Zeagle F8 1st Stage with F8 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.

Yes. The F8 first stage is environmentally and dry sealed, and its dry-sealed spring chamber is designed to prevent freezing below 40 degrees F (4 degrees C). The redesigned heat sink uses a larger surface area and improved materials to shed cold, and the inlet tube and heat sink are zirconium plated for corrosion resistance in harsh seawater.

Zeagle publishes a 2 year service interval for the F8. Note that the warranty terms are separate: the limited lifetime warranty applies to the original purchaser, filters, hoses, O-rings, diaphragms and mouthpieces are covered for 2 years, and annual service is required to keep warranty coverage in force.

The F8 was engineered in partnership with Atomic Aquatics and carries more than 20 improvements to mechanisms, materials, controls and aesthetics. Highlights include a patented seat-saving orifice that retracts when the regulator is not in use, a super alloy valve spring with fewer coils for better airflow, an adjustable spring pad, a smaller and more impact-resistant polymer case and a co-molded front cover and effort control knob.

Yes. The F8 second stage uses a snap-in case insert that allows color personalization. The mouthpiece also has tear-resistant colored bite lugs. Color kits are sold separately from the regulator set. Call DiveCatalog at 888-701-4017 or start a chat if you want help confirming availability of a specific insert color.