TESTCENTRE
Balanced v Unbalanced
Put simply , the key difference between balanced and unbalanced first stages is down to their breathing efficiency . A balanced first stage offers a constant ease of breathing regardless of depth , tank pressure or workload , and is of obvious advantage to deep or technical divers .
An unbalanced regulator produces an increased breathing resistance the deeper you dive , when under exertion ( against a strong current for example ) or when tank pressure becomes low . You ’ ll still receive an adequate supply of gas ; in my own experience of the normal recreational diving depth range , I find there ’ s very little to choose between the two variants .
These Scubapro schematics show the differences between a balanced piston first stage , ( top ) and the more complex balanced diaphragm first stage ( below )
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