Vintage Scuba Gear
Double Hose Regulators

Please Join the JoeScuba Blog

A few months ago, I created a JoeScuba Blogsite with the hope that I could build a community of enthusiastic divers exchanging ideas about SCUBA diving equipment, dive travel, diving safety, vintage SCUBA, diving news, and anything else of interest to divers.

You can even log your dives on the site!

Anyone can join for free. Just click the create an account link on the right side of the page. It's new so please tell everyone you know.

JoeScuba Blog

Vintage SCUBA, Lake Tahoe Anyone?

For years, I have thought that it would be fun to organize some kind of vintage diving event at Lake Tahoe. It seems the perfect place to me, since it is calm (albeit cold), fresh water and a spectacular setting.

If anyone might be interested in meeting for some Lake Tahoe divng and showing off your vintage SCUBA gear, please email me at: joe@joescuba.com. I am thinking late June of this year (2011) might be perfect.

Vintage Double Hose Regulators

The following is my small collection of vintage double hose scuba regulators. Though, limited in quantity, most of these are quite rare and all are completely original and in functioning condition. If you are familiar with double hose regulators, you'll no doubt appreciate that a few of these are exceedingly rare, especially in such pristine condition.

I hope that you will find my collection interesting. Please email me if you are familiar with any of these regs or if you have pictures of your own. If your are ever near Reno or Monterey, maybe we can plan a dive.

Sea Horse Double Hose Regulator UDT Dive Rig

The story with this rig is a little vague. I have been told that this is the stuff that WWII divers used to plant bombs on things they wished to blow up--bridges, submarines, whatever. I am not 100% convinced that this is true, but I like to believe it is. No doubt, this kit is OLD.

Presently, it does not function and the last hydro was in the 50's. I'm not sure whether it would be more cool to leave it as it is or to get it working. I think it's a bummer to have to stamp new hydro dates all over the place.

Interestingly, it was manufactured using O2 valves, so it is unlikely that anyone can fill the tanks anyway. I'll have to dig a little deeper to find out what is possible before I start taking things apart. I'd love to get this scuba rig working though.

Vintage SCUBA Supply has more information about these.

US Divers Mistral Double Hose Regulator

This regulator was likely built in 1956 or 1957 and is extraordinarily rare. It appears to be very similar, if not an exact match for the J.C. Higgins "Aqua-Air-Lung" manufactured for Sears Roebuck around same time. I have never seen another regulator like it and am glad to report that mine functions very well and is completely original.

My guess is that there was some special purpose for it's manufacture since U.S. Divers didn't invest anything more than a sticky label to be affixed to it. But who knows? This regulator was also the subject of some speculation about its origin at Vintage Scuba Sipply. View the label.

U.S. Divers Mistral Double Hose Regulator

Also completely original and functional, this is my first double hose regulator. It was given to me over 20 years ago by a dear friend who knew that I would appreciate it. I have treasured it ever since and am careful about storage, etc.

While not as unusual as the blue one described above, this is a pretty rare regulator as well--especially considering that it is still dive ready with its original yellow hoses. They are a little cracked, which bums me out a lot, but I don't know what I can do but to continue to store it in the dark and keep it cool.

I am thinking about putting new hoses on it in any color if I can find some, and storing the yellow ones for good to keep them from deteriorating beyond function.

View the label.

US Divers DA Aqua-Master Double Hose Regulator

This regulator is cool! Not only is it in perfect working order, it is fitted with a leather cover that, I believe to be original. This one was made for the US military using all non-magnetic components. Seal teams or UDT teams used these as standard equipment.

I think it is an early-60s regulator, the "newest" double hose that I own. At least I am pretty sure that it is. I have only seen one other of these on the web, but would love to meet someone who actually used one in service. This one's perfect. The hoses are soft, no cracking, and it breaths great.

View the label.

1950's Voit Lung Double Hose Regulator

If the above three regulators don't have collectors seeing green (pun intended), this original Voit Lung should. Again, the regulator is in perfect, original working order. Notice the original green hoses and mouthpiece!

As I understand it, I am the second owner of this regulator. The next owner will get it for the same reason as I did--because I won't be able to take it with me.

This is truly a museum piece, as are most of my regs, and I am grateful that I can appreciate it and ensure that it is preserved.

View the label.

Nemrod Snark III Double Hose Regulator

I really don't know a lot about this regulator. I think it's pretty cool, but I have a hunch that there are a lot of these around. Then again, although they made these Snark regs for decades, I can't seem to find out anything about this version, so who knows? In any case, I've seen these around.

Mine is in great shape, however, and it does have a pretty cool, cast metal plate on the yoke side that is pretty unique. Come to think of it, I have never hooked it up to a tank. I should do so. Again, no cracks in the hoses and all original parts. Any double hose regulator that works in all it's original glory is pretty darn cool in my book. I think this one does. I should make sure... View the label.

1960's Dacor Clipper Double Hose Regulator

I don't know if this regulator is older or newer that the U.S. military Aqua-Master. I actually think it may be a little more recent. It's a really nice regulator in any case. But, somehow, somebody (or something) broomed away the black paint that I know used to be on the label. Go figure! For some reason that seems to have been the cool thing to do back then because I've seen others that suffered the same treatment.

I like this regulator and it works great. But, I don't have the same emotional attachment that I have for the others. For a working regulator, this one really is a good option for those "vintage gear" dives that clubs conduct. Not the most unusual, but it's a great reg to dive and maintain. Good shape too. Dacor made nice hoses.

View the label.

Scuba Gear Packages