Nobody wants to buy the wrong kit. I use the best kit after years of trying everything else out there. Proper kit is no more expensive and will grow with the diving you do.

Most likely you are reading this as you are possibly thinking of purchasing equipment to help you become more self sufficient or help you reach new depths and return home safely

MARES ABYSS (MR22) Regulator

 The regulators you use are important if you plan to dive to extreme depths. If you have no desire to dive below 150metres (500 feet) pretty much any regulator will do (except servo assisted 2nd stages of course - these should only be used ideally during no-decompression diving)

If you plan to dive below 150metres you would be wise to consider the Abyss regulator from Mares. I have used virtually every model from every manufacturer on deep and shallow dives, some were fine to 150metres, most free-flowed beyond this depth and others were better suited to less than 30metres.

The Abyss regulator has given me the least problems in deep water - it has never free-flowed due to cold water even without environmental seals fitted and is extremely straight forward to service and could be even considered inexpensive compared with its competition. Certainly the Abyss 2nd stage can be light to breathe 'out of the box' but a diver capable of 150metre dives will have the no-how to fine tine the 2nd stage to suit extreme depth.

The main plus point of the MR22 1st stage and Abyss 2nd stage is their all metal construction making them suitable for cold water diving and breathing super-chilled gases such as trimix at depth. The metal bodied 2nd stage is vastly superior to plastic at resisting free-flow.

Another major benefit is that the 1st stage has no IP boost feature making intermediate pressure increase in a linear fashion thus allowing the 2nd stage to resist free-flow even at extreme depth. Many 'other' high performance regulators have an IP boosting mechanism which is fine for intermediate depth dives but generally turns to free-flow below 150metres.

For all my trimix regulators I use the MR22 and Abyss combination, for shallower decompression tanks I use the MR12 1st stage with Rebel 2nd stage cleaned for oxygen use - these are slightly lower performance units better suited to moderate depth and are lighter for travelling with.

Seemann Sub do a reliable contents gauge designed for oxygen use.

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