Scubapro MK21/S560 Dive Regulator INT with Mouthpiece & Hose Protector

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.

INT stands for international connector, which is the same yoke style fitting used across most recreational tank valves, clamping over the valve rather than screwing into it like a DIN fitting. On the MK21/S560, the first stage uses a redesigned yoke that is built for easy mounting on a cylinder and a protective cap to help keep water out of the internal components.

The mouthpiece and hose protector color kit for the MK21/S560 is made of PVC and offered in purple, red, yellow, white, pink and orange. Divers use these kits to personalize the look of the first stage or to visually distinguish gas mixes from one another when running multiple regulators on technical dives.

The MK21 first stage has two high pressure ports, one on each side of the body, so it can be positioned either up or down. It also has a standard four low pressure port hose routing cap angled +/- 20 degrees, with an optional cap available that adds a fifth centralized high-flow low pressure port for technical diving configurations.

Yes. The MK21 first stage is compatible with the entire range of currently offered Scubapro second stages, so the S560 second stage can be swapped for another Scubapro second stage, or the MK21 can be paired with a different Scubapro second stage, as a diver's needs or budget change.