The foundation of any regulator second stage is the valve body, and nobody manufactures this crucial component to be as exacting and durable as Atomic. We machine our valve body from Ti-6 Al-4v solid Titanium on our very precise Swiss CNC machines. Because itís Titanium, itís very lightweight, and will last forever without showing a hint of corrosion (see the comparison photo on page 4). Performance of Titanium parts will never be altered by the effects of sea water.

Competitors: Some of our competitors use plastic for the regulator valve body. Plastic is not an optimum-performance material for this application. Even though it is less expensive, plastic can wear out or crack over time. Donít settle for a cost-cutting plastic part for this very critical part in your regulator.

Since the Atomic Titanium demand lever pivots off the valve body, a low-friction material with exceptional wear resistance is required to prevent metal-to-metal contact that leads to galling. Our Kevlar sleeve material endures millions of smooth cycles without wear.

Competitors: Most use softer grade plastics or metal to metal pivot parts that will eventually wear deep grooves causing the regulator to breathe harder and harder over time.

The demand lever is the mechanical link to your breathing air supply. If it fails, air delivery stops. Because our demand lever is formed from a propriety Titanium alloy, our lever is immune from stress-induced fatigue or corrosion and breakage.

Competitors: Our competitors use stainless steel demand levers that require yearly inspection and service for rust. Stainless steel is much cheaper than Titanium, but cannot compare to the superior corrosion-resistance of Titanium.

Breathe easier and deeper because of the pneumatically-balanced Poppet design. Having a balanced second stage means the diver will have the same low breathing effort regardless of how much air is remaining in the cylinder or any slight air pressure variation from the first stage.

Competitors: Balanced Poppets are the norm these days. If the second stage you are researching isnít a balanced design, the design is too outdated to consider buying.

Atomic redesigned this very basic second stage component into a large elliptical shape molded from a highly-resilient special grade silicone rubber. The valve attaches to a high-flow support grid, resulting in a dramatic reduction in your exhalation effort at depth.

Competitors: Other regulators are fitted with very outdated flat and round valve designs that date back to the sixties.

The Atomic AFC is so advanced, we were granted a US patent for its design. The venturi effect inside a second stage makes it breathe easy, and the Atomic AFC eliminates the manual adjustment normally needed to regulate venturi effect as you dive deeper. No dials to turn or buttons to push ‚ but we include a rapid adjustment knob for rare special situations. A computer-designed airfoil inside the mouthpiece is connected to a pressure-sensing diaphragm, allowing the airfoil to change position with response to depth. The AFC is the reason Atomic regulators breathe with a comfortable natural feeling at any depth. (US Patent #5,678,541)

Competitors: Others use a diver-controlled switch or dial to manually adjust the venturi effect inside the second stage as dive depth changes. This requires distracting thought and aggravation if you turn the dial the wrong way. The Atomic AFC lets you enjoy your dive...automatically.

Our Seat Saving Dynamic Orifice design prolongs the life of the low-pressure poppet seat to maintain the crisp "like new" factory tuning and prevent the second stage from leaking between servicing. This exclusive Atomic patented design allows the seat and orifice to make contact only when the regulator is pressurized. When not in use, the orifice automatically retracts away from the seat to prevent damage during storage. (US Patent #5,803,703)

Competitors: Our competitors would like to have this patented Atomic feature. One of the biggest problems with all standard second stages is the contact area between the sharp metal orifice and the soft rubber low-pressure seat. In these fixed orifice designs, the seat and orifice are pressed together by the demand lever spring during storage, resulting in a deep groove or cut in the seat. Over time, this can cause a second stage to develop a leak even if it hasn't been used. Others also use plastic or brass for their orifice ‚ Atomic uses Titanium for longevity.

Perhaps one of the most admired features of Atomic second stages is the patented comfort swivel which allows 30° rotational movement without binding or kinking. (US Patent #7,188,869)