Genesis Prana, High Performance Scuba Regulator 1st Stage and 2nd Stage

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.

Genesis Scuba rates the Prana for water temperatures above 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit), so it is intended for temperate and warm water rather than true cold water or ice diving. The first stage is dry and environmentally sealed, which keeps water and contaminants out of the spring chamber and internals, but the published temperature rating is the figure to dive by.

The Prana second stage has two diver controls. The breathing effort control knob lets you fine tune inhalation resistance, so you can open it up for a relaxed breath or dial it down if conditions demand. The diver-operated Venturi switch toggles between pre-dive and dive, reducing sensitivity and the chance of a free flow during surf entries, boat entries and current.

The Prana first stage has four low pressure ports and two high pressure ports, which gives you room to route a primary second stage, an octopus, a BCD inflator hose and a gauge or transmitter. The first stage uses a tee-shaped design that reduces its profile when mounted on the tank valve, helping keep hoses tidy behind your head.

No. This listing is the Genesis Prana regulator set, part #GR910, consisting of the first stage and the primary second stage. Genesis Scuba lists the companion Prana Octo (GS010) as a separate product, so a backup second stage is purchased separately. The first stage's four low pressure ports leave room to add an octopus later.