Regulator Buying Guide:
What to Look for in a Reliable Regulator

A scuba regulator is your lifeline underwater. It needs to be reliable, durable, and suited to your diving environment. Whether you're buying your first regulator or upgrading your setup, this guide will help you navigate the key factors to consider.

Understanding Regulator Components

A scuba regulator consists of two main stages:

• First Stage: Attaches to the tank and reduces high-pressure air to an intermediate pressure.
• Second Stage: Delivers air at ambient pressure when you inhale.

Balanced vs. Unbalanced Regulators

A balanced regulator maintains consistent breathing effort regardless of tank pressure, while an unbalanced regulator requires more effort as tank pressure drops.

Verdict: Most divers benefit from a balanced regulator, especially for deeper or colder dives. But you will be hard pressed to tell the difference during the actual dive.

Diaphragm vs. Piston First Stages

Regulators use either a diaphragm or piston mechanism in the first stage to control air delivery.

Verdict: Most divers would benefit from a diaphragm regulator. But you will be hard pressed to tell the difference during the actual dive.

Environmental Sealing: Do You Need It?

Environmental sealing protects the first stage from freezing in cold water or getting clogged with sand/silt.

Verdict: It may be unnecessary in warm, tropical diving. There is no reason not to get a regulator that is environmentally sealed if it is offered. It is essentially mandatory in cold water or silty / salt-heavy environments.

Hose Configuration & Port Layout

Check the number of high-pressure (HP) and low-pressure (LP) ports for flexible hose routing.

Verdict: If you plan to move into technical diving, choose a first stage with a fifth LP port on a turret for better hose routing.

Breathing Performance & Ease of Adjustment

Some second stages allow fine-tuning of breathing effort. Look for:

• Venturi Control: Helps reduce free-flow at the surface.
• Breathing Resistance Knob: Lets you fine-tune inhalation effort.

High-end regulators offer more adjustments for custom breathing comfort. Though you will be hard pressed to notice during the actual dive.

What Is a Venturi Lever and Do You Need One?

A Venturi lever (also called a Dive/Pre-Dive switch) is a small control on many second stages that adjusts the flow of air inside the regulator to reduce or increase the Venturi effect.

Purpose:

• Pre-Dive / "Minus" Position: Disrupts airflow to help prevent free-flow when the regulator isn’t in your mouth—especially at the surface or when entering the water.
• Dive / "Plus" Position: Enhances the Venturi effect to make inhalation easier during the dive.

Do You Need It?

• Most modern second stages include one.
• It’s not essential, but it’s a useful feature to help prevent free-flows and allow smoother breathing underwater.
• If you’re buying a high-performance second stage, you’ll likely get a Venturi lever by default.

Best Practice:
Leave it in Pre-Dive mode at the surface and switch to Dive once you're descending.

Choosing the Right Mouthpiece & Comfort Features

A comfortable mouthpiece reduces jaw fatigue. Options include:

• Soft silicone for better comfort
• Custom-molded mouthpieces for a perfect fit
• Swivel adapters for flexible hose positioning. Though this introduces additional ORing failure points.

Maintenance & Serviceability

• Annual servicing required for most regulators
• Availability of service kits & technicians matters
• User-serviceable models (e.g., Deep6 regulators) allow self-maintenance if you are technically inclined

Choose a Brand Your Local Dive Shop Can Service

A regulator is a life preserving device and even though I'm highly technical with DIY situations, I leave the servicing of my regulators to a trained professional. Even the best regulator is useless if you can’t get it serviced easily.

Recommendation:

• Buy a brand your local dive shop can maintain and support. Even if you intend to service it yourself.
• Regular servicing requires access to parts kits and a qualified technician—if your shop doesn't work on your brand, you'll have to ship it off, often at your own cost and risk.

Why this matters:

• Faster turnaround during dive season
• Peace of mind knowing your tech is familiar with your gear
• Easier access to warranty service if something fails

Tip: Before you buy, ask your shop:

“Can you service this reg in-house, and do you stock parts kits for it?”

If not, it may be worth choosing a brand they do service—even if another option looks better on paper. Or find a different local dive shop that does service the brand you want.

Buying New vs. Used Regulators

Buying a regulator is a big investment, but you don’t always need to buy new. Used regulators can offer excellent value if you know what to look for.

When buying used:

• Always get it serviced before diving—assume it hasn’t been maintained.
• Inspect for corrosion, especially around hose fittings.
• Stick to well-known brands with good parts availability (Apeks, Scubapro, etc.)
• Avoid gray market gear or discontinued models with no support.

Recommended Regulators by Dive Type

DIN vs. Yoke (A-Clamp) Connections

For a full breakdown of the pros and cons, see the DIN vs. Yoke Guide. Hint...you want DIN.

Final Thoughts

A regulator is one of the most important pieces of scuba gear you'll own. Choosing the right one ensures safe, comfortable breathing in any environment.

• Balanced diaphragm regulators are the best all-around choice.
• Environmentally sealed models are a must for cold water or silty dives.
• Breathing performance & serviceability should guide your decision.

Need more help choosing a reg? Future Deep Dive: Best Regulators by Budget [COMING SOON]