Oh hi, I’m back. Did you even know I was gone? No? Oh well, that’s okay. Is it okay to say I’m still on Island Time even though I’m back in one of the flyover states? I mean we did get in late last night then I had to drive home. I’m pretty sure I’m still on Island Time. Let’s not discuss that Cozumel is on the same time zone we are at this point… Anyway… I might be passed out in bed and just blogging from my dreams. I’m not really sure. The thing I know though is today is Wednesday. Wednesday means feature SCUBAPRO piece. Let’s dive right in… pun kind of intended.
MK11/S360
One of the big requirements for being able to dive is having a regulator. No matter what, you need that breathy thingy or else you won’t be able to get your air supply that is strapped to your back. We’ve discussed a few different types of regulators up to this point, but how about we look at a third option, the MK11/S360.
MK11
This is a compact, user-friendly, affordable air supply unit designed for reliable performance. The MK11 is a balanced diaphragm that has a chrome-plated brass body with size and weight taken into account. This nice little compact system is ideal for traveling divers. The internal parts are sealed from outside elements to help increase reliability and performance.
The MK11 is designed with identical high pressure and low pressure ports on each side so you can hook it up to your tank in either the up or down position while maintain the same port layout. As an added bonus not one but two (if you order now in the next 15 minutes… just kidding) of the low pressure ports are high-flow, delivering about 15% more air than the standard low pressure ports. Why does that matter? Well, it allows it to inflate your bc faster or as Diver Dan just stated, it allows for better bubble rings when playing with the bubble gun. Always a must. It also means lots of effortless airflow with every breath.
S360
Okay so we’ve learned that you need some sort of combo, 1st stage and 2nd stage breathy thingy. Let’s look at the S360 shall we? First off, question for the win… which stage is the S360? If you said 2nd stage you would be correct! Look at you go!
The S360 is a lightweight techno-polymer air-balanced second stage regulator similar to the S560. Okay okay, wait. What is a Techno-polymer? A Techno-polymer is any plastic material used to fabricate something usually made of metal. The S360 has pre-tuned inhalation backed by a simple Venturi-inhalation Vacuum Assist (VIVA) switch for divers who prefer to keep their regulator systems simple. What does a VIVA do? When you increase the pressure coming out through the Venturi it creates a vacuum pressure on the back side of the Venturi allowing more air to be pulled through with less effort. If you don’t like my answer, Blame Diver Dan. So it makes it breathe Smooth and Easy like an Earth Wind and Fire slow dance song as Diver Dan just informed me. Now I’m headed to YouTube to find out who Earth Wind and Fire are.
MK11/S360
This is a combo designed to deliver consistent airflow, ease of use and dependability, and is the ticket for recreational divers of all skill levels. As an added bonus, it is popular for those tropical destinations (aka traveling!).
Technical Information
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MK11 First Stage:
- Air balanced diaphragm design delivers constant and effortless airflow unaffected by depth, tank pressure, or breathing rate.
- Marine brass body has internal parts that are sealed to prevent water and pollutants from fouling the inner mechanism while enhancing cold-water performance.
- Two high pressure, two low pressure and two high-flow ports maximize hose routing options.
- External intermediate pressure adjustment enables technicians to fine-tune performance quickly and easily.
- Available in either 3364psi/232bar INT or 4350psi/300bar DIN configurations.
- Weight: INT 232 – 25.0oz/710g; DIN 300 – 17.3oz/490g.
- Airflow at 2900psi/200bar: 5500 l/min – 195 SCFM.
- Intermediate pressure (psi/bar): 133-142/9.2-9.8.
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S360 Second Stage:
- Air-balanced valve smoothes out the inhalation effort when diving at varying depths and supply pressures.
- Lightweight techno-polymer casing helps reduce jaw fatigue and improve diving comfort.
- Techno-polymer valve inlet tube contributes to reliability and long life.
- High flow exhaust valve reduces exhalation effort to lower overall work of breathing.
- Venturi-Initiated Vacuum Assist (VIVA) dive/pre-dive switch helps control free flows.
- Super-flow hose features an oversized bore (larger inside hose diameter) that allows more air to flow on each inhalation.
- Ultra-comfortable orthodontic mouthpiece is easy to grip yet doesn’t inhibit airflow.
- Weight (without mouthpiece): 5.6oz/158g.
- Airflow at 2900psi/200bar: 1850 l/min – 66 SCFM.
Now that we’ve learned about a third regulator combo, I’ll say my broken record spiel… make sure you try out multiple regulator sets to find the best combination for you. And as always come talk to us… we may play some Earth Wind and Fire or make you eat cookies or cake or whatever else we’re making that day (don’t talk about the cheese cake, that’s still a sore subject), but we’re happy to help you find the best regulator possible for you diving needs!
Okay I’m going to go crash now and recuperate from my diving week. Feel sorry for me. Feel really sorry for me! Adios.