Aqualung Helix Pro 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.

Choose the connection that matches the cylinder valves you dive. The Yoke (A-clamp) version of the Helix Pro is rated to 3,300 psi / 232 bar and fits the valves most common on recreational rental tanks, while the DIN version is rated to 4,350 psi / 300 bar and threads into DIN valves used widely in Europe and technical diving. The DIN SKU is RG150003 and the Yoke SKU is RG150002.

Yes, it is built with cold water in mind. The first stage is sealed, which keeps water and particulates out of the internal mechanism and supports cold-water diving, and the pneumatically balanced second stage uses heat exchangers that transfer ambient warmth into the gas path to help prevent ice forming on the mechanism. Always follow your training and local rules for cold-water diving.

The Helix Pro first stage has six ports: four medium-pressure ports (3/8 in) and two high-pressure ports (7/16 in). The four MP ports are arranged in a T orientation, so you can route hoses to your primary second stage, octopus, BCD inflator and a drysuit inflator without crowding. The first stage has two high-pressure ports (7/16 in) for high-pressure accessories.

Yes. The Helix Pro is supplied compatible with nitrox blends up to EAN 40, meaning up to 40 percent oxygen, right out of the box with no modification. Mixes richer than 40 percent require dedicated oxygen-clean equipment and procedures. Dive nitrox only within your certification level and follow the gas-handling rules of the fill station and operator you are diving with.