How Do Vintage Twin Hose Regs Work? #askmark
Alec Peirce Scuba @AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter
@Yggdrasil42
#askmark How did those cool old timey two-hose regulators work? They look like a rebreather loop so maybe one-way valves? And why were they used?
#scuba #scubadiving #scubadiver
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Hi Mark. For your fans who what to see what double hose diving is all about, watch is video from our Sea Hunt Forever 2019 event in Silver Springs, Florida, USA. Where the TV show Sea Hunt with Mike Nelson shot many underwater segments. https://youtu.be/G9O2zr2dWLs. Double hose regulators, tanks and gear are still used by divers of any age. As you mentioned the modern Kraken, it is out of production for the time being but there are vintage regs divers can still buy and get serviced even in the “mild” UK waters. Another great show, Kevin and both watch your series so keep them coming my friend.
Alec Peirce
👍😎
#ASKMARK have you seen the new Seac Modular BCD – would love to see a review on them compared to other similar priced units.
I trust SEAC as a brand, I’ve been to their HQ and used their gear over the years. I haven’t used the Modular yet but, it looks like a decent wing BCD.
If you’re looking for a technical backplate and wing then I’d recommend looking at some of the more technical brands. But as a recreational BCD it ticks a lot of boxes.
2 Hose regulators basically operate the same as modern single hose regulators. They have a first and a second stage.
SCUBA regulators have changed very little since the 1960’s. First stages are still unbalanced piston, balanced piston and balanced diaphram. The only real change has been the introduction of the balanced 2nd Stage in the 1980’s. Everything else is just marketing ploys by the manufacturers.
#askmark
Hey Mark, I’m wondering your thoughts on pony bottles/alternate air sources and their use at an advanced recreational level. I’m a great lakes diver and a very average dive is between 60-100 feet deep and anywhere 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit. Many divers carry 30 or 40 cubic foot cylinders with a single regulator as a backup to whatever back gas they have. While coldwater regs are the standard around here, freeze ups and free flows can still happen. I’m under the impression it is easier (and safer?) to give another diver your pony bottle and ascend together but unconnected, compared to doing the standard sharing of an octo, which limits mobility and puts more gas flowing through the first stage.
I am interested in your two cents. Do you have experience with pony bottles? and at what point should recreational divers stay away extra gear that they may not have been trained properly to use?
Ponies are quite common here in the UK as well as twins, but, they’re usually fixed to your back. In Europe you can often find Y valves on single cylinders so you can fit two 1st stages to a single cylinder to reduce airflow on each 1st stage. I prefer the redundancy of a separate cylinder like a back or sidemounted cylinder.
In my experience of donating to an OOA diver it’s easiest to just donate the 2nd stage and keep the cylinder attached to yourself the donor. Handing over a cylinder runs the risk of dropping it and it’s going to change both divers buoyancy. Even when the reg failed on a calm and competent buddy of mine, we ascended together. a nice long hose helps with that.
Thank you. I always wondered how they worked.
Cool , fun and educational , the history and function of diving and equipment. More double hose regulators in the uk!
Woohoo! Thanks for showing us the inside Mark. No bubbles in your face seems like a big benefit.
Im guessing they are not being mass produced now ia that they are not deemed to be the future of diving again…Okay so its a integrated first and second stage… okay so if your on single clyinder on a normal set up, and an o ring goes on a modern stage 1 your second stages are going to be soon useless once air runs out. Wish Apeks would bring them back. I would buy one just for the reason gas is vented behind you. Dont like the style of the Kraken. Wonder how muchl more difficult it is to breath. Millions of miles away from my mtx rc lol. But really fancy trying one for sure.
I’ve got a 2005 Aqualung Mistral LE double hose regulator and absolutely love it. Might not be the easiest to use or the easiest breathing regulator, but I love being able to have no bubbles in my vision and also still have the ability to use my air integrated dive computer. Some purists out there might say it’s just a no thoughts gimmick, but there’s enough modern implementations and it makes underwater video work a much smoother experience so I definitely recommend trying a twin hose regulator if you get the chance
#askmark Are there simple inlet valves for buoyancy wings? Similar to what is used with drysuits or an adapter ring that would allow a drysuit valve to be used with the wing? An Aqualung Axiom i3 BCD style solution would be great.
They do exist however, it tends to be in dedicated bladders because both the inflator valve and bladder port use male threads. The only example I can think of is the Dive Rite No Mount BC. It’s a simple bladder made to wrap around your cylinder and adjust it’s buoyancy which uses a drysuit style valve.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen an adaptor but, there may be one out there somewhere.
Yes Alec has several videos about vintage double hose regulators.
https://youtu.be/e0MK-M0Vm2o
As well as “Sea Hunt Remembered”, which is what you were referring to with the reenacted underwater fight scenes. They have a reunion almostyearly in Florida where the TV series did a lot of footage.
I actually got to dive and disasseble a DA Aqua Master double hose regulator a few weeks ago and posted a video about it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPPaG0expu8