When you purchase a scuba regulator you are purchasing a piece of life support equipment, you should make this decision as though your life depended on it-because in reality it does. You could try and save a few dollars and entrust the air you breathe to a competitor or you could put your trust in the company that invented scuba diving and is still number one world wide.

REGULATORS - AQUA LUNG The Macquarie Dictionary defines an aqualung as follows - “Aqualung - A diver’s underwater breathing apparatus”

Rarely does a brand reach iconic status where the brand name is the accepted description for the product. All divers use an aqualung that regulates the pressure of the air they breathe; but experienced divers choose an Aqua Lung because they know that this brand was the first and its design and quality are inextricably intertwined with the long, rich history of scuba diving.

Aqua Lung recognises that progress is made through continuous evolution. Each new Aqua Lung regulator builds on the inherent qualities of its predecessor while implementing the latest advances in design and materials. Your aqualung is responsible for delivering life sustaining air, so don’t compromise with second best - choose Aqua Lung.

3 MAIN FEATURES TO LOOK FOR IN A SCUBA REGULATOR

1 Ease of Breathing/Performance
All Aqua Lung regulators exceed international standards for breathing resistance. Because Aqua Lung is recognised as the world’s premier brand even Aqua Lung’s entry level regulator has an extremely low level of breathing resistance. This makes inhalation and exhalation easy even in relatively demanding conditions. Read more about this in the ‘Technical Corner - Work of Breathing’ (see next page).
 
2 Quality/Value
When you pick up an Aqua Lung regulator you can see and feel the quality. Aqua Lung regulators are built to last and give you a lifetime of enjoyment. All Aqua Lung regulators are designed and built in their own specialist factory. In fact the quality is so good that they come with a limited lifetime guarantee (conditions apply).

3 Support/Spare Parts
Aqua Lung have a policy of constantly improving their regulators while ensuring core components are compatible with older models.  This combined with the fact that Aqua Lung is the world’s number one brand ensures that even in some of the worlds most remote regions you will find the part you need and someone qualified to repair your regulator. Often, inexperienced divers choose the cheapest regulator they can find only to discover a year or so down the track there is no support. Not only should you buy wisely, you must have your regulator serviced regularly, remember your life depends on it.

TECHNICAL CORNERWork of Breathing ?Aqua Lung regulators are objectively tested and their gas delivery performance is evaluated using an ANSTI breathing simulator machine. This simulator quantifies inhalation and exhalation effort while subjecting the regulator to variations in depth, supply pressure and water temperatures. The results of these tests, which study exhalation and inhalation effort, are computer analysed to produce an overall “work of breathing” (WOB) rating. The WOB results are typically plotted as “WOB Curves” as seen in the diagram. All Aqua Lung regulators exceed the rigorous standards required of regulators sold internationally and particularly in European countries. The rigorous European standard (“CE”) requires that the WOB does not exceed 3 joules/litre at 50m. All Aqua Lung regulators have received the CE approval rating and have an exceptionally low WOB, the entry level regulator, the Calypso, has a WOB at a surprisingly low 0.92 J/L, while at the end of performance, the Legend LX ACD, has a WOB of just 0.74 J/L. When you purchase an Aqua Lung regulator, you are buying it with confidence because the comprehensive testing program to which these regulator designs are subjected is your guarantee of quality and performance.

Auto Closure Device (ACD) This system automatically protects your first stage from the environment as soon as it has been disconnected from the cylinder valve. If it is stored without its dust cap the inside of the first stage is protected against corrosion and foreign bodies. However, use of the dust cap is recommended to prevent damage due to impacts.

ACD affords the greatest protection against water entry
ACD affords the greatest protection against contamination
ACD is an improved safety measure. It is available in DIN 300B and Yoke 232B versions throughout the LEGEND range

Over-Balanced Diaphragm First Stage As you descend with an over-balanced first stage, the medium pressure in the hose actually increases at a faster rate than the traditional balanced models. This increased medium pressure compensates for the increased density of your breathing gas at deeper depths. The result is superior breathing regardless of depth.

Balanced Second Stage In an unbalanced second stage the valve which controls the flow of air works against a spring. In order to open the valve, the diver’s inhalation force needs to counteract the spring force. In a balanced second stage the intermediate pressure coming from the first stage is used to counterbalance the spring force, substantially reducing the amount of effort required to open the valve. This results in a second stage that is much more responsive to inhalation effort and breathes very smoothly, especially at depth.