Zeagle Envoy II Octopus

Follow the interval in your regulator's manual, since manufacturers commonly specify an annual inspection or a set number of dives and many warranties depend on it. A regulator is life-support equipment, so service belongs with a factory-trained technician rather than being attempted at home. Have it looked at sooner than scheduled if you notice increased breathing effort, free-flow, bubbles, or water in the second stage.

Make sure the dust cap is dry and firmly seated over the first-stage inlet before the regulator goes anywhere near water, because water inside the first stage is the leading cause of internal corrosion. Rinse in fresh water without pressing the purge button, since purging while depressurized can draw water back into the second stage. Shake out the water and hang it to dry with the hoses in wide, gentle loops rather than tight bends.

Regulators travel well and are usually best carried in hand luggage where they will not be crushed or lost. A regulator holds no gas of its own, so there is nothing inherently problematic about it on an aircraft, though the airline and security screeners always have the final say. Pack it dry with the dust cap in place, in a padded regulator bag or wrapped in soft gear.

Many modern regulators are supplied as suitable for nitrox mixes up to 40 percent oxygen, which is the widely used recreational industry standard, while anything above that requires dedicated oxygen-clean equipment and procedures. Confirm what your specific regulator's manual states, and follow your nitrox training and your fill station's requirements. Never assume a regulator is oxygen-service clean simply because it looks clean or is new.

A yoke (A-clamp) fitting clamps over the tank valve and is the most common connection across much of the recreational world, while a DIN fitting screws into the valve and is standard in much of Europe and in technical diving. DIN captures the o-ring inside the threads, which many divers consider more secure, but yoke is often what rental cylinders provide. Adapters exist in both directions, so check what is used where you dive before deciding.

The octopus is your backup second stage, carried so you can share air with a buddy who is out of gas, or breathe from it yourself if your primary fails or free-flows. It is normally on a longer, brightly colored hose so it is easy to find and hand over under stress. Secure it in the triangle between your chin and the bottom of your rib cage so it is instantly accessible and not dragging through sand or coral.

Store it fully dry, out of sunlight, with the dust cap in place and the hoses in wide loops rather than tightly coiled. Avoid hanging it by the second stages for long periods, which stresses the hose fittings; laying it flat in a padded bag or hanging it by the first stage is kinder. If it has sat unused for a long stretch, have it checked before your next trip rather than assuming it is ready to dive.

No, the Zeagle Envoy II first stage is not environmentally sealed. It is a balanced diaphragm first stage with a Conical Precision high-pressure valve and offers 2 high-pressure and 5 low-pressure ports. Because it is not sealed, it is not positioned as a dedicated cold-water regulator.

The Zeagle Envoy II second stage uses a balanced-diaphragm downstream valve with a dive/pre-dive venturi switch to help you tune breathing resistance. It weighs 2.4 pounds and comes with a 30-inch hose.

The Zeagle Envoy II requires annual (1-year) service to keep its warranty valid. The regulator carries a limited lifetime warranty, with wear parts covered for 2 years.

It comes with a 36 inch (91.4 cm) hose fitted with a 3/8 inch threaded end, and the hose is not braided. The 36 inch length gives plenty of clearance for routing the octopus around your BC, inflator and other gear.

The lever lets you set the second stage in the Pre-Dive position until the octopus is needed. Pre-Dive is much more resistant to Venturi free-flows, which on an unused backup can otherwise release a significant amount of air during a dive.

The second stage alone weighs 6.6 oz (187 g) without the hose, and the listed dry weight is 1.25 lbs / 0.6 kg. Zeagle builds it as a compact, lightweight octopus, using a flexible thermoplastic cover over a rigid thermoplastic case with a silicone rubber mouthpiece.

Zeagle provides a limited lifetime warranty to the original purchaser against defects in materials and workmanship, and it requires annual servicing to stay valid. Wear items including filters, hoses, O-rings, diaphragms and mouthpieces are covered for 2 years. The published service interval for this octopus is 1 year.