Scubapro A700 Regulator- 2nd Stage Only

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.

SCUBAPRO publishes the A700 as the second stage in its MK17 EVO/A700, MK19 EVO/A700 and MK25 EVO/A700 regulator systems, so those first stages are the intended pairings. Each of those systems is offered with INT (yoke) and DIN connections, so the A700 can sit on either style of first stage. If you are matching it to an older first stage, contact us and we will confirm the configuration.

No. According to SCUBAPRO's full-face mask information, the A700, G260 and R195 second stages cannot be connected to the full-face mask mouthpiece adapter because of a difference in mouthpiece adapter size. If you plan to dive a SCUBAPRO full-face mask, you need a second stage that SCUBAPRO lists as adapter compatible rather than the A700.

The A700 has two diver-adjustable controls. The inhalation effort knob lets you dial breathing resistance up or down in the water, and the coaxial Venturi-Initiated Vacuum Assist (VIVA) switch adjusts the venturi effect to manage free-flow tendency, for example at the surface or in current. Together with the air-balanced valve, they keep breathing consistent across depths and supply pressures.

Yes. The A700 uses a full metal case with a metal valve housing (barrel) and a screw-down cover, which SCUBAPRO notes allows a larger diaphragm inside a compact casing for greater breathing sensitivity. It weighs 9.3 oz (265 g) without the hose and ships with a Super Flow LP hose.