Oceanic Delta 4 Scuba Diving RegulatorIn an earlier post I was bragging about how good the Alpha 8 regulator from Oceanic is. For those who want to make the move beyond entry level regs, Oceanic has something for you, too: the Delta 4. Like the Alpha, the Delta 4 has also had the distinction of being named a Best Buy in its class by Rodales Scuba Diving Magazine in 2005 (read the Rodale’s article here).
The Delta 4 is the latest incarnation of the original Delta regulator, which impressed me with its tiny second stage when it was first introduced. This is one instance where size definitely matters, because a smaller, lighter second stage translates into less mouth fatigue and therefore a more enjoyable dive for the diver using it. This is especially true when making multiple dives over several days. To go even a step further with regard to comfort, Oceanic has fitted the Delta 4 with an orthodontic mouthpiece and an inline swivel.
The Delta 4 also features a dive/pre-dive venturi switch to make inhalation smoother and reduce surface freeflows , as well as a diver-adjustable breathing effort control knob. While diver-adjustable inhalation often requires the diver to do just that - adjust it, repeatedly - as depth and workload changes, the Delta 4 incorporates a novel Dynamic Adjustment feature that allows you to set the regulator for optimum breathing effort once and then forget about it. The regulator will then self-adjust as you change depths to maintain that same inhalation effort unless you change the setting again.
Oceanic pairs the Delta 4 with its FDX-10 balanced diaphragm first stage for optimal performance. This sturdy, solid brass first stage features Oceanic’s patented dry valve technology, which prevents water and debris from entering the body of the regulator if the dust cap is left off. The whole setup is Nitrox compatible up to 40% O2.
At a retail price of between $500-$600, the Delta 4 is about twice as expensive as the entry-level Alpha, but it boasts many higher-end features that make it worth the money in terms of comfort and ease of use. Right now I have a different set of regs that I am very happy with (more on them later), but if I had to get rid of them today the Delta 4 would definitely be on my very short list of possible replacements.
Scuba Gear Review Oceanic Delta 4 Regulator
