| Conveying compressed air directly from the cylinder | | | | could obstruct the efficient flow of air into the |
| tank could injure and rupture the lungs of the scuba | | | | second stage or cause a free flow. |
| diver on the receiving end of high pressure air. This is | | | | When diving cold waters or freshwater |
| the reason why a scuba regulator device is | | | | environments, a scuba regulator set with a balanced, |
| integrated into the open circuit SCUBA set. In line | | | | diaphragm type first stage is recommended. For |
| with the utility of this component scuba equipment, a | | | | divers using a piston type of first stage, experts |
| scuba diver will have to take particular attention of | | | | recommend sustained maintenance due to the |
| the design and features set into the regulator in | | | | likelihood of corrosion of the frequently moving parts |
| order to derive utmost comfort and performance | | | | of this scuba equipment. |
| from the device. Let us review a few of the | | | | Balanced or Unbalanced |
| functionalities that should form part of the | | | | Just how do you determine if a particular dive |
| consideration in the selection of this scuba equipment, | | | | requires the use of a balanced or an unbalanced |
| particularly its first stage mechanism. | | | | regulator? Both piston and diaphragm types (first |
| Piston or Diaphragm Type | | | | stage) of regulators can also be categorized as either |
| Two types of first stages have been developed, the | | | | balanced or unbalanced. When deep diving or cruising |
| piston and diaphragm type. The difference is | | | | recreational limits, the use of balanced regulators are |
| determined by the mechanism outfitted to open and | | | | preferred since the device sustains the same level |
| close the air valve of the first stage. While the piston | | | | breathing to the diver at all depths and rate of |
| type offers a rudimentary design that speaks of | | | | pressure as opposed to unbalanced regulator sets |
| more dependable performance, the sealed | | | | that endeavor varying levels of inhalation effort, |
| components of the diaphragm type provides more | | | | where breathing becomes slightly difficult as lower |
| protection from environmental contaminants that | | | | depths are reached. |