Regulators and Octopus

A scuba diving regulator is an underwater breathing device that delivers air to a diver at the ambient (higher) pressure of the underwater environment. Ambient pressure is aboiut 14.7 psi on the earth's surface. The weight of water creates an increase in pressure such that at about every 33 feet, another "atmosphere" of pressure is added. The regulator delivers the air at a diver's current ambient pressure (which varies at different depths) and helps fill the lungs effortlessly. Without pressurized air, it would be physically impossible to breathe at dive depths. If you tried to breathe at 30 feet using a hose, you would find that your lungs don't have the muscle to inflate against the increased pressure created by the surrounding water on your lungs. The first stage attaches to the tank and immediately reduces the pressure. The second stage includes a mouthpiece and regulates (fine tunes) the presure so that it is equal to the total ambient pressure, thus making breathing for a scuba diver as effortless as breathing air on the surface. As life support equipment, regulators should be serviced regularly by a certified technician to ensure proper function.