5 Easy Ways To Customize Your Scuba Regulator

So you bought a new scuba regulator and quickly realized that it’s one of the most expensive pieces of dive equipment in your scuba system.

Although it’s ready to go right out of the box, after diving with it a couple of times, you will soon find out that there are a few upgrades you’ll need to make to better adapt it to your taste and diving needs.

There are a few aftermarket scuba regulator accessories available that will let you get the most out of your regulator.

Below are a few customization tips I use to pimp out my regulator to suit my scuba diving style.

1. Custom Mouthpiece

When evaluation your mouthpiece you should ask yourself, how does it feels in your mouth? does it feel too big? Is it too small? Does it make you want to gag?  Are the bite tabs too long? Do the sharp edges make your gum raw? If you answer yes to any of the questions then you should consider getting a new mouthpiece for your regulator.

There are many different mouthpieces available, in many different sizes and style. All the big dive manufacturers realize that no two mouths are the same, hence they generally have a number of different mouthpieces to choose from. ( I prefer the Comfo Bite from Aqualung, but  a few divers find that the brace over the palate triggers the gag reflex).

They are also quite inexpensive, ranging from a couple dollars to about $25 on the more high-end, and can be replaced in a couple of minutes.

The main point to take away is, it doesn’t matter how good your regulator breathes if your gums and jaws are sore after the first dive you need to switch your mouthpiece. There are simply too many mouthpieces available for you to put yourself through so much unnecessary pain.

2. Add A Second Stage Swivel 

Finding the right mouthpiece should solve the majority of your comfort problems. But, does it still feels like every time you turn your head the regulator second stage wants to pull out of your mouth? This can be caused by many things like having a hose too short for your body, the dive tank is too low in your BC, or your BC is simply too big and does not fit properly. Quickest and easiest way to fix this problem is to install a second stage swivel.

This device is attached to the second stage and low-pressure hose and allows for greater movement than just your standard second stage.  Your second stage will stay comfortable in your mouth no matter how hard you turn your head.

Second stage swivels are becoming popular among high-end regulator and can be found on almost all of Atomic Aquatic’s regulators.  They also make a universal swivel that fits pretty much any second stage, but you can also find swivels made by Scubapro, Mares, and other top manufacturers.

3. Get Some Braided Hose (Miflex Hose)

Another great way to customize your regulator is to change out your old rubber hoses with braided ones. These have become very popular in the last few years and many new regulators now come equipped with them.

They are about 30% lighter than your traditional rubber hoses and are much more flexible.  You can literally tie them in a knot without out restricting the flow of air, and because they are a lot more flexible they help reduce tug on the second stage which helps reduce jaw fatigue.

They are also more durable, offer better abrasion resistance, and have a higher burst pressure than your standard rubber hoses.

You can find them in many different colors for your second stage hose, as well as your BC quick disconnect hose, and high-pressure hose for your console.

Another great advantage to switching all your rubber hoses to breaded hoses is that your entire regulator system can easily be coiled up into a much smaller package, which makes it much easier to store or pack for traveling.

4. Put On Hose Protectors and Wraps

While we are on the topic of hoses, if you cannot afford new braided hoses, then you should look into protecting your rubber hoses.

The first thing you want to do is to put hose protectors on your hoses if they don’t already come with them. Hose protectors is simply a rubber sleeve that goes over the hose where it’s connected to the first stage. This is a high-stress point on the hoses and the hose protector will reduce wear and extend the life of your hoses, this is expectancy important on the high-pressure hose which supports a heavy console.

You can further protect your house by adding hose wraps. As the name implies, they wrap around your regulator hoses to make them more visible as well as protect them from abrasions and sunlight.

The bright yellow makes it easy for your dive buddy to find your Octo in the event of an emergency, especially in low visibility conditions. They are very easy to put on and adds no weight or bulk to your regulator system. Plus the blue on your primary just looks cool.

5. Hose Clips, Mouthpiece Holders, and Retractors

When buying a new regulator,  scuba regulator accessories like hose clips, mouthpiece holder, and extractors are often overlooked because they are normally associated with your BC. However, they are a very important piece of your regulator system as they enable you to organize your hoses to make you more streamline and prevent unnecessary snagging.

They also allow you to keep your octopus in a place where your buddy can easily find it in an emergency.  You can also attach a retractor to your console as well. This allows you to pull your gauges towards you for reading then retracts to your BC. This makes the console easy to find and prevents it from dangling where it can get snag or damage reef.

The Ultimate Scuba Regulator Accessory: A Regulator Bag

Now that you’ve fully customized your regulator and happy with all the cool enhancements you made, you need something to carry and protect your new pimped out regulator.

Remember, nothing is more important to a diver than their regulator system. This is the most expensive piece of dive equipment that you can buy, especially if it includes a dive computer. So protecting your newly pimped out regulator in a padded regulator bag would be the next best thing to do.

It will allow you to stow your regulator separately from your other dive equipment, and make a great carry-on bag when traveling.

They also allow you to keep your octopus in a place where your buddy can easily find it in an emergency.  You can also attach a retractor to your console as well. This allows you to pull your gauges towards you for reading then retracts to your BC. This makes the console easy to find and prevents it from dangling where it can get snag or damage reef.

The Bottom Line

Sure, your new regulator works great right from the box, but what fun is that. There is a lot of cool stuff out there to make diving much easier and a lot more enjoyable. We customize everything else, why not our regulators. Go for it!