Ice Diving Regulators

I'm going to be diving in Antarctica next year - so I will need to upgrade my regulator to one that can stand up to the harsh environment. Has anyone out there had good or bad experiences with their freeze-protected regulators in a similar environment? So far, my local dive shop have recommended the Scubapro ICEBREAKER MK17/X650 combined with the R390. Has anyone out there used this set up (or similar) in ultra cold water? How did it perform? Any recommendations / feedback will be appreciated.

Thanks

Aaron

Contributed by Aaron added 2005-11-29

Replies of 4

Aaron added 2005-12-06

An update - have also heard good things about the Apex ATX 200. This would certainly be one to consider for the long term - its environmentally sealed and should be ok for Antarctica - plus it has a good rep as a deep diving reg - after Antarctica I'll be looking to start tech diving. Again, same questions apply - has anyone used this reg in Antarctic waters or similar temperature. How did it perform?

Thanks

Aaron

ads added 2006-03-17

check out the dive rite gear. dive rite did a trip to antartica to test it out and it went really well. check out http://www.diverite.com.au there's a write up on the trip there too

cheers

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JosephE added 2006-04-21

Hi Aaron

I've never done any ice diving, so I'm pretty green :-) but anyway, the new ScubaPro mark18/R380 combo is ideal, it comes out the box with an environmental seal on the first stage. Also you can set the second stage for either left or right handed use.

Alternate could be Poseidon (made in Sweden so designed for freezing conditions). I have spoken to friends of mine from Poland as well who dive in very cold if not freezing conditions and they all use Poseidon Cyclon5000. But not as comfortable to breath as the ScubaPro.

One other thing, I'd recommend you get two different types or at least models of reg, because if you have two the same and one free-flows or locks up the other one is likely to do the same in the same conditions.

Safe Diving

Joseph

Sergeantpepper added 2006-05-04

Hi Aaron.

In the UK we do a lot of coldwater diving, freshwater inland divesites where water temps usually drop to around 3 - 4 deg c.

I use Apeks ATX200 they are fantastic and I would say that you shouldn't have a problem with them, on the other hand I also own a set of Scubapro mk25/s600 combo, they freeflow regularly and at my club we fondly refer to them as ScubaFLOW. My advice is don't use Scubapro sub 7 deg c. save them for warmwater.

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