Scubapro mk20 series#
Scubapro mk20 simulator#

A diver in excellent condition can breathe at 75 RMV for only about a minute. This is considered an 'extremely' heavy work breathing rate. Navy and now Scuba Lab use this breathing rate to identify equipment potential or limitation. Considered to represent 'heavy work,' a recreational diver in excellent condition aggressively chasing a huge bat ray through open water would be able to maintain 62.5 RMV for only two or three minutes. Navy's primary qualifier breathing rate, although they use many work rates in their various tests. This is the standard 'high work rate' used by the European conformance standard EN250 for evaluating regulator performance. From an engineering standpoint, this rate also gives a good view of the smoothness or lack of smoothness of a regulator's demand valve, and it shows a consistency curve when compared to higher RMVs. A diver could theoretically maintain 37.5 RMV for five minutes or longer without becoming significantly winded.

This breathing rate is very close to how a physically fit recreational diver might breathe taking slow deep breaths while swimming a long distance (for comparison, a relaxed diver making a drift dive or taking photographs will be breathing at about 22 RMV or less). Here are the test rates, what they represent and how you can apply them to real-world diving situations. These breathing rates were chosen to enable us to 1) simulate a recreational diver's breathing rate, 2) conform to recognized industry testing parameters for purposes of comparison and 3) surpass normal breathing rates to determine reserve capacity. Regulators were tested at three breathing rates, known as RMVs (Respiratory Minute Volumes, basically the amount of gas that can be ventilated through the lungs in one minute). To capture the complete picture, you need to consider both breathing machine performance and subjective in-water performance.

Scubapro mk20 simulator#

So while breathing simulator results are important, they represent only half the story. A machine might be able to tell you how hard or easy a regulator works to deliver gas at certain depths and breathing rates, but it can't tell you about a regulator that stutters or whistles, or a purge so stiff that clearing is difficult, or whether a regulator will choke you with water when you go head-down at 50 feet. What's more, breathing machine performance does not necessarily reflect in-water performance, simply because there are too many real-world variables that simulators can't measure. Note: Simulator tests were not intended to pass or fail regulators, but rather to scientifically gauge their performance based on controlled conditions. If a regulator can perform well at this low supply pressure, it will invariably perform wonderfully at a higher supply pressure. This exerted additional stress on the regulators. Tests were performed at a supply pressure of 725 to 760 psi, lower than past Scuba Lab tests (which were done at 1,500 psi). Following a surface check, each regulator was tested at three breathing rates at three depths each, capturing seven data points per breathing rate/depth for a total of 70 data points per regulator, or 4,830 data points in total. On the other hand, it's probably not a good idea to go off-roading in a Honda Civic.ДЄt an independent test facility, each regulator was tested on an ANSTI breathing simulator test system designed to stress regulators to extremes under controlled conditions. Conversely, if your diving patterns are more aggressive, if you're a deep diver or a tech diver, then you'd probably be better served by a regulator loaded with reserve capacity.ДЄfter all, you don't need an SUV with four-wheel drive if you're only driving to the corner store. If you're a casual diver who never comes close to the maximum recreational diving depth, and you never plan to, then perhaps you don't want or need a high-performance regulator.

The key is to match your regulator to your personal diving patterns. Does that mean you have to spend yourself into the poor house for a decent reg? Not necessarily. We found a general correlation between a regulator's price and both its breathing machine and in-water performance. Clearly, regulator engineering has come a long way from the days of the double hose rig. Our findings are presented on these pages, the results of the largest head-to-head comparative evaluation of scuba regulators ever conducted.ДЄs you'll see, the vast majority of regulators performed admirably, while many performed exceptionally. In total, 690 subjective data points and over 4,800 simulator data points were compiled and crunched.

Scubapro mk20 series#

From there they were handed over to a team of test divers for a series of time-proven in-water tests. Sixty-nine regulators ranging in price from $160 to $1,600, were recently collected, inspected and subjected to intensive computer-controlled breathing simulator tests at an independent test facility.