|
|
Post by bigdave on Jan 27, 2005 11:39:20 GMT -8
What is the Collector edition? How is it different? Not much description there, just a photo. Looks like it has an attractive wooden box. Not likely to be mahogany like the 25th anniversary Aquamaster... BD |
|
|
|
Post by JES on Jan 27, 2005 12:38:35 GMT -8
Turtleguy9,
After using Google to translate the website the following description was part of the webpage:
For the collectors of beautiful material and certain nostalgic items, a limited series is proposed. It is delivered in a sumptuous box made out of wood. This particular versions first stage is equipped with a chromium coating. The plastic components take the aspect of carbon. Each Mistral will be delivered with a serial number and a certificate of authenticity.
Not an exact translation but it does provide some idea of what the Collectors Edition is.
|
|
Turtleguy9
Pro Diver
Padi MSDT, IDEA INST TRAINER, SDI OWSI, NASE
Posts: 136
|
Post by Turtleguy9 on Jan 27, 2005 13:42:02 GMT -8
Thanks Big Dave and JES
I doubt I can afford a collector edition, and I would want to dive it anyway, but it sure would look pretty.
Turtleguy9
|
|
|
|
Post by broxton Chuck on Jan 28, 2005 5:15:44 GMT -8
I read all the geegaws about the new mistral. Who should really care. USD did it right the first time. Fancy box, headlights turn signals, reaview mirrors, and most important mahogany box and certificate of authenticacy. All the stuff I dont need. Just sucker bait. All I would be interested in is if the hoses would fit my Broxton Aqua lung. If they did, the likely would be $250.00 Dont be swept down the yellow brick road guys, get you a real genuine double hose, and stay in the real world! I suppose PADI will craft a course real quick to certify you with one of these now?? Have a wet day!
|
|
|
|
Post by VintageDiverMN on Jan 28, 2005 10:16:46 GMT -8
Broxton Chuck is right, stick with our vintage regulators
|
|
|
|
Post by John C Ratliff on Jan 28, 2005 10:53:51 GMT -8
You guys are missing something here, and that is that this new Mistral is a design departure from all other two hose regulators ever conceived. That is because the first stage and second stages are stand-alone. It appears, and I may be wrong with this but it does appear that the first stage can be unscrewed from the second stage, for different placement. What is the advantage of this? Here are two:
--This may be the first chest-mount double hose regulator commercially available. This would remove the water column displacement that has plagued the double hose regulator since it was conceived. It was used by Cousteau in his last diving years for a reason--it provides the easiest breathing position of any regulator.
--The first stage can be mounted to the newer valves, and the second stage mounted behind the center of the backpack. This allows the newer double-tank manifolds, with their duel posts above each tank, to be utilized without compromising the positioning of the double hose regulator when used behind the diver on the tank block. It makes for a better potential positioning between the diver's shoulder blades, and the diver would still be able to reach behind and turn off the valve if necessary (the "DIR" way ;D). Additionally, the second stage could be mounted between the diver's back and the BC, thereby negating the problems of back-mounted BCs increasing the water-column breathing resistance of the double hose regulator.
I think Aqualung has done the diving community a service by designing their new double hose in this manner. It provides positioning flexibility not seen, ever, for the double hose regulator. In short, the advantages of positioning and the advantages of the double hose bubbles being away from the face are combined with this new concept, the new Mistral from Aqualung.
SeaRat
|
|
|
|
Post by VintageDiverMN on Jan 29, 2005 8:02:24 GMT -8
I don't think we are missing anything, we collect and dive with vintage equipment, end of story.
|
|
|
|
Post by SeaRat on Jan 29, 2005 9:47:09 GMT -8
But the new Mistral will be vintage in another 30 years or so  SeaRat (PS--I do get excited about new designs too.) |
|
|
|
Post by nemrod on Jan 29, 2005 10:31:18 GMT -8
My main interest in this new double hoses is that I think the result of having a double hose back on the market will be to increase the visibilty of double hose regulators both old and new and that some of the diver cert agencies will surely have to respond with training programs that include them. No longer will dive boats be able to turn me away because I don't have the latest plastic er--gag--gag-gag-Tusa regulator and square pointed dive "knife". I am going to be intested in the response as well from the dive community.
I don't think I will buy one, I don't especially like the design and that hose looping about on them. It is kinda clever you have to admit but I don't think it rises to the level of the ultimate breathing machine. I either want a modern traditional unit or like my earlier description, a unit with performance that equals or betters any thing out there. Nemrod
|
|
|
|
Post by SeaRat on Jan 29, 2005 17:54:32 GMT -8
Bev Morgan, President, Deepwater Development Corporation, in 1970 stated*:
Obviously, not many of Bev's visions have taken place. We have buoyance control, and much of what he said about regulators has taken place. But we don't have the semi and closed circuit systems he envisioned for the 1970s, much less today in 2005.
The double hose systems of the past had always breathed dry. But keeping them below one inch of water pressure for breathing resistance was rarely achieved. The only regulators I've had that do that are the Trieste II (with a lot of modifications--venturi, diaphragm, and hose system), the Snark III (again with modifications to the venturi and the hose system), the Royal Aquamaster, the Hydro-Twin (with modicifations to the hose system).
None of the single stage regulators, such as the older Mistral, would meet that spec at all tank pressures (the Mistral was good from 1000 psi down, and great at about 250 psi cylinder pressure).
Positioning is always a problem with the double hose regulator, as it increases water column pressures that contribute to breathing resistance. That is why it is critical to position the double hose low on the back, preferably on a twin-tank system for ideal positioning.
But now, with the new Mistral, it will meet these requirements and the positioning can be varied. This design seems more attuned to what Mr. Morgan, one of divings best innovators, was discussing and hoping for in 1970 for the five years after that. This regulator, I've just found out today, is also compatible with a new full-face mask Aqualung is coming out with (as are many single hose regs). Again, this will contribute to what Mr. Morgan was hoping to see in about 1975. Here is what he had to say at this conference on underwater communications:
Well, it worked, and we didn't buy it. So here we are, still diving the same vintage gear, and thinking it is the best that there ever could be. It's not. Current gear is obstructive to good diving, poorly streamlined, and hard to use. Underwater swimming, the way Frederick Dumas and the other pioneers of diving were able to do, is a lost art.
Maybe, if enough of us did really look hard at today's gear, and decide as consumers to reward someone for innovation, we would be diving in a different "real world" in the next decade.
*HUMAN PERFORMANCE AND SCUBA DIVING Proceedings of the Symposium on Underwater Physiology, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California, April 10-11, 1970, Cy Yttri, Director of Publications, The Athletic Institute, SBN 87670-805-X, Chicage, 1970, pgs 18-28.
John
|
|
|
|
Post by seakrakken on Jan 29, 2005 20:39:14 GMT -8
Well stated SeaRat! I know that I do not like the way the new Mistral looks but, it does as you also said promise a chance again to streamline again as was done in the Golden Ers.
|
|
dhaas
Regular Diver
Posts: 26
|
Post by dhaas on Jan 30, 2005 10:09:32 GMT -8
Guys, As the previous poster related many of us are viewing this new Aqualing Mistral regulator as a cool thing to straddle the fence in the vintage and "real" sport diving world....Any new double hose that breathes as easy as a modern single hose regulator will sell due to the"looking cool" factor  Many sport divers will pay mucho' dinero' for any toy if they want it as a previous poster noted..... My 1959 Aqualung Mistral lovingly tuned by Broxton Chuck is fun to swim around with, especially with just a tank, weights, mask, fins and suit...Diving as it was done and seen on the Cousteau series and Mike Nelson. Problem is most new divers don't get enough water time, much less even good basic snorkeling skills developed before they're headed to some dive resort where the guides complain people come down totally unprepared to even swim in the ocean!! (Sorry for the rant....Just making a point about old versus new gear.) So overall I think this new reg, no matter what the technical innovations (or no innovation depending on your opinion) will help draw some attention back to the vintage gear and diving styles we all like... As I mentioned before, I get a real kick out of showing guys with the latest gizoms you don't need to have a BC to dive (even in cold quarries at 30'-75'!) if you know how much lead you personally need with what suit, plus breath control! Funny thing is, even in my personal "new" gear I hardly touch my BC until maybe 50' or so in salt water.... In summary, I'll likely be diving a new Mistral in the future along with my old Mistral Both pretty cool AND fun! David Haas davidhaas@sbcglobal.net |
|
|
|
Post by Terry on Jan 30, 2005 15:15:14 GMT -8
Hey guys lets face it; we all love our vintage two hose regs but we should also be glad that Aqua Lung is now producing a two hose reg again. As stated by others; if the two hose reg makes a re-appearance this may eliminate some of the negative responses and looks that many of us have received in the past. To be honest I can't say for sure if I'll ever purchase one of these new regs; BUT I "Tip My Hat" to Aqua Lung for stepping forward and obviously responding to the interest that has been shown towards these regs. I own modern equipment and vintage equipment, and I very much enjoy diving with all of it. I enjoy "True Vintage Diving" and I also enjoy being able to set up an inflator hose from any of my two hosers for use with my BC's. On that note: I'm waiting to see some of the "Vintage Photos" that David Haas has offered to take; any and all new two hose regs that we should be lucky enough to see hit the market; all in the interest of promoting the two hose reg, and "Vintage Diving". Safe Diving To All! Terry Stevens
|
|
|
|
Post by John Lundy on Jan 31, 2005 15:49:18 GMT -8
I think it is great that Aqua Lung is bringing out a new double hose regulator. I have been told it is being manufactured by Apeks under the Aqua Lung name. They are to be available for retail purchase near the end of March in the US. I was also told the commerative version is only being sold to dealers - perhaps that will change. According to the UK ads, it will be available with a yoke, a DIN fitting, or Nitrox fitting. I plan to sell some of my single hose regs and other stuff and buy one as soon as they are available. I was also told full retail is $899  Guess I'll have to sell alot of stuff  John |
|
|
|
Post by John Lundy on Feb 5, 2005 19:15:19 GMT -8
On the Mar-Vel webpage there is a regulator listed as "Mistral, yoke" and the government price is $625. I phoned to ask if it is indeed the new Mistral and all they would only say is it will be coming out in March.
John
|
|
Many sport divers will pay mucho' dinero' for any toy if they want it as a previous poster noted.....
Guess I'll have to sell alot of stuff 
