Regulator Review:  HOG (Highly Optimized Gear) D1 Coldwater 1^st with Adjustable 2^nd

In 2007, a new line of equipment was introduced to the SCUBA world. Known as HOG along with its recreational sibling, Edge, this line was designed to give the tech diver and the recreational diver another choice in the world of scuba equipment, an opportunity to buy high quality, no nonsense gear at a reasonable price. The line was not designed to take over the entire dive market, but it is making steady in-roads to many areas. Founded by Chris Richardson of Georgia, this is their goal is in their own words:

“We have a single minded purpose, to offer excellent quality equipment, superlative service and affordable prices.”

This they have done. They continue to add to the product line and the same theme is carried over with every new item. I became a fan and user of HOG equipment in 2009 when they introduced the D1 regulator. This reg was introduced to the dive community at an unheard of price for a regulator of this quality with the features it has. At select retailers, it was offered at the incredible price of $150 US for both stages! I bought two of each stage.

Shown above, these units came without hoses. Why? Very simple – they were sold with the idea that the diver knew best which hose he or she needed. Tech divers have set ways in which they configure their gear and many times it is not with hose lengths that are the same as what usually comes from the manufacturer. They may indeed want a standard length recreational primary hose of 32- 36 inches (1 meter) if it is going to be used for single tank diving, but more likely it will be a five foot or seven foot hose (2 meters). If it is a longer hose, an octo that is bungeed under the chin is used. In that case, as opposed to a 40 inch (1.2 meter) hose that would be donated to the divers buddy, a 22 inch (approximately 600 centimeter) hose is used, as the primary would be donated in an out of air situation. The five foot or seven foot (2 meter) hose also allows the divers to exit tight spaces such as a shipwreck or cave single file, where side by side swimming is not possible. In addition, technical divers consider the Buoyancy Compensator they are using to determine the length of the LP inflator hose. It could be as short as 12 inches (approximately 325 centimeters) or as long as 18 inches (approximately 475 centimeters) depending on the BC which is most often a Backplate and Wing type. As for the HP hose, most tech divers use only an SPG attached to the hose. As such, there is no console with a computer or compass, so these are worn on the wrist. Instead of the 32 or 36 inch (1 meter) hose found on most recreational setups then, the diver typically uses a 24 inch (approximately 625 centimeter) length hose.

So what HOG/Edge did in order to keep costs down and not have extra hoses lying around is, they left it up to the diver to decide what hoses are needed. I bought my regulators to use on my double cylinders. As such, I already had the hoses needed and so my total outlay was $308 US for both regulators! The price has since gone up but there are still deals to be had. One dealer offers the doubles set up for $585 US including an SPG. Try to buy one top end regulator from one of the major brands at that price!

The HOG regulators are made for the diver who wants a solid performer with good looks and a solid feel. They are rugged, big, and very cool looking. The picture above of the first stage is properly exposed. The finish is“black chrome” that just looks great and stays that way. The finish is highly resistant to scratches and corrosion. The stage is available with a 5^th LP port on the bottom to aid in hose routing — I highly recommend this option! The D1 first stage comes in DIN but an adapter for DIN to Yoke could be used. In places where DIN connections are common, such as in Europe, this eliminates the need to convert the reg over to the DIN fitting.

Here is one of my first stages with the 5^th LP port used for the primary second stage. As you can see, the finish is beautiful and highly reflective! The second stage is also very well finished and oozes class and character; mine is shown below. As you can see, it has been used! The photo on the left shows the adjustment knob and the lever (red) that deflects air around the inside of the chamber to reduce the chance of free flow on the surface. I love this feature. It allows me to tune the reg to a minimal breathing effort and yet not worry about bumping the purge button on the surface or underwater, which as we divers all know, can start a free flow that wastes air and elicits laughter from our buddies!

This feature is also why I have two of these dive regulators. For divers who do technical dives it is important to have a bungeed octo that is just as good as the primary. We do not want a lower quality unit to be the one we have to go to in an emergency. The price of the HOG regulators means that we do not have to sacrifice performance in order to save money. Of course, if saving money is a priority, it is probably not a good idea to get into technical diving in the first place, because once you start doubling everything you would carry on a non-technical single tank dive it adds up very fast. HOG knows this as they themselves are technical divers and take this into consideration in product development and pricing. The types of dives these regulators are designed for mean that cutting corners in quality to save money can be a very bad, if not fatal, decision. With HOG, that sacrifice is unnecessary. We can indeed have our cake and eat it too!

I have removed the face plate for a very important reason: to show that it can be done. And no special tools are needed.  It is imperative for me to be able to do this with my second stages, for if a problem arises underwater I want to be able to do this even with heavy gloves on. There have been times when a piece of debris got caught in the second stage — I once saw a reg with a twig in it! Being able to take the second stage apart at depth can be a real plus when it is a simple fix and you do not want to or cannot surface to address it. The photo below shows the top view of the second stage with the cover removed.

As you can see, the same attention to detail is used on the inside of the reg. The demand lever is robust yet light and moves easily. The horizontal red bar is the deflector mechanism. The adjustment knob is purposely made large, making it easy to manipulate even with dry gloves or mitts. Everything about this unit is made with function and reliability in mind. There are no wasted spaces or extras that could end up being failure points. The reg shown is the one that is located on the right post of my dual tanks, hence the bolt snap tied near the second stage.

The regulator is environmentally sealed, meaning no water or contaminants can enter the first stage when it is on the tank and pressurized. The unit is also rated for cold water. This was an important feature for me as I dive in water as cold as 38 degrees F; I will be taking these regulators under the ice in 2011 when I assist with an ice diving class. The other feature that was very important to me was that the manufacturer allows sales of the service kits to divers. That’s correct – buy this reg and if you know how, you can get the kit to service it yourself.  No hassles, no arguments!

It is highly recommended that you take a service course but the fact is that if you have serviced a regulator before, you can service these. Just take your time and remember how everything came apart! Another option is to buy the kit, take it and the regulator to any competent technician, and have them do it. One more option is to simply send the regulator to the dealer you bought it from and allow them to do it. The dealers that currently carry the line of gear all have experienced techs to service them. Finally, you can always send the reg to HOG to let them service it. Whichever option you choose, it is important to have the reg serviced when it is needed.

As to how they perform, that is what you really want to know isn’t it? The short answer is they work great! I, as an instructor, have had the opportunity to dive dozens of different regulators, from inexpensive basic piston regulators to what would be considered very high end units (titanium bodies, balanced, over balanced, etc.). The HOG D1 cold with HOG second stage breathes as good as or better than regulators costing literally two or three times as much. I have had them in water from 38 degrees to 85 degrees and they work with no extra effort in breathing. As a result, these regulators are now my favorite. I own eight other regulators from Sherwood, Oceanic, ScubaPro, and Aqualung – all of these will eventually be replaced with HOG or Edge regulators. The fact that I can service them myself, they breathe excellent, look good, and are utterly reliable makes that an easy decision. There is any number of choices one could make when selecting a new regulator and for the most part, all of them will work to one degree or another, but today’s divers want value for their money. They don’t want to waste hard earned cash on something they may have to replace or will not be happy with a year or two from now. The regulators from HOG will last the diver many years. They will also allow you to take some of that hard earned money and spend it on actual diving! In this writer’s opinion, the HOG D1 Cold 1^st stage coupled with the adjustable HOG second is the best regulator for the money on the market today!

Jim Lapenta

SEI Diving Instructor #204

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Omer Olympia Mask

A diving mask is diving equipment that allows scuba divers and swimmers to see clearly underwater. These masks provide for an air space in front of the eyes, enabling light to enter normally so that the human eye can focus correctly. Depending on depth and clarity of water all sunlight is blocked eventually as the diver goes in more depth and then the diver has to rely on artificial light sources to see underwater.

Omer Olympia mask is an outstanding mask recommended by most of the divers and swimmers due to its lightweight frame, expanded field of vision and low profile shape which offers a comfortable and reliable fit for every diver possible. Its easily adjustable straps and integrated swivel buckles make it comfortable for divers to adjust these with accordance to their comfort. Moreover its silicon skirt ensures its durability and comfort for years to come.

Technicalities:

• Ultra violet Light protection
• Available with different Diopter strengths.
• Warranty period of 1 year.
• Available in four colors: Ocean mimetic, mimetic med, mimetic brown and all black.

Omer Olympia mask provides a clear view regardless of environmental conditions because of its dual tempered glass lenses and injected double lip skirt. Additionally its tempered glass lenses prevent fogging, distortion and minimize scratching. It has easy to access pocket for single handed equalizing and a soft silicone skirt and broad view ring to provide excellent waterproofing and 180 degree visibility. Its Low profile eliminates the drag experienced by other swimming masks and its locking teeth on the strap ensure secure fitting and the tangle free pad stays secure and incredibly streamlined fit.

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Aeris Roller Duffel has massive storage ability that’s easy to handle.  Take the massive carrying ability of a duffle bag, add easy-access fin compartments, wheels, and a telescoping handle, and you’ve got the Roller Duffel.

Everything you need in one bag! The Roller features everything you need for trips of any length: durable all-terrain wheels, retractable handle, removable Regulator Bag, full padding, and secondary external access compartments for quick storage when you’re short on time.

* Large wheeled duffel style bag with 2 position retractable handle
* Ballistic nylon construction with reinforced wear areas
* All-terrain wheels are ultra-durable and make short, smooth work of stairs, curbs, and other obstacles
* Self-healing YKK zippers with pull tabs
* Large zippered compartment with oversized fin pockets
* Spacious built-in dry compartment
* Dimensions: 30″ x 15″ x 15″

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A full-stretch suit with high-end features and design. For those of you who are uncompromising in the quality desired in your dive gear.

In 2009 Bare updated its 7mm ELASTEK Full WetSuit with skin-to-skin 3mm GLIDESEAL wrist and ankle seals, added new size – 4XL and started shipping it in red also.

Bare 7mm Elastek Full Stretch Features

• Skin-to-skin 3mm GLIDESEAL wrist and ankle seals
• New size: 4XL
• New color: Red MATERIAL
• Material: 7mm ELASTEK Neoprene
• Innovation: FULL-STRETCH
• Comfortable contoured 5mm GLIDESEAL collar with Velcro adjustment
• Heavy-duty, color coordinated, G-lock back zipper with stainless steel slider
• Skin-to-skin internal sealing zipper flap
• Anatomically correct pattern for three dimensional fit throughout
• Set-in sleeve design for superior comfort and mobility
• Embossed inner elbow flex panels
• FORMTEK kneepads provide total flexibility, durability and comfort
• Loop at base of zipper assists donning
• Double glued with SECURE-LOCK construction

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Bare BlackWing is another advanced wing/back style BC by a well known producer of wetsuits and drysuits. Bare BlackWing is made of highest quality materials and construction combined with popular features for more technical diving. Male and female designs incorporate an ergonomic harness that provides full support. Bare Blackwing BC is very popular with drysuit divers.

Available in both male and female (Curve) designs, the Bare Blackwing BC delivers 48 lbs of lift and holds a total of 30 pounds of ballast in the two releasable pockets (Female model has 35 lbs of lift and holds 20 lbs of weight).

Bare Blackwing BCD specifications:
• Bladder material: 12 Mil Clear Virgin Polyurethane
• Main body/pockets and shoulder straps: 1000 Denier Cordura with 1.5 oz/square yard Polyurethane
• Pocket trim: 1680 Denier Nylon
• Wing buoyancy: 48 lbs/21.7 kg
• Main releasable weight pockets: 15 lbs/6.8 kg maximum each
• Supplemental weight/accessory pockets with 1″ side release buckle hold 10 lbs each
• Fully padded hard-back pack with carrying handle
• Tank height adjustment strap: 1″ nylon webbing with Ladderlock adjustment
• Standard tank band and Steel/Delrin cam buckle can be replaced with all steel upgrade by dealer or consumer
• Cummerbund: Size adjustable padded nylon cummerbund with 2″ centre-pull side release buckle. Small zippered pocket at centre for car keys, C card. Also includes nickel/brass grommet for accessory attachment
• Main shoulder strap adjustment buckle: 1.5″ side release buckles with extended thumb ledge for easy loosening adjustment
• D-Rings: 4 on shoulder straps (welded pre-bent sandblasted stainless steel). 4 on hips
(welded sandblasted stainless steel)
• Cargo holders on hips: 2 x 1.5″ side release buckles
• Inflation: Corrugated rubber oral inflation (hose is neoprene rubber)
• Auto-inflate choice of basic or premium inflator, or breathable inflator. Inflation system equipped with cable dump for rapid exhaust
• Pull dump: One at right hip. Pull dump toggles are high contrast light charcoal color “T” handles for good visibility and easy location
• Weight quick dump system: 15 lbs/6.8 kg per side, Velcro closure with high contrast light charcoal color “T” handles for good visibility and easy location
• Chest strap: 1″ nylon with centre-pull side release buckle. Unique system allows easy strap location adjustment to avoid drysuit valve on chest
• Accessory attachment grommets: Nickel plated brass – four on left pocket for knife or other accessory attachment, one on right pocket for retractable lanyard installation

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If you are in the market for a small, but still easy-to-read dive computer that is compatible with air and Nitrox, look no further than the Aeris XR-2 Computer Console.

Full-Featured Air or Nitrox Dive Computer in a compact package. The Aeris XR-2 Computer Console is the newest addition to the sophisticated line of dive computers. Small in size, but with easy-to-read oversized digits, bar graphs, and intuitive icons. Loaded with features but still very user friendly with two operating buttons.

Aeris XR-2 Computer Console Features

* Color-coded icons and indicators for at-a-glance dive analysis
* Optional water-activation mode
* Remaining dive time display
* Audio and visual alerts
* Safety alarms: Maximum depth, Elapsed dive time, Nitrogen tissue loading
* Battery Life (Hours): 300
* User-maintainable battery
* PC compatible
* 24-hour fly and desaturation countdowns
* Nitrox compatible (21% – 50%)

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Apollo 4.0 EX Dry Suit is very comfortable. The Apollo keeps warmer when you are diving in cold waters

The suit is bulky-much easier and more comfortable when you get back on the boat and it comes of quick and easy.

Apollo’s 4.0 microcell Neoprene has 20% smaller bubbles than conventional Neoprene. Rather than crushing material to decrease density: Microcell is produced by blowing a gas, generally nitrogen, into the liquefied rubber to make a foam. Utilizing this thinner more flexible material provides you with a suit that swims like a tropical Wetsuit; yet yields a warmth factor similar to that of a bulkier 6.5mm suit.

Apollo 4.0 EX Dry Suit foot valves are designed to keep air from getting trapped in the boot. They are so compact you’ll hardly notice they are there. Yet the are sensitive enough to compensate for pressure changes as small as one inch by automatically releasing air.

Apollo 4.0 EX Dry Suit Features

* Exclusive patented mini foot valves
* Super EX valve
* 360 degree inlet valve
* 4.0mm microcell neoprene
* Tough knee pads & low profile boots
* Integrated suspenders
* Comfortable and easy to use
* Dive under a wide range of conditions
* Custom like tailoring in a stock suit
* Color: female: black/grey, male: black
* Press release ex 4.0 [132k pdf]
* View or print our current dry suit brochure [72k pdf]
* View or print The 4.0 ex Drysuit manual [232k pdf]
* Suits 101: What makes the Apollo suit better

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AquaLung Calypso is an entry level regulator with much lighter weight, higher performance, quieter and reliable.

Worthy descendant of series Calypso, Ranger and Club. Components of the elements are compatible with previous models.

The Aqualung Calypso offers an excellent all-round breathe, which can be adjusted via the Venturi system. It has a good-looking and modern design and the first stage set-up places hoses where they need to be and it’s easy to attach to the tanks. The Calypso is hard to beat when it comes to longevity.

Aqualung Calypso First Stage:

• In-line Piston mechanism
• Large diameter piston
• 1 High-pressure port
• 4 Low-pressure ports
• Easy to use, designed to improve LP stability and reliability.

Aqualung Calypso Second Stage:

• User-adjusted Venturi Adjustment Switch (VAS) eliminates free flow on the surface while increasing airflow at depth
• Large oral breathing channel

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Spearhead model of the new AERO range, Cressi Sub Aero Pro BCD has been specifically designed to be able to stow all the diver’s weights in the different pockets.

Complete with the brand new Lock-Aid System (L.A.S.), which consists of two special slip-off weight containers complete with the brand new and patented Lock-Aid-System with mechanical safety release for rapid extraction; each one can stow up to 4.5 kg of weight.

The shoulder straps are separate from the bag, which provides considerable buoyancy as required by the Cressi Sub Aero Pro BCD with fully integrated weights.

Notwithstanding this, the mixed front-back volume and the anatomic conformation of the Cressi Sub Aero Pro BCD guarantee an extremely streamlined and enveloping structure that is perfect for forward moving. The extensive accessories include two accessory holder zip-up pockets, two weight pockets on the back, several stainless steel D-rings and two carry handles.

The choice of materials makes it possible to keep the weight down for air travel.

Technical features  of Cressi Sub Aero Pro BCD

* Bag expansion: mixed front-back
* Material: 500 Cordura for the outer, 420 denier Nylon on the inner
* Two large zip-up accessories pockets
* Integrated Lock-Aid weight pocket system
* Bag retaining system
* Two back weight pockets
* Three dump-pressure valves
* Two, 50mm stainless steel D-rings on the shoulders
* Two, 50mm stainless steel D-rings on the bottom
* Two, 30mm technopolymer D-rings above the pockets
* Rigid carry handle
* Adjustable nylon handle on rear
* Buoyancy in kg: 9.7 (XS), 11.7 (S), 17.9 (M), 20.4 (L), 23.5 (XL)
* Buoyancy in lbs: 21.4 (XS), 25.9 (S), 39.3 (M), 45.0 (L), 51.7 (XL)
* Buoyancy in Newton: 95 (XS), 115 (S), 175 (M), 200 (L), 230(XL)
* Weight in kg: 3,500 kg (XS), 3,550 kg (S), 3,800 kg (M), 3,900 kg (L), 3,950 kg (XL)

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GALILEO Terra has a user-friendly display which shows all that is needed and is very simple to use. With three large buttons it’s easy to manage it.

GALILEO Terra display by default gives you current depth, dive time, no-stop time, oxygen percentage, temperature, central nervous system toxicity percentage, and maximum depth. It will warn you just about every dangerous situation. When you are done with the scuba diving and on the surface, Terra gives you desaturation time and no-fly time.

UWATEC GALILEO Terra dive computer has preinstalled important features that each scuba diver will need.

Nitrox of this dive coputer can be set at 21-100 per cent with the maximum pO2 at 1.6 bar. Terra has a built-in compass and appears to function even when the computer is tilted at 45 degrees. It can be connected to the home PC, personalise it, upload diagrams of your favourite dive sites, analyse every minute of each dive and download a fairly comprehensive logbook.

And now the most important part for some – the price. UWATEC GALILEO Terra is now available for only $499.95 during a month – 1 July to 1 August (You Save: 53%:  Original price is: $558.05 )

UWATEC GALILEO Terra Features

* Full Tilt Digital Compass with Bearing Memory and Navigational Aid
* Dot Matrix Display with Full Flexibility for Multiple Screen Configurations
* ZH-L8 ADT MB
* Depth Limit: 1082 ft (330m) in Gauge Mode; 393 ft (120m) for Decompression
* Personalization of Owner Screens and Emergency Information
* Safety Stop Timer (1-5min and Automatic or Manual
* Adjustable Partial Pressure of Oxygen (pp02) with MOD Alarm (1.2 to 1.6 Bar) with Off Option
* Gauge Mode Up to 330m with Stopwatch and Resettable Average Depth
* Push Buttons with Function Changing Labels

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