What To Look For In A Spare Regulator (Octopus)

As your primary way of breathing underwater and essentially your lifeline, Scuba regulators are one of the most important pieces of equipment used in scuba diving. So what do you do if it happens to fail on you? That’s where an octopus or spare regulator as it is also known comes in. As your single most important piece of scuba safety gear, a spare regulator/ octopus can come to your aid or your buddy’s aid as a back up source of air supply underwater. So how do you choose this crucial piece of equipment when buying your own scuba kit?

In order to know what to look for in an Octopus, it’s good to know the parts that make up of an octopus and the features you can expect. Just like a traditional regulator an octopus consist of three parts: a first stage (frequently purchased separately), a brightly-colored 2nd stage, and a long air hose.

Parts of an Octopus/ Spare Reg

1st Stage vs. 2nd Stage
The first stage attaches to the diver’s tank via a yoke or DIN fitting. It regulates the air pressure as the air exits the tank before the air can enter the air hose. The second stage contains the mouthpiece and purge valve; the purpose of the second stage is to deliver the air into the diver’s mouth and to remove any waste (air or other objects) as needed.

Hose
Octopus hoses are usually longer than a diver’s primary regulator hose. This is because the octopus may be used by your buddy, who will be a slightly greater distance from your tank than you are.

Features of an Octopus/ Spare Reg
Swivel
Many octopuses offer a fairly free swivel motion, which gives the allows the diver in need comfortably position the regulator. This also permits your buddy to breathe through your octopus regardless if he/she is behind your, in front of you, or next to you. Some octopuses also can be used equally well right-side-up or upside-down. This permits you to aid your buddy, even if he/she is below you.

Purge Button/Exhaust Valve
The 2nd stage’s exhaust valve is a one-way valve that allows the diver’s exhaled air to leave the regulator. Basically, it is where the bubbles exit the mouthpiece.

The purge button allows the diver to force air from his/her scuba tank through the regulator to clear any water that may have inadvertently entered the 2nd stage. This button should be fairly simple to manipulate, even when wearing thick dive gloves. It should also only require the pressure from one finger to success- fully perform the purge.

Mouthpiece
Your octopus’ mouthpiece is a more crucial piece of equipment than most people believe. Mouthpieces are typically made from hypoallergenic silicone, which is a pliable, yet sturdy material. More and more mouthpieces are touted as being ergonomically shaped. This is a great advantage be- cause it means your jaw will maintain a natural position, which should decrease your changes of experiencing post-dive jaw pain.