f n 7 X e [ / N " _ p N \ % K A \ j C k I H \ ^ l R $
Scubapro MK11/R395
While designed to replace your octopus, the 2 % $ % 3 ) ' . % $ E G W A S S U B J E
C T E D T O A M O D E R L A R G E R E C T A N G U L A R D E F L A T E B U T T O N W E R E E A S Y T O
c X k f i j # É g ^ % / 0 % @ e G _ X j \ ( n \ Z f c c \ Z k \ [ i \ ^ l c X k f i j #
A T E L Y H I G H B R E A T H I N G R A T E 2 - 6 A T D E P T H S O P E R A T E A N D T E S T D I V E R S L I K E D T H E S T A N D A R D
& MK11/S555
breathing performance of this backup rig just may - / $ % , 3 ` e j g \ Z k \ [ k _ \ d X e [ g f i \ [ f m \ i f n e \ i Ë j d X e l X c j # k X b ` e ^
Z f g ` f l j e f k \ j f e ] \ X k l i \ j X e [ g \ i O ] f i F d X e Z \ g i f d F ` j E \ j % E T A N D F E E T 4 H E N W E C R A N K E D U P S I Z E M O U T H P I E C E W I T H L O N G E R T A B S 4 H E L O N G
tempt you to replace your primary reg. Compact,
Few regs offer this kind of breathing performance at 4 / 4 ( % 4 % 3 4
@ e G _ X j \ ) # n \ k f f b T k _ H \ E i \ ^ B j X R e E [ A X T k \ H X I d N f G ] \ ` R ^ _ A k T E T O A N E X T R E ! M E L E 4 V E L / - ) # ! 1 5 ! 4 C O R ) R U G A T # E D H O S E 3 I S W O R T H T H E E X T R A M O N E Y A N D
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such easy-on-the-wallet prices. Both of these breathers m ` j f i j k f : X k X c ` e X @ j c X e [ # : 2 X c - ` ] % # 6 ] f i k _ I i \ N \ [ O X p R j D f E ] k R \ j k T O S E E H O W M U C H
R E S E R 3 V E 3 C A P A 3 C T A I N L E S S h O F F E R S M O R E R A N G E O F M O V E
either 316 stainless-steel or titanium components [ ` m ` e ^ ` e X e f Z \ X e \ e m ` i f e d \ e k % I T < X Z _ Y T k \ j k H E [ ` m \ i R [ ` m E \ [ G S H A D 4 O E N S U R E A N E V E N P L A Y I N G 3
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! . 3 4 ) M A C H I N E T H E 2 I T E 3 O U R C E E A R N E D 6 E R Y " ! 0 2 /
earned top honors in this year’s reg tests—a Testers’ \ X Z _ i \ ^ # i X k ` e ^ ` k j g \ i ] f i d X e Z \ ` e j \ m \ e j g \ Z ` ] ` Z \ i ^ f $
in a fiberglass-reinforced nylon body. It features e f d ` Z Z X k \ ^ f i ` \ j l j ` e ^ X f e \ F $ k I f E $ ] ` L m \ D j Z X c \ A % K L \ L j k [ T ` m H \ i E j I N F L A T O R R E G S W E R E & T % E S ! T E 4 D 5 O 4 N H 2 E T % H 3 E 3 3 I S D E S I G N E D T O R E P L A C E Y O U R O C T O P U S B U T I T S B R E A T H I N G P E R ' F O O R M D S A C N O C R E S M A T A A Y M O D E R A T E L Y A G G R E S S
I V E B ! R E A ) T 2 H
Choice for the MK11/S555 and a Best Buy for the
Atomic’s “Seat Saving Orifice,” the same one used
X c j f g i f m ` [ \ [ n i ` k k \ e Z f d d \ e k j f S e A \ X M Z _ i E \ ^ % F I R S T S T A G E W I T H A N I N T E R M E D I A J U T S E T P P R U E T S S Y U O R U E R P R I M A R Y S E C O N D
S T A G E R E G U L A T O R T O S H A M E ) T S C O M P A C T L I G H T A N D B U I N I G L T R T A O T E L A A S T T B W O I T H F E E T A N D F E E T
MK11/R395. The compact over-balanced diaphragm @ e G _ X j \ * # n \ g l k \ X Z _ i \ ^ f e X e O 8 E F J K @ Y i \ X k _ P ` e ^ S I ! N D T O M A K E I T C H A L L E N G I N G S T W A I E N L U E S S E S D
S T E E L C O M P O N E N T S H O U S E D I N A F I B E R G L A S S
R E I N F O R C E D N Y L O N B O D Y ) T F E A T " U R / E S 4 ! T 4 O M / I C - S 9 3 O E U A , T C A ) N . F I N % D B E
T T E R & A % L T E ! R 4 5 3 C 2 U B % A P 3 R O I S T H E C O M P A N Y T H A T S T A R T E D I T A L L R E L E A S I N G T H E V E R Y F I R S T A L T E R N A T E I N F L A T O R
in Atomic’s primary regs, to maintain peak perfor- j ` d l c X k f i X k X e ` e [ \ g \ e [ \ e k k \ j k ] X Z ` c ` k p % K _ \ 8 E J K @
MK11 is the engine for both systems. It’s a proven per- d X Z _ ` e \ X c c f n j l j k f g i \ Z ` j A \ c p S d U \ X P j l P i \ L k _ Y \ Y P i \ X R k E _ ` e S ^ S U R E B E T W E E N 3 A V N I D N G / R I F P I C S E I W H I C H H E L P S M A I N T A I N P E A K P E R F O R M A N C E O V E R T I M E J U S T L I K E T H E C N O A M T E P A I N N F Y L A S T O P R R I R M E G A S R Y B U T Y O U W O N T F I N R D E G O ˆ N E T H W E I T ! H ) 2 ˆ I N 4 H E C O M P A N Y H A S C O N T I N U E D T O R E F I N E I T S C O N C E P T I N T O W H A T I S N O W C A L L E D
mance over time. With large control buttons and a i \ j ` j k X e Z \ f ] \ X Z _ i \ ^ X & k O X R m X C i O ` \ M k p P f L ] E Y T i E \ X R k _ E ` S e U ^ L i T X S k \ j
former both on the ANSTI breathing machine and in
S E E T H E ! . 3 4 ) R E B G R E U A L T A H T I O N R G S ) T A L S O H A S L A R G E E A S Y
T O
U S E C O N T R O L B U T T O N S A N D A S O F T O V A L P U R G E A C L O O V W E E R R T P H R A I T C E R E S T S F L A T T H E ! ) 2 / N E O F T H E M O S T C O M P A C T E R G O N O M I C D E S I G N S O F T H I S T E S T G R O U P I T S B U I L T F R O M R U G G E D
X e [ [ \ g k _ j % F l i j k X e [ X i [ g X e \ c f ] Y i \ X k _ ` e ^ d X Z _ ` e \
soft oval purge cover, the SS1 is easy to use, either S I M U L A T O R C H A R T O N P O N Y O U R " # S T R A P 4 H E 3 3 C O M E S W I T H A N I N N O V A T I V E A D A P T E R S Y S T E M T H A T E N A B L E 0 S 2 Y O ) U # T O % R E M O W V E I T H H O S E A S S E M B L Y F I B E R G L A S S
R E I N F O R C E D N Y L O N 4 H E B U T T O N S A R E E R G O N O M I C A L L Y C O R R E C T A N D W E L L P O S I T I O N E D M A K I N G
the water. The main difference between the S555 and k \ j k j i X e ^ \ ] i f d e f i d X c Y i \ X k _ ` e ^ X k i \ Z i \ X k ` f e X c [ ` m \
as a power inflator or backup reg. It also comes with [ \ g k _ j k f _ ` ^ _ $ [ \ d X e [ j ` k l X k 7 ` f e I j T X H k \ o T k i H \ d E \ [ S \ g I k M _ j % U L A T O R R E S U L T S I N I T H E A A N S D I L Y I T F R O W M A S Y O U R " # S C O R R U G A T E D H O S E F O R C L E A N I N G A N D S T O R A G E W I T H Y O U R P R I M A R Y R E G U L A T O R ) T T H E U N I T E A S Y T O U S E ) T A L S O U S E S A F I X E D 6 ) 6 ! F L O W V A N E P R E
T U N E D I N T H E I D E A L P O S I T I O N T O P R E V E N T
the R395 is that the former is pneumatically balanced @ e k f k X c # n \ ^ X k _ \ T i I \ M [ E d f T i O \ k G _ X E e T . R ) E ' A [ L X
k W X O g f R ` L e D k j F # E E
D B A C C A K R R I F E R S O A M L I R M E I C T R E E D L I F E T I M E W A R R A N T Y A N D I S N I T R O X
R E A D Y F O R M I X E S U P T O P E R C E N T O X Y G E N S U R F A C E F R E E F L O W S 4 H E ! ) 2 W I L L F I T A N Y O N E
I N C H C O R R U G A T E D H O S E A N D I T C O M E S F R O M T H E F A C T O R Y
threaded adapters so you can remove it from your X c f e ^ n ` k _ d f i \ k _ X e ( ' ' g X ^ \ j f ] Y i \ X k _ ` e ^ c f f g j X
and the latter is not. This makes the breathing on the ^ i X g _ ` Z i \ g i \ j \ e k X k ` f e f ] X A i \ ^ T l I c X O k f N i Ë j A k f L k X c D ` e I _ V X c E X k ` R f e S I N W H A T W E C A L L O 0 U % R E 2 R G & O / N O M 2 I - C h ) A ! L M . O S # T F % O R G O T ) W A S N T U S I N G M Y P R I M A R Y v I S H O W O N E T E S T D I V E R S U M M A R I Z E D N I T R O X
C A P A B L E F O R M I X E S U P T O P E R C E N T O X Y G E N
BC for cleaning and storage with your primary reg.
S555 less hiccupy in alternate diving positions, but more
X e [ \ o _ X c X k ` f e g \ i ] f i d X e Z \ % T K _ ` j E S [ X k T X S n X j k i X e j c X k 7 E \ [ A S S E M B L E D A T E A
M O T H F E E 3 I 3 G H S T P V E O R L F U O R N M A N C E D U R I N G O U R I N
W A T E R T E S T I N G ) T W A S T H E O N L Y R E G T O E A R N A N Y % X C E L L E N T R A T I N G S 0 % 2 & / 2 - 4 H E ! ! . ) 2 # % R E C E I V E D 6 E R Y ' O O D S C O R E S F R O M T E S T D I V E R S F O R E A S E O F B R E A T H I N G
With all those features and chart-topping breath- ` e k f e l d \ i ` Z j Z f i \ j X e [ Z f d Y ` e \ [ n ` k _ \ i ^ f e f d ` Z k \ j k T E E R D I V E R S A N D S P E N T T H R E E F R O D M A Y T E S S T D D I I V V I E N R S G ˆ O N F C F E F O R E A S E O F B R E A T H I N G A N D A G A I N F O R U S E R C O N T R O L S h 4 H E B U T T O N S A R E E A S Y T O D R Y N E S S C L E A R I N G A N D C O N T R O L F U N C T I O N S 4 E S T D I V E R S S A I D T H A T A S A R E G U L A T O R I T h P E R F O R M E D G R E A T
expensive; the R395 is not as smooth in some dive posi- i \ j l c k j X e [ k \ j k [ ` m \ i Z f d d \ e k j k f Z f d \ l g n ` k _ k _ \
ing machine performance, it was a 2007 Testers’ p \ X i Ë j k f g Y i \ X k _ \ i j % # A T A L I N A ) S L A N D # A L I F ) S A L B A O N A D R D 4 I T M H E E U S E E V E N W H E N I T S I N Y O U R M O U T H v C O M M E N T E D O N E T E S T D I V E R / N T H E B R E A T H I N G S I M U L A T O R T H E 3 3 I N A L L P O S I T I O N S v A N D A S A N I N F L A T O R h I T H A S I T A L L ˆ G O O D B U T T O N P O S I T I O N A N D I T S E A S Y T O O P E R A T E
tions, but cheaper. Take your pick. Either way, you walk SL 3 # 5 " ! , ! " 2 ! 4 % $ K _ \ i \ m ` \ n j k _ X k ] f c c f n _ X m \ D Y \ I \ V e [ E ` m ` [ B \ [ O ` e A k f T k n f
Choice. Stainless—$249; Titanium—$370. www. $ U R I N G T H E I R D I V E S T E S T E P R U S T R U A P T E W D O T R H K E O F B R E A T H I N G N U M B E R S W O R T H Y O F A P R I M A R Y R E G U L A T O R E A R N I N G % X C E L L E N T R A T I N G S I N T H R E E W I T H G L O V E S v 4 H E P U R G E C O V E R E N D I S L A R G E A N D R E S P O N S I V E W H E N
C L E A R I N G / N T H E ! . 3 4 ) B R E A T H ^ i f l g j Ç F m \ i , ' ' X e [ L e [ \ i , ' ' Ç X e [ X i \ j l d $
away a winner. MK11/R395—$398; MK11/S555—$498. P E R F O R M A N C E O F E A C H I N F L A T O R R E G U L O A F T O T H R E I N T E F S O T U S R A N D A 6 E R Y ' O O D I N T H E M O S T E X T R E M E B R E A T H I N G C A T E G O R Y ˆ 2 - 6 A T F E E T I N G M A C H I N E T E S T S I T D E L I V E R E D % X C E L L E N T P E R F O R M A N C E W H E N T E S T E D A T T H E M O D E R A T E L Y A G G R E S S I V E
atomicaquatics.com.
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Mares Proton 12 Metal Apeks XTX50 Status/XTX200 Status
L E N T 6 E R Y ' O O D ' O O D & A I R 0 O O R
A N D G A V E U S W R I T T E N C O M M E N T S O N H O W T H E S E
If you like your breathing performance in a compact package, you’ll love the The XTX50 Status and XTX200 Status from Apeks are the first regula- I N F L A T O R R E G S P E R F O R M E D I N T H E
W A T E R & O R C O M
Proton 12 Metal. It’s been one of Mares’ best-breathing balanced diaphragm reg- tors to feature a built-in electronic intermediate pressure gauge P L E T E R E S U L T S S E E T H E E R G O N O M I C P E R F O R M A N C E
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ulators for years, and is still going strong. What’s new about it? The first-stage Tri- that indicates if the pressure is “HI,” “LO” or “OK” before every
C H A R T O N P ! S A N A D D E D M E A S U R E W E T H E N
61
2 I T E 3 O U R C E E V E N B E T T E R O N E I S T H E C O M P L E T E H O S E 6 A E S R S Y E M ' B O L O Y D A T A M O D E R A T E L Y A G G
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I N C H L E N G T H O F C O R R U I N G G A T R E A D T E H O B S O E T H A T F E E T A N D F E E T
Material valve is now made of brass and two different polyurethane compounds dive. The electronics also track the date and hours of use and tell h 7 H I C H O N E W O U L D Y O U B U Y v 4 H E I N F L A T O R R E G & % ! 4 5 4 H 2 E % 2 I T 3 E 3 O U R C E I S A N E W A C N O D M A E R R A P I D E X H A U S T V A L V E ) T S A L S O " C / O M 4 P A 4 T I / B L E - 4 H E , 2 I ) T E . 3 O % U R C E P E R F O R M E D
for longer life and better performance. It comes with Dynamic Flow Control, a you when it’s time for routine servicing. Digital envy aside, these T H A T R E C E I V E D T H E M O S T V O T E S W A S A W A R D E D O U R T O T H E O C T O
I N F L A T O R M A R K E T ) T S W I A T H L O W
P R N I T R O X O F I L E M I X E S U P T O P E R C E N T W E L L I N R E C R E A T I O N A L C I R C U M S T A N C E S ! R E A L P L U S
dedicated low-pressure port that increases airflow to the second stage. Size-wise, are top-performers, with slightly different versions of an over-balanced, 4 E S T E R S # H O I C E H O N O R C O M P A C T U N I T W I T H A S O F T P U 0 R G % E 2 C O & V E / R 2 T H - 4 A E T S ! T S D . I V # E R S % R A T E D T H E 4 H 2 E I T E H O S E A S S E M B L Y I S I N C L U D E D A S P A R T O F T H E
the Proton second stage is about as compact as they come. Its all-metal construc- environmentally sealed diaphragm first stage (the larger XTX50 first stage sports a
( E R E A R E T H E R E V I E W S P R E S
E N T E D I N A L P H A L A R G E A N D E A S Y T O F I N D 4 H E C O 3 N O T U R R O C E L S 6 E A R Y R E ' O W O E D L I L N A L L F O U R E R G O N
O M I C D C E A A T E L G O
tion reduces dry mouth and makes it well suited for cold-water diving, and its Vor- rotating hose turret; the XTX200 first stage is more compact); excellent breathing
B E T I C A L O R D E R D E F I N E D W I T H T H E L A R G E R E C T A N G U L A R R I E B S U h T T ) O T N B F R O E R A T H E D S M O O T H A N D D
R Y I N 0 M 2 O S ) T P # O S % I I N C L U D E S H O S E A S S E M B L Y
D E F L A T I O N A N D A S M A L L R O U N D
B U T T I T O N O N S F v O R N O I N T E F L D A O N E D I V E R W H I L E A N O T H E R W R O T E
tex Assisted Design second stage doesn’t require user adjustments, which means adjustment knobs and ratcheted venturi levers. Both regs dive dry, have comfort-
all you have to do is breathe. Lightweight, compact, smooth breathing and easy able mouthpieces and feature reversible hose configurations. XTX50—$847;
to use: What’s not to love? $450.
www.mares.com. XTX200—$990.
www.aqualung.com.
3 # 5 " ! $ ! ) 5 6 ' 5 ) 3 . 4 ' ! 5 ' 5 3 4 3 # 5 " ! $ ) 6 ) . ' # / -
66 S CUBA D IVING DECEMBER 2007 DECEMBER 2007 SCUBADIVING.COM 67
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