Adjustable Second Stage - What, Why, Good or Bad? - Scuba Tech Tips: S10E03

[@WILLYINTHEREEDS]

Alex Peirce is my hero. I'm a beginner diver with about 25 dives under my belt working out of a scuba shop and he has been an infinite source of wisdom when answering customer questions. 11/10

[@scottjackson1332]

I appreciate your no-nonsense approach, Alex. Too many times I've been around other divers or in shops and I hear them saying to others they need to get this or that. Well if most are like me, they don't get to dive nearly as much as they'd like. 3 maybe 4 times a year for those of us that work regular jobs and don't live near any good dive locations. It makes no sense to have a lot of the offerings that are out there. A good set of regs, a BC that works and that's really anyone actually needs. The rest is just fluff really unless you're into any tech diving or just have the extra cash.

[@jasonruggen1511]

It's called salesmanship and increasing your profits.

[@alaind831]

maybe not even having your own equipment (and maintenance cost) if you dive so little... just got back from a lobster trip and we dove 11 times in 1.5 days! talk about back to back - fill tank, shoves some food and water and go back at it, repeat... :)

[@papaalphaoscar5537]

The Venturi is a must. Just try breathing with it "on" and "off". I only find the cracking effort knob to be useful when facing a stiff current and when the 2nd stage soft seat is starting to take a "set" and it starts to leak.

[@ronbeatty516]

Thanks for educating us. You’re a real scuba treasure!

[@Kirbythediver]

I'm an Engineering student and I actually had the privilege of learning what venturi is two weeks ago in class. Both my Regs have them, basically converts pressure into velocity.

[@johncartwright931]

I Alec, love the videos, I’ve watched them all at least twice! Would you consider doing a video about the difference between cold and warm water rated regulators? I would love to know the differences, good and bad. Jamie Cartwright, U.K.

[@markstengel7680]

Hi Alec, I enjoyed watching your newest episode. Carburetor have Venturi valves too. Another fine Presentation. Thanks & hello to Kevin 👍Bye

[@rippleguys]

Just discovered your channel - love it. I'm an old-timer diver that's still using a ScubaPro Mk5 and Chrome-plated Balanced Adjustable from the 80s. Someone said it's the last reg I would ever need. I found that to be true.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Welcome aboard. I think you would really like my Vintage Scuba playlist from diving back in the stone age. Safe diving my friend.

[@jimschnurr3512]

Really appreciate this segment. I actually set here and used my own reg to learn more about the adjustments.

[@MusicManWes]

GREAT!!! Just the education I needed today! Wish me luck shopping!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Best of luck Wes.

[@michaelpatton404]

Alec, great review - ty. Kevin, Amazing camera work, best in the business. Hello from the US, Indiana.

[@TheVinny360]

Your channel would make an awesome radio station 👌

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

What about my inimitable face?!! Alec

[@TheVinny360]

Alec Peirce Scuba 😂 Ha I shouldn’t watch KZbin while I’m driving

[@diversdown2116]

well you should pronounce it that way you Kanadain. i have found that there are some shops that are throwing kits in regs and not setting then up correctly. I was at a local quarry and ended up adjusting 3 sets of regs for a family. they all were non adj regs and all were hissing. the nice thing was when they were done diving they said they never worked that well B4 and thanked me by treating me to a steak dinner ant their camp sight.

[@jacquespoirier9071]

basically, all diving double stage regulators are designed to suit underwater environnement, some have useful features for specific diving conditions. many are overkill for the actual use.( a bit like when you shop for a car ) All my regulators are vintage regulators that i've restored and sometimes improved from the initial fabrication / design , some of them have adjustable sensibility and of course, almost none of them are the original match first / second stage. the important is that they are safe and fun to use. very good video.

[@graynadalin]

Great info Alec, love the shirt

[@bryanbrasher3831]

Okay, this is an amazing channel. Thank you!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@AndresJulianLusi]

Hi Alec, as always a pleasure to hear from you. What is the difference between mechanically balanced and pneumatically balanced? From what I understand, it adjusts itself . It would be awesome if you could make a video one day about that. Thank you!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

I just may. Here is a link to a good explanation: www.hollis.com/technology/regulators/?v=3e8d115eb4b3 A

[@Jylakir]

Maybe this is not a real case for normal dives but an Adjustable Second Stage comes in handy if you use a scooter which has some real power. Most times the secondary stage tends to freeflow when you dive fast underwater with a scooter. But this is more technial diving stuff.

[@Caderic]

GREAT point and reason to use an adjustable 2nd stage.

[@dtt3426]

been diving for 4 years, 250 dives. i've learned so much info by binge watching your videos. there was a tailor shop in buffalo that used to say an educated consumer is our best customer. you've made me an educated consumer. the question i have, i'm a breather so i use 100cu / 15l tanks, will the adjustments on my 2nd stage effect my breathing rate. i'm 64 and in good shape for my age. can you do a segment for breathers and explain the value of 100cu tanks. i probably would have quit diving if i couldn't use them. i only use them down south in deeper water. my dive time in southern ontario is an hour on 80s. the dm south when i use 80s are always trying to fix me i was on a course. if a dive shop down south doesn't have 100s, or charge extra, i find another dive shop. p.s. i've found on youtube there are always haters

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

First, thanks for binge watching me, that could not have been pleasant to hear me over and over! Second, adjusting the 2nd stage perfectly should make your breathing easier and if using a venturi assist, very easy with less effort to inhale. I know lots of divers, including Kevin, who love 100's because they have big lungs and need to fill their lungs to be comfortable to stay down as long as others using 80's. Third, there are those who don't know how to engage in a debate, just a rant. Appreciate your support Duane.

[@44tbf]

thanks alec, you are awesome

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Thanks for watching. Alec

[@perolovson1715]

Thanx! Much apriciated. Can You explain the diffrence between counter flow secound stages versus non counter flow. How do they work and bennefits or drawbacks. PeO

[@aevans692]

Fantastic videos , I have learnt so much from your vids ... lol.. When I want to know something in scuba , my daughter says " see if Alec's done a video " :) really great One thing we are stuck on atm , is what size cylinder we are going to buy, we have some small one we use on our yacht , but we are wanting to expand our diving , .. So we are in the uk , some shops have said for me to get a 15L (125cf ) and for my daughter 5'2' to get a Dumpy 12L (100 Cf) , I have a very conservative air consumption ( years of being a firefighter in BA) and my daughter is average .... I dont really think I need a 15L (125CF) for general diving , Im pretty sure id hit my NDC time way before ... Over in the uk they do a 10L which is about the same as a 80CF , these are smaller in size and weight , because I have to carry it out of the water too ... So we are really unsure , on whats the best way to go , as Id like to future proof ourselves , but dont want to spend more than we have to , or having to deal with the extra weigh for little benefit .. Whats your thoughts , any advice would be really welcomed , thanks Andy .

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Well first off, you have to appreciate how truly smart your daughter is! As for tank selection, if she is like my wife, a 10L / 80 cu/ft tank will last her 4 hours, she is part fish. I think a 10L is a fair pick now. Depending on her age, her lungs may have reached maximum growth so if she is happy with the tanks volume, weight and length, it may last many years (just don't smoke). Remember dive shops like to sell stuff, not always the right stuff you want. For you a 12L / 100 cu/ft tank would be a good match as a buddy team. The nice thing about tanks is should either of you want bigger, selling them and buying used is still an option if they pass Visual Inspection and a Hydro test (maybe a new tank valve with yoke/DIN adapter for world wide travel. Anyway thanks for sharing and hope for safe diving and fun adventures in this crazy time.

[@amcaesar]

Wow, another great one Alec. This ties into a question I've had for a while -- how important is bringing air with you on a dive, anyway? Do you really need the weight of that big aluminum tank?

[@playmasterful]

What?

[@wowfreaker]

Nah, just take a deep breath, strap some weight on and dont look back as you go down.

[@andrecandrade]

When you’re at 130 feet it makes a material difference.

[@ALwinDigital]

Still waiting for that re-shoot of the long hose video.

[@muhammadadibabwahab2446]

Great video as always sir Just a question Aqualung claimed their MBS system combined venturi and cracking pressure adjusting into 1 knob. Is this really true? If it so how did they accomplished that? Or more a venturi adjustment than the other

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

I went to their website and read the venturi and easy exhalation effort. Nothing on cracking pressure (which is minimal effort). A

[@liquidsofa]

I know of a venturi because you find them in a carburettor. Since fuel injection, the carby and dizzy seemed to have gone the way of the Dodo, except in tiny engines like lawn mowers. How many people know what a set of points are nowadays? Or what an idle screw is?

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Just us old 'hands on' dudes. Thanks for sharing LS. A.

[@Caderic]

Just a side note, the Coanda effect is now what wing engineers say is what causes lift not Bernoulli's effect. It's a heated debate in aviation, and only at the upper levels of design, but the specialist are the ones I am betting on. The Coanda effect, didn't emerge until Post-WWII. So it hasn't had time to really be embedded into science yet. Most pilots don't even know about the Coanda effect. Not to be a corrector just to be an informer, because like I said, most pilots don't even know about it.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

That's new to me too.

[@originalstanman.]

Are you guys ever going to open a scuba 2000 in Los Angeles. It would be my dream to go scuba diving but it’s hard to find the best place.

[@Ruben-ef2sg]

I'm sure there's lots of dive schools in LA. Look at their websites, read reviews or go on a forum like scubaboard and ask around for good ones. It doesn't have to be scuba 2000!

[@01qp68]

I'm curious do you own a Cessi Dive mask?

[@whitrzac]

With the temp dropping in the midwest, I'm noticing that my regs(titan LX supreme with the cold water kit) will freeflow slightly when it's below 40*f(air and water temp). Not frozen and spraying everywhere, but just a light hiss of air. Is it something that's to be expected, or should I adjust the breathing difficulty slightly to minimize it?

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Try to very slightly adjust the breathing effort on the 2nd stage. That should stop it. If not, you may have to get the 1st stage serviced. 40* F is really not that cold an shouldn't start a reg free-flowing. Alec

[@passipassi100]

Thank you!=D

[@hearsejr]

Hey Alec, on the 2nd stage, if you bought a new Chinese unbranded regulator... and you love it.. thats pretty much an identical copy of an old 1980s Sea Elite, very basic and affordable beginners 2nd stage regulator... could you use it with nitrox? I have dove on mixed gas but most of all my dives these days is for fun and I use just good old fashion fresh dive shop compressed air. You know the cheap stuff from the lical dive shop. Lol. I have been experimenting with this chinese 2nd stage that costed $20, including shipping and was almost identical to my Dacor Pacer X, that I was just trying to save from junk pile. The first stage was nearly like new, but the 2nd stages were starting to corrode and i did not want the first stage to die. As it turned out I now really like the those cheap Chinese 2nd stages. Lol

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

I believe my life is worth a lot more than $20 for anything. Never seen foreign unbranded regs but its a risk for the diver as who do you sue when dead? As for nitrox, its up to the maker to determine if its O2 compatible to 40% oxygen, not the diver. Be safe my friend.

[@hearsejr]

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter thanks. The company did say that if i bought something like 1000 units or so, they would use my branding and packaging.... lol. I took one apart and it was very close to a plastic version of my old corroded up Dacor Pacer X. I took my sherwood regulator system and used the 1st stage with an oceanic preasure guage, console, Dacor depth gauge and compass, 2 chinese 2nd stages, and called it " the Frankenstein regulator". I have taken it to 54' but hit bottom so i couldnt go any deeper and played around for 40 minutes. Since then i done a lot of 25 foot dives from the local beaches, with no issues also. Moost of those i ended up in a lot of sand and stuff being sterred up as i dove looking for shells and shark teeth in Florida. It seemed to work great to me, but I'm easy to please. I hope we are not going to be forced to everyone having to use nitrox. If so I might have to consider if I could afford to buy new equipment and still dive. Lol.

[@DidierWolfs]

@@hearsejr If you ever have an accident, serious, less serious or lethal, be sure that your insurance will find out that you doive with a Chinese regulator, that does not have proper test for the US (or EU if you live in EU), even that the Chinese will provide you will any fake registration paper you might dream about and even that you can dive on Mars with it. But in reality, the story is not as cool. Really, who would put his life in a $20 reg from China ? I’m sorry to say that if someone cannot afford to put $400 in a new reg or less in a well maintained second hand reg, than perhaps, scuba diving is not the best choice… Scuba diving is expensive, unless for someone that lives next to the sea and can get in and out of water by itself, without the need of a costly boat trip to go to the spot.

[@hearsejr]

@@DidierWolfs I do not believe a word you are saying. None of my regulators ever came with any papers stati g anything other then it was a name brand. Until you can show me what the difference is between that cheap Chinese 2nd stage sold online and a basic plastic dive shop 2nd stage sold in the diver store for 4X the money then dont go pushing spending money when you don't need too. Don't forget theres a lot of name brands that outsource from the same companies. As far as having trouble, I have ran out of air at 90' and surfaced safely. It was part of the training during my commercial dive training. No panic. Also survive the part of my dive training where we buddied up and at 30' had a swarm of instructors randomly remove gear and cut off our air and other surprise attacks. You learn real quick to identify and take appropriate action when something starts to go wrong. Maybe your training was dive like a millionaire and look like you are in a multi sponsored nascar, but most of us use reasonable thoughts and check out our gear in shallow depths and have the knowledge and training to recognize when something doesn't feel right and be prepaired to call off the dive till we figure out whats not right. As far as nitrox, non my name brand regs... even the ones I bought new ever came with any paper work addressing nitrox use. So I assume they were not tested or designed for it. I dove mixed gas and touched bottom at 250' on surfaced supplied air, and I dont have any desire or see any reason for me to need anything more then a simple compressed air and normal non extreme muncho ego attempt to go deep these days.

[@DidierWolfs]

@@hearsejr Hey it’s your life. As long as you don’t expect the insurance to pay for your treatment or give money to your family if you die. I don’t say that your Chinese reg is not reliable, as I have no clue about it. What I say is that the insurance will find out that your reg has no registration for the US market where you live. As for the big names, of course that they have all the certificates and registrations. They don’t have to provide you with all the papers but they have them, that’s 200% for sure. Are refs too expensive, yes sometimes (often), we pay part of marketing. But diving is not cheap anyway, so really, that does not botter me to spend 400-500-600 euros in a reg that will stay with me for 15 or more years.

[@atillaismail5411]

You are great

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Thank you for that and for watching. A

[@BlackPawGaming]

Does the venturi make you use more air?

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

A venturi can save you air. It's principle is to fill your lungs quickly/easily using less chest muscles (what ever they are) on each breath. Less effort is less energy and slower breathing so a slower air consumption. Hope this short note helps. Alec

[@Caderic]

I think it's interesting when people say something like "I don't trust those cheap regulator because my life is on the line" or whatever. They are either ignorant (intentionally or not) of the facts (which is common today) or they are lying to themselves and every one else. I think they just want a reason to buy a "better" regulator than you. Those cheap regulators are used as rentals all over the world in places that are trying to mitigate their liability everywhere they can. They would not be using regulators that would put them out there for a lawsuit or the like.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Same as cars. There as sub-compact cars by the millions, even though Kevin could never fit into one does not mean they are no good. I hope these video's educate and inform divers of any ability to make better buying decisions.

[@Caderic]

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter Most definitely!