ScubaLab: Regulators - Subgear Aruba

Specifications

Weight	2 lbs., 6 oz.
1st Stage	Unbalanced Piston
Ports	1HP, 4LP
2nd Stage	Unbalanced
Adjustments	None
Warranty	30-year Limited
MSRP	$230
www.subgear.com

Test Stats

Breathing-Simulator Performance	Fair to Very Good
Real-World Performance	Good to Very Good

Although new to the U.S., the Subgear line has been sold throughout the world since 1979. It was bought a few years ago by the company that owns Scubapro, and since then Subgear regs have been produced in the same Italian factories and share the same internal chassis (but use different external designs) as Scubapro regs, sort of like what Audi and Volkswagen do in the automotive industry. The Aruba is Subgear’s entry-level model. It uses a simple first stage and a no-frills second stage that offers both lefthand and righthand hose attachment to increase mounting choices if you want to use it as an octopus (although a special octopus in yellow is also available). It is fitted with an orthodontic mouthpiece and connects to the first stage with a high-flex Airflex hose.

Performance:

This basic reg showed it has what it takes as an entry-level breather. On the ANSTI machine, it cranked out respectable work of breathing at the RMV/depth test level that most closely represents recreational diving. When pushed to extremes, the reg was able to keep up, but it took some huffing and puffing. In ocean tests, it performed like a charm. It’s a really sweet breather in the swimming position and not bad in alternate positions. It also dives dry and purges easily, both by blowing and by depressing the flexible purge cover. Female test dives weren’t wild about the mouthpiece this time around, but male divers found the reg comfortable in the mouth.

Bottom Line:

This reg is not designed for pushing any envelopes. But for recreational diving, it delivers perfectly respectable breathing performance, and it does so at a steal of a price.