Time to Test

On a sun-splashed Southern California morning last April the ScubaLab test team, aboard Body Glove’s dive boat Disappearance, skirted the eastern coastline of Santa Monica Bay, headed for the rocky cliffs of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Skipper Bob Meistrell eased his 64-foot vessel into a quiet spot on the edge of a massive kelp bed and dropped anchor on a sandy bottom in 40 feet of green water. The test team, comprised of six divers and one test coordinator, got ready to hit the water with this year’s new crop of regulators. There were 14 in all, running the gamut from economy to money’s-no-object. This was judgment day — the final of three test stages — and we couldn’t have asked for a better one. When all was said and done, we found what we were looking for — the year’s best breathers.

Tusa RS670

Features

The R-600 first stage is a featherweight, and the S-70 second stage is sharp looking with its stainless-steel cover plate and chrome trim ring. It comes with mechanical balancing, a 10-click adjustment knob and a hose swivel. The RS670 turned in a Very Good rating for low work of breathing in the RMV/depth test level associated with recreational diving. From there it delivered middle-of-the-road work of breathing until exceeding test parameters at the most extreme test level. In the ocean it earned above-average ratings in virtually all ergo categories. Bubble interference was minimal, the purge button efficient and our divers really appreciated the second-stage swivel.

Specifications

Bottom Line

Delivers all the power you need where it counts and includes some nice creature comforts.