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| Breathing Simulator Results
| **Regulators Under $300: BREATHING SIMULATOR RESULTS**|
| | **A**| **B**| **C**| **D**| **Total**| **Above & Beyond**|
| AQUA LUNG CALYPSO| 4| 3| 4| 3| 14| |
| AQUA LUNG TITAN| 4| 4| 4| 4| 16| (173 ft.)|
| BEUCHAT VS3 PISTON| 4| | 3| | 7| |
| GENESIS YUKON| 4| 3| 3| 3| 13| (175 ft.)|
| INTERNATIONAL DIVERS SEAIRA SPIRIT FLOWBY| 5| 4| 4| 4| 17| **\***|
| IST PROLINE R10| 5| 4| 5| 4| 18| **\***|
| IST PROLINE R20| 5| 5| 5| 5| 20| **\***|
| MARES MR12 AXIS| 5| 4| 5| 4| 18| (174 ft.)|
| MARES MR12 PROTON| 5| 4| 4| 4| 17| (183 ft.)|
| OCEAN REEF ENT. 6010| 4| 3| 3| 3| 13| |
| OCEANIC ALPHA 7 CDX| 5| 3| 3| 3| 14| |
| OCEANIC ALPHA 7 SP4| 5| 3| 3| 3| 14| (179 ft.)|
| OCEANIC EXPLORER SP4| 4| 3| 3| 3| 13| |
| PARKWAY ATLAS 2+| 4| | 3| | 7| |
| PARKWAY NOVA 2| 4| | | | 4| |
| SCUBAPRO MK2+/R190| 5| 3| 4| 3| 15| (176 ft.)|
| SUNSHINE DIVING R-2| 4| | | | 4| |
| SUNSHINE DIVING R-3| 5| | 3| | 8| |
| SUNSHINE DIVING R-7| 4| | 3| | 7| |
| SUNSHINE DIVING MT9| 4| | | | 4| |
| ZEAGLE ENVOY| 4| 3| 4| | 11| |
|
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Regulators $300 - $400: BREATHING SIMULATOR RESULTS**|
| | **A**| **B**| **C**| **D**| **Total**| **Above & Beyond**|
| APEKS AT20| 5| 4| 4| 4| 18| **\***|
| AQUA LUNG TITAN LX| 5| 5| 5| 5| 20| **\***|
| ATOMIC AQUATICS Z1| 5| 5| 5| 5| 20| **\***|
| BEUCHAT VXT8| 5| 3| 4| 3| 15| |
| CRESSI-SUB AIR PLUS| 4| 4| 4| 3| 15| |
| CRESSI-SUB AIR TECH| 5| 4| 4| 3| 16| |
| DACOR VIPER| 5| 4| 5| 3| 17| |
| DIVE RITE RG1200| 5| 3| 3| | 11| |
| GENESIS ATLAS| 5| 4| 5| 4| 18| (187 ft.)|
| MARES V16 PROTON| 5| 4| 4| 4| 17| **\***|
| OCEAN REEF TR94 POLAR| 4| 3| 3| | 10| |
| OCEAN REEF 6600| 4| | | | 4| |
| OCEANIC GAMMA 2 CDX| 5| 5| 5| 4| 19| |
| OCEANIC GAMMA 2 DX4| 5| 4| 4| 4| 17| (181 ft.)|
| OCEANIC GAMMA 2 PX2| 5| 4| 4| 4| 17| (188 ft.)|
| SCUBAPRO MK2+/R380| 5| 5| 5| 4| 19| **\***|
| SCUBAPRO MK16/R380| 5| 4| 5| 4| 18| **\***|
| TUSA PLATINA RS130| 4| 3| 3| | 10| |
| TUSA PLATINA RS230| 4| 3| 3| | 10| |
| ZEAGLE DS-IV| 5| 4| 4| | 13| |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Regulators Over $400: BREATHING SIMULATOR RESULTS**|
| | **A**| **B**| **C**| **D**| **Total**| **Above & Beyond**|
| APEKS ATX50| 5| 4| 4| 4| 17| **\***|
| APEKS ATX200| 5| 4| 4| 4| 17| **\***|
| APEKS TX100| 5| 4| 4| 4| 17| **\***|
| AQUA LUNG LEGEND| 5| 5| 5| 5| 20| **\***|
| AQUA LUNG LEGEND LX| 5| 5| 5| 5| 20| **\***|
| AQUA LUNG TITAN MICRA| 5| 4| 4| 3| 16| |
| ATOMIC AQUATICS B1| 5| 4| 5| 4| 18| **\***|
| ATOMIC AQUATICS M1| 5| 5| 5| 5| 20| **\***|
| ATOMIC AQUATICS Tx1| 5| 5| 5| 5| 20| **\***|
| BEUCHAT VX4 EVOLUTION| 5| 4| 4| 4| 17| **\***|
| BEUCHAT VXT10| 5| 4| 4| 4| 17| **\***|
| BEUCHAT VXT10 ICEBERG| 5| 4| 4| 4| 17| **\***|
| DACOR VIPER AMERICA| 5| 4| 4| 4| 17| |
| DACOR VIPER METAL| 5| 5| 5| 4| 19| |
| GENESIS OZ TI| 5| 4| 5| 4| 18| |
| GENESIS GS2000| 5| 4| 5| 5| 19| (189 ft.)|
| INTERNATIONAL DIVERS SEAIRA TRI-METAL| 5| 4| 5| 4| 18| **\***|
| MARES V16 PROTON XL| 4| 4| 4| 4| 16| **\***|
| PARKWAY STEALTH CHR-TI| 5| 4| 4| 4| 17| **\***|
| SCUBAPRO MK16/S550| 5| 5| 5| 5| 20| (181 ft.)|
| SCUBAPRO MK18UL/S600| 5| 5| 5| 4| 19| (173 ft.)|
| SCUBAPRO MK25/G250HP| 5| 4| 5| 5| 19| **\***|
| SCUBAPRO MK25/S550| 5| 5| 5| 5| 20| **\***|
| SCUBAPRO MK25T/S600T| 5| 5| 5| 5| 20| **\***|
| ZEAGLE 50D| 5| 4| 5| 3| 17| |
| ZEAGLE FLATHEAD-VI| 5| 4| 4| 5| 18| **\***|
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|---|
| | Simulator Chart Definitions COLUMN A 37.5 Respiratory Minute Volume (RMV) @ 132 fsw: The maximum recreational depth at a somewhat aggressive breathing rate. COLUMN B 75 RMV @ 132 fsw: The maximum recreational depth looked at as 1) an extremely heavy work rate or 2) simulating two divers buddy breathing at a somewhat aggressive breathing rate. COLUMN C 62.5 RMV @ 165 fsw: The European conformance standard EN250. This is also the depth and breathing rate commonly used by manufacturers when determining a regulator's performance. COLUMN D 62.5 RMV @ 198 fsw: The U.S. Navy's Class A test depth and breathing rate, but using a lower high-pressure supply pressure. "ABOVE & BEYOND" 75 RMV @ 198 fsw: An extreme depth with an extreme breathing rate, stressing a regulator far beyond what any recreational diver can or will theoretically do. This mark is interesting more as an exercise in engineering than as a real-world matter. SCORING: Breathing simulators are great indicators of a regulator's abilities, as expressed in EXT WOB (External Work of Breathing, the sum of the inhalation and exhalation effort expressed in joules per liter, or J/L). However, with a machine as accurate as the ANSTI simulator, competing regulators produce a litany of J/L scores differing from each other by a matter of tenths and even hundredths of a point. So for the sake of simplicity, and to avoid losing perspective in the original goal (which is to isolate good-breathing regulators) by becoming obsessed with decimal points, we've translated J/L scores into three basic classifications: Good, Very Good, and Excellent. Here's what each represents: **3 = GOOD** Any regulator that can achieve the breathing rate/depth category with a EXT WOB of less than 3.0 J/L (the EN250 limit). **4 = VERY GOOD** Any regulator that can achieve the breathing rate/depth category in half or less of the EN250 standard limit, or a EXT WOB of 1.5 J/L. **5 = EXCELLENT** Any regulator that can achieve the breathing rate/depth category with a EXT WOB of 1.0 J/L or less. (While tenths or hundredths of a point of variation between WOBs is detectable only by a machine, a diver in the water can in fact discern the difference in breathing of one-half a J/L, especially when diving at deeper depths. So here we give engineers credit where credit's not only due but actually noticeable to a diver.) **Note:** If a regulator is unable to achieve the breathing rate/depth category, the box is left blank and the regulator scores zero for that test. **\* = ACHIEVED** Any regulator that can achieve or exceed the "Above & Beyond Mark." (Since this is an extreme test performed under conditions a diver would never experience, it is not factored into the scoring. However, it's nice to know a reg will take anything you can throw at it, plus more.) If a regulator can't reach the 198-foot mark but comes within 25 feet, we list the maximum depth attained at this RMV. **WARNING:** _Although we're using excessive depths to show both how these regulators perform and their reserve potential, this is not to suggest that you should take them that deep. Scuba Diving doesn't recommend diving deeper than the recreational depth limits._|
In-water Evaluations
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 = Excellent| 4 = Very Good| 3 = Good| 2 = Fair| 1 = Poor |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regulators Under $300: IN-WATER EVALUATIONS|
| | Breathing| Bubble Inter- ference| Wetness| Clearing| Adjust- ments| Different Positions| Comfort| Total| Average|
| AQUA LUNG CALYPSO| 3.3| 3.0| 3.0| 3.0| 3.0| 3.0| 3.3| 21.6| 3.1|
| AQUA LUNG TITAN| 3.0| 3.0| 2.6| 3.0| 2.3| 3.0| 3.0| 19.9| 2.8|
| BEUCHAT VS3 PISTON| 3.0| 3.0| 3.0| 3.0| n/a| 3.0| 3.0| 18.0| 3.0|
| GENESIS YUKON| 3.2| 2.7| 3.2| 3.4| n/a| 3.0| 3.5| 19.0| 3.2|
| INTER-NATIONAL DIVERS SEAIRA SPIRIT FLOWBY| 3.4| 3.2| 3.2| 2.6| n/a| 3.0| 2.7| 18.1| 3.0|
| IST PROLINE R10| 2.8| 3.0| 2.2| 2.6| 2.7| 2.0| 3.1| 18.4| 2.6|
| IST PROLINE R20| 3.4| 3.2| 3.5| 2.6| n/a| 3.4| 2.7| 18.8| 3.1|
| MARES MR12 AXIS| 4.0| 2.7| 3.2| 3.2| n/a| 3.5| 3.5| 20.1| 3.3|
| MARES MR12 PROTON| 3.8| 2.8| 3.7| 3.2| n/a| 3.4| 3.8| 20.7| 3.4|
| OCEAN REEF ENT. 6010| 3.5| 2.7| 3.0| 2.9| n/a| 3.0| 2.2| 17.3| 2.9|
| OCEANIC ALPHA 7 CDX| 3.5| 3.0| 3.5| 3.0| n/a| 3.0| 3.0| 19.0| 3.2|
| OCEANIC ALPHA 7 SP4| 3.5| 3.0| 3.0| 3.0| n/a| 3.0| 3.5| 19.0| 3.2|
| OCEANIC EXPLORER SP4| 3.5| 3.0| 2.5| 2.7| n/a| 3.0| 3.5| 18.2| 3.0|
| PARKWAY ATLAS 2+| 3.3| 2.8| 2.8| 3.4| n/a| 3.1| 3.1| 18.5| 3.1|
| PARKWAY NOVA 2| 3.3| 3.0| 2.6| 3.4| n/a| 3.1| 3.1| 18.5| 3.1|
| SCUBAPRO MK2+/ R190| 3.5| 3.0| 3.5| 3.5| 3.5| 3.5| 4.0| 24.5| 3.5|
| SUNSHINE DIVING R-2| 3.5| 2.6| 3.1| 3.0| 2.6| 3.0| 2.5| 20.3| 2.9|
| SUNSHINE DIVING R-3| 3.0| 3.0| 3.0| 3.0| 2.5| 3.0| 3.0| 20.5| 2.9|
| SUNSHINE DIVING R-7| 3.0| 3.5| 3.0| 3.0| 2.0| 3.0| 3.0| 20.5| 2.9|
| SUNSHINE DIVING MT9| 2.3| 3.3| 3.0| 2.9| 2.3| 2.5| 2.5| 18.8| 2.7|
| ZEAGLE ENVOY| 2.7| 3.2| 3.0| 3.0| 3.0| 2.7| 2.7| 20.3| 2.9|
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regulators $300 - $400: IN-WATER EVALUATIONS|
| | Breathing| Bubble Inter- ference| Wetness| Clearing| Adjust- ments| Different Positions| Comfort| Total| Average|
| APEKS AT20| 3.5| 3.2| 3.5| 3.4| 2.8| 3.0| 3.2| 22.6| 3.2|
| AQUA LUNG TITAN LX| 3.4| 3.0| 3.1| 3.4| 3.1| 3.4| 2.7| 22.1| 3.1|
| ATOMIC AQUATICS Z1| 4.2| 3.0| 3.7| 3.5| 2.7| 3.7| 3.7| 24.5| 3.5|
| BEUCHAT VXT8| 3.3| 3.6| 2.6| 2.8| 2.6| 3.0| 3.0| 20.9| 3.0|
| CRESSI-SUB AIR PLUS| 3.7| 3.1| 3.1| 3.2| 3.5| 3.0| 3.4| 23.0| 3.3|
| CRESSI-SUB AIR TECH| 3.7| 3.0| 3.2| 3.2| 3.4| 3.2| 3.4| 23.1| 3.3|
| DACOR VIPER| 3.7| 2.8| 3.2| 2.9| n/a| 2.6| 3.2| 18.4| 3.1|
| DIVE RITE RG1200| 3.7| 2.7| 3.0| 3.5| 3.0| 3.0| 3.0| 21.9| 3.1|
| GENESIS ATLAS| 3.7| 3.2| 3.5| 3.0| 2.7| 3.0| 3.0| 22.1| 3.1|
| MARES V16 PROTON| 3.4| 2.8| 3.7| 3.2| n/a| 3.2| 4.0| 20.3| 3.4|
| OCEAN REEF TR94 POLAR| 3.5| 2.7| 3.0| 2.9| 3.5| 3.0| 2.7| 21.3| 3.0|
| OCEAN REEF 6600| 2.5| 2.7| 3.0| 3.2| 2.5| 3.0| 2.5| 19.4| 2.8|
| OCEANIC GAMMA 2 CDX| 3.0| 2.5| 3.0| 3.0| 3.0| 3.0| 3.5| 21.0| 3.0|
| OCEANIC GAMMA 2 DX4| 3.5| 3.0| 3.3| 3.0| 2.6| 3.3| 3.5| 22.2| 3.2|
| OCEANIC GAMMA 2 PX2| 3.0| 2.5| 3.5| 3.0| 3.0| 3.0| 4.0| 22.0| 3.1|
| SCUBAPRO MK2+/R380| 3.5| 2.8| 3.3| 3.3| 2.8| 3.3| 3.3| 22.3| 3.2|
| SCUBAPRO MK16/R380| 3.0| 3.0| 3.1| 3.2| 2.8| 3.0| 3.3| 21.4| 3.0|
| TUSA PLATINA RS130| 3.5| 3.1| 3.3| 3.1| 3.1| 2.8| 3.3| 22.2| 3.2|
| TUSA PLATINA RS230| 3.8| 3.6| 3.4| 3.6| 3.4| 3.4| 3.2| 24.4| 3.5|
| ZEAGLE DS-IV| 4.0| 3.3| 3.6| 3.3| 2.6| 3.3| 3.3| 23.4| 3.3|
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regulators Over $400: IN-WATER EVALUATIONS|
| | Breathing| Bubble Inter- ference| Wetness| Clearing| Adjust- ments| Different Positions| Comfort| Total| Average|
| APEKS ATX50| 3.5| 3.0| 3.5| 3.7| 3.4| 3.0| 3.8| 23.9| 3.4|
| APEKS ATX200| 4.0| 3.0| 3.7| 3.7| 3.4| 3.5| 3.8| 25.1| 3.6|
| APEKS TX100| 4.5| 3.5| 3.5| 3.7| 3.4| 3.5| 3.7| 25.8| 3.7|
| AQUA LUNG LEGEND| 4.2| 3.4| 3.7| 3.8| 3.2| 3.7| 3.7| 25.7| 3.7|
| AQUA LUNG LEGEND LX| 4.2| 3.4| 4.0| 4.1| 3.8| 4.0 | 3.7| 27.2| 3.9|
| AQUA LUNG TITAN MICRA| 4.5| 3.0| 3.5| 3.5| 4.0| 4.5| 4.5| 27.5| 3.9|
| ATOMIC AQUATICS B1| 4.4| 3.5| 4.1| 4.2| 4.0| 4.0| 4.1| 28.3| 4.0|
| ATOMIC AQUATICS M1| 4.2| 4.2| 3.5| 3.9| 3.5| 4.1| 4.1| 27.5| 3.9|
| ATOMIC AQUATICS Tx1| 4.7| 3.5| 3.8| 4.0| 4.0| 3.7| 4.1| 27.8| 4.0|
| BEUCHAT VX4 EVOLUTION| 4.4| 4.0| 3.7| 3.8| 3.7| 3.5| 3.4| 26.5| 3.8|
| BEUCHAT VXT10| 4.0| 4.0| 4.5| 3.8| 3.7| 3.5| 3.4| 26.9| 3.8|
| BEUCHAT VXT10 ICEBERG| 4.5| 4.0| 3.5| 3.7| 3.5| 3.5| 3.4| 26.1| 3.7|
| DACOR VIPER AMERICA| 4.0| 3.5| 3.7| 2.8| n/a| 3.5| 4.0| 21.5| 3.6|
| DACOR VIPER METAL| 4.2| 3.5| 4.0| 2.8| n/a| 3.5| 4.0| 22.0| 3.7|
| GENESIS OZ TI| 4.0| 3.2| 4.0| 3.6| 3.8| 3.0| 3.2| 24.8| 3.5|
| GENESIS GS2000| 4.5| 3.2| 3.8| 3.8| 3.8| 3.8| 3.2| 26.1| 3.7|
| INTER-NATIONAL DIVERS SEAIRA TRI-METAL| 4.2| 3.4| 3.8| 4.0| 3.2| 3.4| 3.1| 25.1| 3.6|
| MARES V16 PROTON XL| 4.5| 3.0| 4.5| 3.7| n/a| 3.5| 4.5| 23.7| 3.9|
| PARKWAY STEALTH CHR-TI| 3.5| 3.0| 3.0| 3.2| 3.0| 3.0| 3.0| 21.7| 3.1|
| SCUBAPRO MK16/S550| 4.5| 3.5| 4.2| 4.1| 3.3| 4.0| 4.0| 27.6| 3.9|
| SCUBAPRO MK18UL/ S600| 4.7| 3.7| 4.4| 3.9| 3.8| 4.2| 4.1| 28.8| 4.1|
| SCUBAPRO MK25/ G250HP| 4.7| 3.8| 4.5| 4.1| 3.5| 4.0| 3.8| 28.4| 4.0|
| SCUBAPRO MK25/S550| 4.7| 3.5| 4.2| 4.1| 3.3| 3.5| 4.0| 27.3| 3.9|
| SCUBAPRO MK25T/ S600| 4.8| 3.7| 4.4| 3.9| 3.8| 4.0| 4.1| 28.7| 4.1|
| ZEAGLE 50D| 4.5| 3.5| 4.0| 4.0| 3.8| 3.5| 3.0| 26.3| 3.7|
| ZEAGLE FLATHEAD-VI| 4.4| 3.5| 3.7| 4.1| 3.8| 3.8| 3.1| 26.4| 3.8|
