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      • All Skills >
        • Dive Equipment Set Up
        • Buddy Check - BWRAF
        • Giant Stride Entry
        • BCD Inflate & Deflate at the surface
        • No Mask Breathing at the Surface
        • PADI Buoyancy Check Surface
        • Orally Inflate BCD at the Surface
        • 5 Point Descent Over a Sensitive Bottom
        • Regulator Clearing Two Methods
        • Regulator Recovery and Clearing
        • Partially Flooded Mask
        • Alternate Air Source Breathing Stationary
        • Fully Flooded Mask
        • Mask Removal & Replacement
        • PADI Mask Removal and Replacement 1 Minute
        • Free Flowing Regulator
        • Fin Pivot
        • CESA - Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent
        • Hover and Orally Inflate the BCD
        • Loose Cylinder Band
        • Weight Belt Removal and Replacement Underwater
        • Cramp Release Underwater
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  • General Scuba Tips
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    • Snorkeling Tips
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Free flowing regulator

Free Flowing Regulator - How to Breath Easily

Knowing how to deal with a Free Flowing Regulator while scuba diving can be life saving. It is surprisingly easy to breath though a free flowing regulator. During your PADI Open Water Diver Course you learn how to breath through a free flowing regulator for at least 30 seconds.
Free Flow Regulator neutrally buoyant
Free Flowing Regulator performed neutrally buoyant

Why do we get a free flowing regulator?

A failing regulator underwater usually results in a free flow. But why does this happen? This usually happens when scuba diving in cold water. In your scuba cylinder you have a lot of pressure. When full you will have 200 bar or 3000 psi. When you take a breath you reduce that high pressure to around 10 bar in your regulators first stage. Reducing the pressure also reduces temperature. This can cause your regulator to freeze when you are diving in cold water, resulting in a free flowing regulator in most regulator models. 

How to fix a free flowing regulator

If you don't have the proper training, you should not try and fix a free flowing regulator. You should always bring it to a certified scuba technician if your regulator free flows. We recommend if possible to send your regulator to get serviced by a scuba technician that has the qualification of the brand and model of your regulator. For example bring your Aqualung regulator to a Aqualung Technician, an Apex Regulator to an Apex Technician and a ScubaPro Regulator to a ScubaPro Technician.
Free Flowing Regulator
PADI Free Flowing Regulator Skill

How To Breath From a PADI Free Flowing Regulator Skill

1. Tilt your head to the right
2. Take a few breaths
3. When comfortable, take out your regulator
4. Leave half the mouth piece in your mouth
5. Leave the other side of the mouth piece resting on your left cheek
6. Gently purge the regulators purge button
7. Gently breath in and out from the regulator 
8. After 30 seconds replace your regulator and resume normal breathing

Watch this video on how to breath from a Free Flow Regulator:
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Teaching the PADI Free Flowing Regulator Skill

Are you a Diving Instructor, are you thinking about becoming a PADI Dive Instructor or are you doing your PADI IDC Course? Then you need to know how to teach the Free Flow Regulator skill. Check out this article we wrote on How to Teach the PADI Free Flowing Regulator skill.

Also check out this video on how you learn to teach the Free Flow Regulator skill during your PADI IDC Course:

Owning your own scuba regulator

Buying your own scuba regulator is a big step to make in collecting your dive equipment package. We believe that owning your own regulator is one of the most important things to collect when you enjoy scuba diving a lot. Especially if you are thinking about taking the PADI Divemaster course or PADI Diving Instructor course you should invest in a good scuba regulator. We have selected 3 of the best scuba regulators that you can buy from Aqualung, ScubaPro and Apex:
Aqua Lung Legend Regulator
Aqua Lung Legend Regulator
Shop now
Scuba Pro MK25 Regulator
Scuba Pro MK25 Regulator
Shop now
Apex XTX 50 Regulator
Apex XTX 50 Regulator
Shop now
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Marcel van den Berg
​PADI Platinum Course Director
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Disclaimer: Marcel van den Berg is a certified PADI Divemaster (2007), OWSI (2007), MSDT (2007), IDCSI (2008), Master Instructor (2010) and Course Director since 2011. This video and other video’s on any Facebook Page, Group or Personal Profile and on the YouTube Channels: Marcel van den Berg and Scuba Diving Tips are for general informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your Local Law, Scuba Diving Training Organisation, RSTC and/or your scuba diving professional that is legally teaching/guiding you scuba diving whenever you are in doubt, or following a scuba diving course / guide scuba dive under the supervision of a scuba dive professional from any worldwide dive industry recognised scuba dive organisation. Marcel (Mario) van den Berg, IDC Koh Tao Thailand, Scuba Diving Tips and/or any related Website, Facebook Page, Group, or Personal Profile are not liable or responsible for any advice, trading tips or any other information, services or products you obtain through this video or site. Marcel (Mario) van den Berg, IDC Koh Tao Thailand, Scuba Diving Tips and/or any related Facebook Page, Group, or Personal Profile are not liable or responsible for any injury, financial loss, failing a scuba diving course and or loss of certification.

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