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Regulators 2006 £175-£350

Apeks XTX50 regulator (SRP: £327)

Mark: The XTX50 delivers on all counts – it is built to last, performs exceptionally well in all positions, and isn’t going to break the bank. Fit the wider exhaust, as it diffuses the bubbles either side of your mask.
Dave: This is a good-quality regulator that performs exceptionally well and won’t disappoint – definitely up to Apeks’ usual standard.
Paul C: This is the sort of regulator I would buy my wife – it is solid, dependable and won’t let you down. I’d recommend it to anyone.
Paul A: This is up to Apeks’ usual quality and performs as well as expected. I would fit the wider exhaust, though, as there is a bit of bubble interference with the smaller one.
Jim: This regulator was very comfy, provided a super breathe in all positions, and is very well made. A nice regulator.

Aqualung Titan LX Supreme regulator (SRP: £229.95)

Servicing costs: £69 (SDS Watersports)
Accessories: None.

Mark: This regulator is reasonably priced and gives a good breathe in all situations. The mouthpiece is comfortable, and it stood up the cold conditions pretty well, only letting slip with a slight freeflow.
Dave: This was a bit of a wet breathe when inverted, but otherwise it felt comfortable in the mouth and performed adequately, although when we had two divers breathing simultaneously, it free-flowed.
Paul C: This is a very lightweight, comfortable regulator and I found that it breathed well in all positions. I also liked the fact that there was minimal bubble interference on exhalation.
Paul A: This was a good, smooth breath. The mouthpiece is comfy and, although I managed to provoke a small freeflow, I still maintain this is a solid, dependable regulator.
Jim: I ended up with a major freeflow and had to turn the cylinder off to stop it. Otherwise, very comfy and well-made regulator.

Atomic Z2 regulator (SRP: £299) CHOICE

Servicing costs: £70 (Mikes Bristol)
Accessories: None.

Mark: The Z2 really delivers – its performance isn’t that much different to the T2, which is £500 more! It is comfortable, breathes well and deserves to put Atomic on the map in the UK.
Dave: This gives a bone-dry breathe and is extremely comfortable – it does perform exceptionally well, and at a much-more reasonable cost than the T2.
Paul C: This was a very nice regulator that breathed well – apart from a slight resistance under stress – and had a very comfy mouthpiece.
Paul A: A dry, comfortable breathe, though I found it offered a bit of resistance under stress.
Jim: Very, very comfortable regulator thanks to the gorgeous mouthpiece. It breathes really easily and is totally dry, whatever the position.

Northern Diver Saturn regulator (SRP: £299) BEST BUY

Servicing costs: First service £40, using the included service kit, then £65 (Brighton Dive Centre)
Accessories: Regulator box, spares kit.

Mark: The Saturn looks the part and performs well across the board, but what makes it such a good buy is the fact that £299 gets you the primary, an octopus, a spares kit and a metal reg box.
Dave: This is a good, mid-range regulator that won’t let you down. It breathes well, is built to last and comes with a nifty metal case.
Paul C: I am a big fan of Northern Diver products and I would recommend this regulator to anyone, particularly when you consider that it comes with an octo and a metal reg case.
Paul A: This was an average regulator performance-wise, but no major issues and it is a good buy with all the accessories.
Jim: This was a nice breathe, and it is well made. It wasn’t as comfortable as some, but it is still a reasonable regulator.

Poseidon Cyclone 5000 regulator (SRP: £298.50)

Servicing costs: £75 (Mikes Teeside)
Accessories: Regulator bag, allen key for removing blanks.

Mark: The Cyclone has been around for years and it delivers a powerful performance. It breathes smoothly and has a purge that gives a real kick. A top-quality regulator at a reasonable price.
Dave: This is a quality regulator – it provides an easy breathe in all situations, and the side-exhaust dispels bubbles well away from your mask.
Paul C: This regulator does breathe exceptionally well, but I didn’t like the fact that you can see the lever mechanism through the mouthpiece. It seemed slightly vulnerable.
Paul A: I’m not a Poseidon person and, while I think the Cyclone performed adequately, I wasn’t blown away by it.
Jim: This regulator does breathe well, but it was not particularly comfortable. The side-exhaust is certainly different and takes some getting used to.

Scubapro Mk17/S555 regulator (SRP: £265) CHOICE

Servicing costs: £55 approximately
Accessories: None.

Mark: The Mk17 is Scubapro’s first diaphragm regulator and it gives a storming performance. Teamed up with the new S555 second stage, it is a fantastic regulator at a good price.
Dave: This gives a good breathe, as you’d expect from Scubapro. Slight bubble interference, but nothing to write home about – I’d buy one.
Paul C: This is a great little regulator – it performs so well it could easily have competed against those in the higher price bracket.
Paul A: More of the same from Scubapro – it is comfortable, breathes well in all situations and will last and last.
Jim: I also got a few bubbles in front of my mask on exhalation, but otherwise, this is a fantastic regulator which performs very well.

Seac Sub Diamond Ice regulator (SRP: £279)

Servicing costs: £60 (The Dive Connection)
Accessories: None.

Mark: The Diamond Ice certainly has a look that is an acquired taste, and it breathed reasonably well in all situations, apart from inverted, when it was decidedly wet.
Dave: I was quite disappointed with this regulator. It performed okay, but was very wet when inverted.
Paul C: I didn’t like this regulator either – I nearly drowned when I went inverted!
Paul A: I didn’t particularly like the looks of this regulator, and got some bubbles in front of my mask on exhalation, but otherwise, it performed more than adequately.
Jim: This performed alright across the board, but it wasn’t the best – and I managed to get it to go into a slight freeflow.

Sherwood Magnum regulator (SRP: £202.17)

Servicing costs: £65 (Divemaster Scuba Centre)
Accessories: None.

Mark: The Magnum has also benefitted from a facelift, but has retained the neat under-arm hose routing. It is lightweight and comfortable, but I was surprised how hard it was to breathe.
Dave: This looks better than previous models, but for some reason it seemed to breathe harder! It was decidedly hard work with two people breathing simultaneously.
Paul C: I didn’t like the purge, as I found it was hard to locate when wearing gloves, but I really liked the under-arm hose routing. Performance was more-than-adequate.
Paul A: I really liked this regulator – with the larger exhaust fitted – but I have to say I think the cheaper Brut actually breathed better.
Jim: I really didn’t like this regulator and found it an extremely hard breathe, particularly under stress.

Tusa RS-460 regulator (SRP: £194)

Servicing costs: £60 (Dive 90)
Accessories: None.

Mark: The RS-460 is a well-made regulator, and why shouldn’t it be, when the second-stage has the same body as the old R390 Scubapro product. A reasonable price for a good regulator.
Dave: A good-quality, comfortable regulator that delivers the goods whatever stresses you put on it and all for under £200.
Paul C: This is a nice-looking regulator that performs adequately across the board. I found no difference in performance when I moved the Venturi lever, though.
Paul A: This was comfortable, lightweight and it breathed well – no problems with it at all.
Jim: I thought this regulator looked nice as well. It breathes well and is comfortable, but perhaps wasn’t quite so good under stress.

Tigullio T52 Airtrack Plus regulator (SRP: £210)

Servicing costs: £60 (Planet Scuba)
Accessories: None.

Mark: The Airtrack Plus made up for the poor showing by the basic Airtrack. This regulator breathes extremely well, and comes in at a steal of a price.
Dave: A very good regulator that is comfortable and breathes very well – no short-comings.
Paul C: I was impressed with the overall design and build-quality of this regulator – a good all-round product.
Paul A: This was just as good as last year. It works very well in all situations and positions – I’d consider buying one.
Jim: Well-built, durable and a reasonable price – a very good, easy-to-use regulator.