A regulator is one of the main pieces of diving equipment and not a purchase for one season: it will serve you for a long time and will need servicing and specialist maintenance. So when you choose one, think not only about the model, but also about where you will dive and who will service it.
What a regulator does
A regulator turns high-pressure air from the cylinder into air at normal pressure that you can breathe. It also supplies air to your buoyancy compensator and, if you dive in a dry suit, to the suit.
Kinds of regulators
How regulators work is covered as early as your first diving course. Regulators can be:
- Balanced or unbalanced
- Diaphragm or piston
- Standard or high performance
- With a wet or a dry (sealed) chamber
There are many technical details, but the good news is that regulators from the main manufacturers are well developed and won't give you trouble. Even budget regulators work reliably in normal use.
How to choose a regulator
- Make sure it can be serviced. Rule out an unheard-of manufacturer and a little-known model straight away. The price may be very attractive and the quality excellent, but when it needs servicing, you may not find a service kit or a dive centre willing to service it. Serious manufacturers support their products for decades. Before you buy, make sure there is a diving equipment service or dive centre nearby that can service your regulator.
- Think about where you will dive. Many divers at first dream only of tropical waters, but you can dive in Lithuania too. Here the water is clearest when it cools down, in October and November, and in some interesting, deeper spots the water is only 4–5 °C even in summer. If you want to dive safely in Lithuania all season, choose a regulator with a dry chamber: it is made for diving in cold water.
- Choose a high-performance regulator. It delivers plenty of air even at great depth and when you breathe hard, even when the cylinder pressure is already low.
- Find out what the knobs are for. Many regulators have airflow adjustment knobs. Learn what they do, and how and when to use them.
- Ask for advice. Once you have set your budget and made your choice, discuss it with experienced divers and your instructor, and read test results and reviews.
You can look at regulators in our shop in Vilnius or choose one online.
Frequently asked questions
Which regulator should I choose for diving in Lithuania?
One with a dry chamber, made for diving in cold water. In Lithuania the water is clearest in October and November, and in some deeper spots it is only 4–5 °C even in summer.
Is a regulator from an unknown maker worth buying?
No. A regulator needs servicing, and for a little-known model you may not find a service kit or a centre willing to service it. Even budget regulators from the main manufacturers work reliably.
What does a diving regulator do?
It turns high-pressure air from the cylinder into air at normal pressure that you can breathe, and supplies air to your buoyancy compensator and dry suit.