Mares SXS Octopus Diving Regulator

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.

SXS stands for Second eXtra Small, a name that highlights the extreme lightness and compactness of this second stage. Mares describes the SXS as the smallest, most compact second stage in its regulator line and as one of the most compact on the market. Mares positions the SXS for travel divers and for those wanting a streamlined setup.

Mares offers the same SXS second stage together with the 62X first stage, sold as the SXS 62X regulator. As an octopus, the SXS simply connects to a free low pressure port on whatever first stage you already dive, so it is not limited to one model. Call us at 888-701-4017 if you want help confirming your first stage has a spare low pressure port.

Yes. The SXS can be mounted and breathed from either the right or the left side, so you can route the Superflex hose in whichever direction suits your rig. Its lateral exhaust tube also improves visibility in various diving positions, which helps when you are donating air or breathing from the octopus in an unusual body position.

Yes. Mares publishes an optional extension tube kit for the SXS second stage that reduces bubble noise and helps keep the second stage dry. It is sold separately from the octopus itself. Contact DiveCatalog if you want to confirm availability of the extension tube kit for your SXS configuration before you set the regulator up.