Scubapro MK11 EVO Yoke S270 Dive 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.

Each system includes the MK11 EVO first stage in the connector you select, INT (Yoke) or DIN, the S270 second stage, a 75 cm (29.5 inch) low-pressure hose, a 4 mm Allen key and the product manual. There is no octopus, gauge or BCD inflator hose in the box, so plan to add those separately. Four low-pressure ports and two high-pressure ports leave room for them.

Yes. The MK11 EVO/S270 system is CE certified to EN250A European standards for extreme cold-water diving and is rated for warm, cold and temperate water. The first stage uses a forged brass body with metal fins that aid thermal exchange, and the second stage pairs a technopolymer barrel with a metal thread and a balanced valve to help resist ice crystal formation in very cold conditions.

No. The S270 is listed as a non-adjustable second stage, so there is no inhalation effort knob. It does have a dive/predive switch that is sized to be operated while wearing thick gloves, which lets you reduce the chance of a free flow at the surface or in current. Breathing effort is managed by the air-balanced valve and the efficient exhaust tee.

The INT (Yoke) version is item 12.179.000, UPC 4048336437387, and the DIN 300 version is item 12.179.300, UPC 4048336437394. Weight and dimensions are identical at 2.38 lb and 9.06 by 7.09 by 3.15 inches; only the first stage connector differs. Choose Yoke for most recreational tank valves in North America and the Caribbean, DIN for European and technical valves.