As a diver considering the purchase of their own scuba regulator system, one of the first questions that might come up is, \u201cDo you want a diaphragm or piston first stage?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before getting into the explanation of differences between the two styles, let\u2019s briefly review the purpose of a regulator system.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Like the name implies, a scuba regulator controls (or regulates) the air pressure from your scuba cylinder, and distributes that air at an intermediate pressure (IP) that each piece of attached gear can function at.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Impressively, the regulator delivers this consistent IP even while a diver is changing depth throughout the dive (resulting in constantly varied conditions of temperature, pressure, and breathing needs). <\/p>\n\n\n\n In other words, the mechanics of the first stage are continuously adjusting with the ambient conditions to deliver a steady flow of IP to the diver\u2019s gear throughout the dive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When discussing a diaphragm versus a piston style regulator, you are talking about an internal mechanical difference in how the first stage of a regulator is built to control this air flow using different pressure reactions. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Both styles react to ambient hydrostatic pressure and use the pressure changes resulting from the pull of a breath to trigger the mechanisms that move high pressure air from the tank into the intermediate pressure chamber of the first stage.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n So is a diaphragm or a piston style regulator better?<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Like anything else gear-related, there is no clear-cut winner. There are benefits and downsides to each style, and the decision between the two often comes down to diver preference and the type of diving the regulator is being used for. To narrow down your choice, let\u2019s discuss the difference between the two.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\nMain Benefits of Each<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n