SCUBAPRO SCUBAIR "J” and the SCUBAPRO SCUBAIR "300” are regulators that were designed by Healthways, and labeled SCUBAPRO, in 1962.  This was the first time that the name SCUBAPRO was used on a regulator.

The SCUBAIR "J” and the SCUBAIR "300” were made of chrome-plated brass, including the exhaust tee, with a SCUBAPRO sticker on the front cover.  The SCUBAIR "J” and the SCUBAIR "300” were both offered in a SCUBAPRO catalog dated 1962. The 1962 catalog was an interim catalog until the 1963 catalog could be produced. The SCUBAIR "J” was also in the 1963 SCUBAPRO catalog.

 USA Production

The 108 & 108 HP (the 108 HP is sometimes referred to as the 080 HP and as the High Performance) are the first SCUBAPRO second stage regulators wholly produced by SCUBAPRO.  They were made of chrome-plated brass with a black rubber exhaust tee and were available to the public from 1963 - 1988. The simple valve design is so efficient that this basic design is still being used today.

In 1964 the static orifice was upgraded to an adjustable orifice and the exhaust port was enlarged. This version was designated the 108 HP (High Performance).  This unit was sold in combination with the MK 2 first stage and the combo was called the MK 2 in the catalogs.

The combination MK 5 first stage with the 108 HP was sold in Europe as the MK 4.  There was never a MK 4 first stage, which confuses some people. In the Americas, this combination was called the MK 5. It is serviceable to this day. There is also an octopus version that had an orange mouthpiece and orange exhaust tee. This Octopus version was sold from 1978-1988.

The Adjustable 109 is chrome-plated brass with a black rubber exhaust tee and was introduced in 1969. It was on the market until 1985.  It is the first regulator to offer the consumer a means to adjust the inhalation effort of the regulator.  The regulator breathed so easily that if you were headed into a strong current you could adjust it to prevent a free flow.

The Adjustable 109 was offered as an Octopus between 1978 & 1985, with the same orange mouth piece and exhaust tee as the 108.  In 1977 the Adjustable 109 Octopus was also offered in a left handed version. This design allowed the second stage to come over the left shoulder instead of the right shoulder. The left handed version was the first octopus regulator that SCUBAPRO ever offered.  This left handed version is rare.

The Adjustable 109 used an innovative valve system. It differed from the 108 by the addition of an air inlet tube or barrel with an adjustable knob at one end.  This basic design is being used to this day in all of SCUBAPRO’s modern Balanced regulators.  SCUBAPRO offered a kit that would upgrade the Adjustable 109 to a Balanced Adjustable.

TheBalanced Adjustable was on the market from 1985 - 1997.  The Balanced Adjustable is the first second stage regulator to offer air balancing. This allowed SCUBAPRO to use a lighter spring on the lever which reduced the amount of pull required to open the air valve. 

You can distinguish the regulator from the 109 by the cover.  The body of the regulator was made of chrome-plated brass with a black mouth piece and black exhaust tee. The cover ring has a decal with "Balanced Adjustable” written on it. There are three variations of the regulator.  All three regulators are made of chrome-plated brass with a black exhaust tee.

The first version was produced from 1985 through 1989.  It has a black mouthpiece and an all metal knob.  The octopus version was available from 1986-1987.  This version had an orange mouthpiece and an orange diaphragm.  The final version which was available from 1990-1997 can be distinguished from the original by a combination plastic and metal adjustment knob.

The Mark X second stage is a Balanced Adjustable that was sold as a combination first and second stage.  It has "Mark X Dual Balanced” printed on the front cover ring instead of Balanced Adjustable. The cover also had a matte finish rather than polished chrome.  This regulator system was available to purchase in Europe only.

The G200 second stage uses the same valve system as the adjustable 109 except it did not have the breathing resistance adjustment knob. The G200 was available from 1987 until 1995.

SCUBAPRO by now had introduced the VIVA (Venturi Initiated Vacuum Assist) to the housing. The VIVA was first introduced with the G250 in 1986. The housing is made of amorphous polyamide reinforced with fiberglass and graphite rather than chrome plated brass.  The diaphragm is blue with a blue identifying sticker on the purge button.  There was an option to purchase a red or teal diaphragm with a complimenting purge button sticker.  There was also an upgrade kit available for the G200 to the G200B.

The G200B second stage is an air balanced version of the G200.  It was available from 1991 until 1998.  The valve system is basically the same as the Balanced Adjustable. It also had the VIVA assist like the G200. The G200B is a cousin to the world famous G250 which is an adjustable balanced second stage.  Like the G200 it came from the factory with a blue diaphragm and sticker with an option of a red or teal diaphragm and sticker.  The G200B could be upgraded to a G250.

The R190 second stage is a work horse of a regulator.  It was available 1993 – 2007.  The R190 is the last full size version of the standard valve regulator.  It uses the same basic valve that the original 108 SCUBAPRO regulator had.  It first came on the market in Europe without the VIVA adjustment. The VIVA adjustment was added when it was brought into the USA.  It had optional colored stickers for the front cover.

The R190 was available in two different octopus versions.  The first octopus version was offered between 1993 and 1994.  This octopus has a red mouthpiece, red diaphragm and red sticker on the purge button. The more common version has a yellow diaphragm and exhaust cover. This version was available from 1995-2007.  It could be converted to a left handed octopus if the consumer chose to do so.

The R190 was available in Europe with different front covers and no V.I.V.A.  They also produced a clear blue poly carbonate case and cover.  There was limited production of this R190.  This clear blue regulator was offered in the USA but never appeared in a catalog.

The POLAR, M50 and the M5 (Europe only) were available from 1994 – 1997. They use the 109 valve system but had composite cases rather than the chrome plated brass.  These regulators have a two-piece chrome plated and Delrin molybdenum barrel rather than the full chrome plated brass barrel.  The internal part of the barrel was made from Delrin molybdenum in order to make it less likely to freeze up in very cold water.

These regulators were equipped with a Dive/Predive switch (located in the same place as the diver control knob on the 109) that allowed the user to increase the effort required to open the valve to prevent free flow during pre-dive activities.  The M5 was only sold in Europe and had a single piece chrome plated brass barrel and no VIVA adjustment. All other versions had the two piece barrel and the VIVA adjustment.

The Polar and the M50 are actually the same regulator and can be distinguished by the name sticker on the second stage cover. SCUBAPRO decided to change the name from Polar, 1994-1995 to M50, 1996-1997, because many consumers assumed that you could only use the regulator for ice diving.  There is a sticker on the second stage that indicates that it is an M50.

The R380 was on the market from 1999 – 2003.  The R380 is basically a downsized version of the R190, making it smaller and lighter.  It has the same valve as the R190, except for the lever, in order to cope with the smaller diameter diaphragm. It originally had an anti-set seat saver switch on the soft portion of the front cover and was adaptable to be used over the left shoulder as well as the right.   In 2002 the anti-set switch was removed from the cover.  Both of the versions were available as an octopus that had a yellow soft purge with a black "S” in the two piece front cover rather than the black soft purge with a gray "S”  that was standard. Like the R190, the R380 could be converted to a left-hand octopus.

The R390 is exactly the same as the final version of the R380.  It was available from 2003 – 2006.  The black two piece cover has a different look than the R380. The soft cover does not have the anti-set switch and has three horizontal slits cut into it on both sides of the "S”.  It was also offered in an octopus version that had a yellow soft cover. The R390 was convertible to a left handed version should the consumer need to have it in this configuration.

R290 was never available in the United States.  It was available in Europe from 2003 – 2006.  It also is the same as the R380 and R390 with a different cover.  The cover is distinguished from the previous models in that it had a single piece black hard cover.  It also had a finite purge button to mimic the R190.  It also came as an octopus with a yellow cover.

The R290 also could be converted to a left hand model.  The VIVA adjustment could only be adjusted by a technician out of the water.  It was a second stage designed mainly for training and rental departments

TheR295 was introduced in 2006 and is still available.  The R295 uses the same valve system as the R190, R380, R390 and the R290.  The changes that were made are the lever and the intake diaphragm.  These new designs decreased the amount of friction the lever had on the diaphragm which decreased the cracking effort.

The new concept of the variable lever ratio design of the lever significantly enhanced  the performance.  The R295 does not have a user adjustable VIVA.  This regulator was designed for the rental market and the consumer that only wanted a good simple regulator.  A technician can maximize the VIVA for the consumer, if they choose, so that they can get the full benefit of this feature.

The R295 has a two piece cover.  The outer ring is black and the soft insert is a dark gray.  It also comes in an octopus version that has a yellow soft insert. The R295 is also convertible to the left hand side. In 2009 SCUBAPRO offered an upgrade kit for the R295 for use with 100% oxygen

The R395 came on the market is 2007 and is still available.  It is mechanically the same as the R295 with the addition of the consumer adjustable VIVA.  The R395 has a two piece cover.  The outer ring is black plastic with a black soft insert and a metal "S” insignia.  The R395 is available as an Octopus and has a yellow soft insert in the cover.  The R395 is convertible to the left hand side.

The G250 is the number one selling and most copied second stage of all time in the world.  It was introduced in 1986 and is still available today.  The current version is the G250 V (Vintage).  The G250 is also considered to be the best all around regulator ever built.

The G250 was the first regulator to introduce the adjustable VIVA (Venturi Initiated Vacuum Assist). The function of the VIVA is that it accelerates the speed of the discharged air to the point of zero effort. The G250 came in several different configurations.  This regulator has the same basic valve as the Balanced Adjustable but is in a fiberglass reinforced polyester case rather than chrome-plated brass.

The first generation of the G250 can be identified by the short VIVA adjustment, a metal adjustment knob, a blue diaphragm, screws that secure the exhaust cover on and the purge button sticker has the word SCUBAPRO G250 below in boxes. This version weighed in at only 9.52 ounces which is considerably lighter than the Balanced Adjustable.

In 1987 the G250 Graphite was introduced. This housing was amorphous polyamide reinforced with fiberglass and graphite. This lowered the weight to 8.75 ounces. These new cases have much better internal aerodynamic design and it directs the airflow more efficiently towards the mouthpiece. The appearance is identical except for the purge button sticker which read SCUBAPRO with G250 Graphite below.

There is an octopus version of the G250 that was available from 1986-1988. This version had an orange mouthpiece and an orange diaphragm. In 1989 SCUBAPRO introduced a Red and Teal option that consisted of a red or Teal diaphragm with matching stickers. In 1990 the Adjustment Knob became a combination of metal and plastic and the purge button sticker says SCUBAPRO with G250 below it.

  Italian Production

In 1991 there was a transition from the regulator being produced in the USA to Italy.  Sometime this year the VIVA flow adjustment was lengthened a bit so that it could be used easier with gloves on.  The purge sticker changed to having a big "S” with G250 and SCUBAPRO written below it. You can distinguish the Italian version from the USA version in that the Screws that held the exhaust cover on was changed to a pin. The same color options were available as in the 1989 version.

1992 brought another change to the VIVA adjustment knob.  It was again lengthened for ease of operation with gloved hands.  The Teal color option was also discontinued.  In 1993 the color of the diaphragm was changed to Black with Blue or Black with Pink purge button sticker.

In 1994 the Hot Frames hand painted covers were introduced.  These covers were optional. There were 4 color configurations, Surf (Blue colors), Safari (orange, pink and yellow colors), Mardi- Gras (Pink, purple and white and Webs (Mostly black with pink, yellow and orange). These covers were individually hand-painted so that no two were alike. SCUBAPRO also offered a matching mask with the same color schemes.  The G250 remained the same through 1999.

The G250HP was introduced in 2000-2007. This version has an inlet tube that is co-molded Delrin molybdenum barrel instead of chrome plated brass, the lever changed and even the case is a slightly different size.

The G250V was introduced in 2008.  The "V” is for Vintage.  SCUBAPRO reverted back to the original case size and design.  They went back to an improved chrome plated brass barrel with an upgraded lever. This case is made from 6.0 Nylon with 30% fiberglass.

There were three hundred 24 kt Gold plated MK 10/G250’s produced in 1991.  This was a special promotion regulator to commemorate this combination as being the number one selling regulator in history.

In 1992 an all white G250 was produced in very limited numbers in Europe and in 1997 the Blue Rhapsody was also offered in Europe.  SCUBAPRO also produced a promotional regulator for the US and Europe that had clear polycarbonate housing in 1997 and it was called the G250 Crystal. The G250 Crystal never appeared in a SCUBAPRO AMERICAS’ catalog.

Darth Vader Regulators

The Pilot regulator was actually designed by an engineering student as a class project. SCUBAPRO picked the regulator up from him and it became what many consider the best deep diving regulator ever made.

The Pilot regulator is the only American made Regulator with a servo operated second stage. This "pilot valve” system provided an extremely high air flow and was very easy to breath, especially at the deeper depths. The valve is actually two valves; one valve pilots the other and was extremely revolutionary.  It produces the most sensitive inhalation effort possible then opens the secondary valve to introduce a higher volume of air to the diver.

The U.S. Navy used this regulator for their record deep dives in 1979.  The US Navy rated this regulator as the best deep diving regulator. They presented SCUBAPRO with a placque that is proudly displayed at SCUBAPRO Headquarters in El Cajon, CA The regulator was available 1977 - 1979.

This pneumatically amplified second stage offers the diver the difference between conscious, mechanical breathing and natural automatic breathing. The regulator was very difficult to maintain and was replaced after only 3 years.  The Pilot has a chrome-plated brass body and it could be converted from right-handed use to a left-hand configuration or double up the second stages.  SCUBAPRO offered a kit that would upgrade the Pilot to an AIR 1.

The Air 1 is the successor to the Pilot using a pneumatic balanced valve system instead of a pilot valve.  It is much less complicated to maintain than the Pilot yet still provided the ease of breathing that the Pilot offered.  It was on the market from 1979 – 1990.  The Air 1 is the first regulator by SCUBAPRO to be made of a material other than chrome-plated brass. The black fiberglass reinforced material and shape of the Air 1 earned it the nickname of the "Darth Vader” regulator.  The name stuck and the D300, D350, D400 and the X650 were also nick named the same. You could also configure this regulator for left-handed use or have a dual regulator set up just as the Pilot.

The D300, another "Darth Vader” style regulator, was available from 1986 – 1990.  It also uses the same valve as the Air 1.  The cover is a full rubber cover which made the purge valve very easy to access. The D300 had no external markings to identify it. The Dive/Predive switch was Blue.  A red switch button was offered as an option beginning in 1988 and a teal option was offered beginning in 1990.

The D350 was produced from 1991 – 1993.  This is another of the "Darth Vader” regulators. The poppet was redesigned to make the regulator easier to maintain and provide a larger volume of air with each breath. The intake lever was also reversed from the way it was in the D300. The front of the Dive/Predive switch had a sticker designating it as the D350.  In addition to the Blue sticker that came on the D300 a red or teal sticker was available.

The D400 is the last of the D series regulators and the last to use this unique valve system. This great regulator was available from 1994 – 2002. This "Darth Vader” style regulator had a D400 Sticker on the Dive/Predive switch.  The volume of air was again increased with each breath by redesigning the lever.  The D400 also had a red or teal sticker available.

NOTE:  The Pilot, Air 1 and the D series are the only second stages with a vertical operating coaxial valve design and have been some of the easiest breathing regulators in SCUBAPRO’s line.

The X650, as of this date is the last of the "Darth Vader” regulators.  Even though it has the appearance of its predecessors it is in no way the same valve.  It operates very similar to all of the other SCUBAPRO regulators, which have a horizontal valve design, yet it has a unique valve and lever system to make it one of the smoothest breathing regulators in SCUBAPRO’s line.  It was available from 2004 – 2007 in the USA.  It originally came out with a sticker on the front that had a Silver X650 sticker designation. 

During 2005 the X on the sticker was changed to blue.  This designated an upgraded version of the X650.  The X650 was designed to be a deep diving regulator like its ancestor the PILOT.   There is a Titanium version in Europe.

 Alternate/Inflator/Regulator

The Air 2 is the first Alternate/Inflator/Regulator combination. It was on the market from 1979 – Present. It has had 5 different configurations and the patent on this revolutionary design was that the diver could orally inflate the B.C. through the same mouth piece as the regulator.

The original was big, bulky and very hard to breath.  This regulator is all black with a silver sticker with a black "S”. It was on the market from 1979 – 1983. 

The second generation was much lighter and was easier to breath.  It is black with orange buttons and a single piece diaphragm cover and an "S” is molded into the manual inflate/deflate button.  It was available from 1984 – 1989.

The third generation was much easier to maintain and even easier to breathe.  This regulator offered you red, pink and gray buttons and had a single piece diaphragm cover that was inset into the housing. Air 2 was molded into the manual inflate/deflate and was on the market from 1990 – 1999. 

The fourth generation Air 2 came with gray buttons only and provided a bit more air volume than the third generation.  It appears much the same on the outside as the 3rd Generation.  The fourth generation Air 2 was on the market between 2000 & 2005.

The fifth configuration is the Restyled Air 2.  The internal works are exactly the same as the fourth generation it simply has a new updated look. The Restyled Air 2 came on the market in 2006.  The gray buttons have been reshaped to a rounded look rather than the rectangular shape of the previous models.  The diaphragm retainer is inset as in the 3RD and 4th generations but is two pieces.  It has a hard outer ring and a gray rubber insert with the name SCUBAPRO and the SCUBAPRO "S” molded into it.  Air 2 is also on the main body of the regulator rather than on the buttons.  In 2008 the power inflate button color was changed to red.

All Air 2’s in the AMERICAS market have black bodies but we have seen a yellow body with red buttons and blue green body with gray and blue buttons. However, these were only available in Europe.  The SCUBAPRO parts list shows a part number for a clear body and there are some pictured in the catalogs from testing photographs but they were never listed in a catalog.  This clear bodied AIR 2 is very rare.

The G500 was available from 1996 – 2001 and there were two different regulators.  The first generation is all black and was basically a down sized G250.  The second generation, 1997, really was upgraded to have a micro adjustment and the lever was upgraded to the same lever as the G250 HP.  This special lever was designed to reduce the amount of friction that the lever had on the diaphragm. The look changed and the "S” on the front cover is now gray.

The S600 came on the market in 2001 and is still in SCUBAPRO’s line up.  This newly designed regulator is characterized by its small size, light weight and the amount of air volume that it would provide the diver with each breath.

The S600’s co-molded Delrin molybdenum barrel rather than the brass version is what reduced the weight. The unique design of the aspirator and progressive lever on this lightweight barrel is what provides the air volume and ease of breathing at the deeper depths.

The S600 has had several different looks and only one change.  The change was made in the balance chamber.  The first S600 had a floating balance chamber and the latest models have a fixed balance chamber. The original version, 2001-2005 is all black with a stainless steel ring around the black soft purge area.  The cover has a stainless steel "S” insignia in the center. In 2009 SCUBAPRO introduced an accessory cover insert for the S600.  These inserts were colored Blue, Red and Pink cover.
 

The second configuration is the S600T for Titanium, 2002-present. The difference in the look is that the inlet tube is co-molded with titanium and the ring around the dark gray colored purge area is titanium.

In 2004 Europe offered the S600 Classic or Anniversary that can be identified by the metal cover that states S600 Classic. The current look, 2006- present is just like the original except that the words SCUBAPRO and S600 are white on the black cover.

The S550 was available from 2001 – 2005 and had two different looks.  The regulator itself is the same as the S600 except that it does not have the breathing adjustment knob. The first generation has a black and gray two piece cover with a black SCUBAPRO "S” co-molded into the soft purge and the second generations two piece cover is all black with a stainless steel SCUBAPRO "S” insignia. In 2009  SCUBAPRO offered an upgrade kit for the S555 for use with 100% oxygen

The S555 came on the market in 2006- present and is a S550 with a different cover.  The cover is a two piece cover.  There is a soft insert that is dark gray and has a metal insignia with the SCUBAPRO "S” in the center.  The hard cover ring has SCUBAPRO in white letters on the top center and S555 in white on the lower center.  In 2009 Japan offered a S555 that had a white insert in the two piece cover and a white Venturi adjustment knob.  This second stage was was paired with a MK11 T that has a white knob and white bumpers on the body.

The A 700 is a wholly new designed all metal second stage regulator in 2009.  It was only offered this year in a combination with a new highly polished MK 25AF.

TheVisionaire is the first full face mask and was offered in 1963-1978.  It was unique in that the rubber skirt acted as the regulator’s diaphragm and the glass face plate acted as the diaphragm disc.  The diver would inhale through their nose and exhale into a tube that led to the outside of the mask through two one way valves.  The regulator valve itself was actually the same valve that was used in the 108. There was no nose pocket so equalizing would be very difficult.  The Visionaire was used for shallow water work because of this feature.

NOTE:   The dates that are represented throughout this web site are the dates that each regulator was first seen and last seen in a SCUBAPRO Americas catalog and not necessarily the exact dates that they were on the dealers’ shelves.  The dates and the description of each regulator may also differ from catalogs in other parts of the world.

Contributors

Harry Ward, Sales Manager SCUBAPRO Americas; Gibert De Coriolis, Technical Director SCUBAPRO Worldwide; Rene Dupre, Technical Training Manager;   Jules Gainer, Chief Technician SCUBAPRO Americas; Scott Dawson, former Regional Sales Manager SCUBAPRO Americas; Kenny Wheeler, Technician Ocean Divers, Key Largo, Fl