Scubapro MK17 A700

Scubapro MK17 A700: Like a diamond, the A700 is forever.

Its beauty will seduce you. Its performance will amaze you.

The A700 is a new regulator second stage by SCUBAPRO that breathes exceptionally well and is also a true object of beauty, to be desired by the most distinguishing divers, thereby meriting a dedicated website.


MK17/A700 SYSTEM

Cold water divers or those frequenting harsh environments will appreciate this perfectly matched pair. The A700 is a complete complement to SCUBAPRO-s MK17, a high-performing balanced diaphragm first stage engineered exactly for such conditions. Full metal body and components guarantee less risk of freezing and the MK17 is environmentally sealed so water cannot enter the inner mechanism. Given that regulators generate temperatures down to minus 30º due to the incredibly fast moving air and the pressure drop involved, it is imperative that sensitive moving metal parts avoid contact with extremely cold water.

* Balanced technology provides consistent performance at all tank pressures, at any depth and optimizes the second stage performance, for effortless breathing. Dry ambient pressure chamber provides better protection and performance in cold water than any other diaphragm regulator.

* Balanced diaphragm design, with ultra-fast flow to the second stage, prevents water entry, enhancing trouble-free operation, even in the coldest or most polluted conditions.

* Finned cap with ribs acts as a radiator to increase the surface area of heat transfer form the water to warm the internal parts.

* Available in either 232bar INT or 300bar DIN configuration.



Work of Breathing

Work of breathing depicts the cycle of inhalation and exhalation energy expended to breathe from a regulator.

Inhalation is the effort to open valve and maintain airflow.

Exhalation is the effort to push exhaled breath through the regulator casing and past the exhaust valve.

So, the lower the better. SCUBAPRO regulators exceed WOB standards of both the US Navy and European CE.

Work of breathing (WOB) of A700 has been lowered to an exceptionally uncommon value and completely surpasses CE standards with WOB test results of 0,5 J/l.

EN250 standards for a cold water regulator mandate a limit of 3,0 Joule per liter at a depth of 50m, with 300bar of tank pressure, 2° to 4° C water temperature and 25 breaths per minute. A700 has a WOB result of only 0,5 J/l.


A700

Deep down on a technical dive you need to concentrate exclusively on the critical tasks that will ensure the success of your dive. The last thing you want is to question the performance of your regulator. You will find that the A700s breathing performance, metal construction and reliability make it perfect for any kind of dive, no matter how deep or how complex.

A700s breathing performance lets you dive secure in the knowledge that you are using the best possible regulator. With Work of Breathing tests resulting in 0.5 J/l, the A700 has an extremely low WOB. This means that even in extreme conditions, the A700 breathes easy and consistently.

A full-metal body and metal components assure the best thermal exchange imaginable, dramatically lowering the risk of freezing in cold water. Deep Down You Want The Best and the A700 gives you ample air on demand without fail or free-flow.

SCUBAPRO is synonymous with high-quality, reliable regulators. This is why we can offer a limited life-time warranty on all our regulators. And A700 is no exception. This new 2nd stage will keep you breathing easy without fault for years to come and in all conditions.

As a technical diver-you can count on SCUBAPRO-s A700: you are not the only one to test the limits.


Easy Breathing

The regulator is the diver-s most important piece of equipment. It is a life support system that provides air in an airless environment.

You may dive deep, travel exotic seas or just enjoy recreational diving in your local lake or sea shore. Whatever your dive destination, the SCUBAPRO A700 lets you breathe effortlessly and naturally underwater, letting you safely forget you-re using a regulator. And that results in exceptional diving.

The Air balanced technology decreases the inhalation resistance to the lowest possible level, significantly reducing stress and enhancing diver safety by providing smooth, low-effort breathing response, for ample yet controllable quantities of air.


A700 Second Stage at a glance

* Air-balanced

* Full metal case and valve barrel

* Diver adjustable inhalation effort

* Diver adjustable VIVA (Venturi Initiated Vacuum Assist)

* Super-flow hose

* High comfort orthodontic moutpiece
* Super high flow exhaust valve

* Compact dimensions and light weight: 265 gr

* Work of Breathing: 0,5 J/I

* Extreme resistance to freezing in cold water

* Available with MK25 or MK17 first stage


Full Metal Case

The case and the cover together make the A700 a real jewel. Hand-crafted manufacturing joins the precision and quality that have always been the hallmarks of SCUBAPRO products.

The case surface details have been designed to optimize the function of each one to achieve the smallest dimensions and optimized to reduce weight This is the reason why each component is made with a different technology, the one that delivers the best performance from each single part. From forging to deep-drawing, on to lathing and extruding more than 200 different operations are required to manufacture and assemble all the parts that make up the case.

Finally, all parts are brought together by hand soldering by the most experienced artisans. The case is then tested according to SCUBAPRO-s strictest standards. The result is a small and light second stage with the lowest possible work of breathing.


Cover and Purge Button

The metal cover isn-t simply a work of art, but it is also the most visible element of a closing system made up of several components, each one designed to offer the best in terms of safety and performance.

The cover includes an extremely compact and rigid metal ring through which pass the 4 screws that secure the cover against the case body. The modern stainless steel Torx screws resist high torque and are extremely durable even after innumerable screw/unscrew cycles.

The purge cover underneath the metal front panel functions as a purge button to manually start the air flow. A metal SCUBAPRO -S- logo enriches the center of the button, visually recalling the chrome finish of the external surfaces of A700. The purge cover is, in turn, held by a ring that is part of the locking system and that serves as a guide for the diaphragm so that it remains perfectly seated and perfectly waterproof at all times.


Diaphragm

The diaphragm offers enormous sensitivity, due to the large surface area and to the highly flexible material. Its profile is designed to optimize distorsion.

The external periphery is tightly seated in the machined groove on the front part of the case, to ensure a perfect seal.

The central part of the diaphragm houses a disk, made with an extremely low friction coefficient material, and this is where the valve lever rests. This diaphragm allows a smooth and even movement, offering the most natural breathing experience, just like breathing on the surface.


Lever

The lever is manufactured from high quality stainless steel and shaped like the lever used on our tried and tested S600 second stage, which is a very performing and successful 2nd stage. In fact, its SCUBAPRO-s best selling 2nd stage.

We have pushed the performance of this optimized-shape lever to new levels by pairing it with a full-metal valve seat manufactured on a numeric control lathe. This configuration gives the lever an exceptionally wide stroke that allows the valve to open completely. This, in turn, allows the air to flow without restriction even in the most extreme conditions, ensuring stunning performances in any situation.

Both dive and laboratory tests have shown that Work Of Breathing (WOB) results are well within the stringent standards set by the European regulations, even at depth far exceeding 100 meters.



The internal layout of the A700 was configured in order to reach optimal aerodynamics and reduce the overall dimensions of this new 2nd stage.

Having a thin metal housing allowed us to reduce the distance between the injection hole and the mouthpiece tube. This allows the airflow to be driven by the injection hole directly in the upper section of the mouthpiece tube, creating a smoother breathing feeling during inhalation.

In addition, with the valve housing positioned under the mouthpiece tube lower wall, the exhalation flow is actually enhanced. This valve-mouthpiece configuration lowers the friction and allows the airflow to glide over the diaphragm internal surface, creating an exceptionally low breathing effort. Using truly modern machining and refined welding technologies have made this advantageous valve-mouthpiece configuration possible.


Poppet

The new A700 poppet is expressly designed to give stunning high performance.

The SCUBAPRO signature of quality and innovation is very evident in the shape and characteristics of this new poppet.

The smooth contours of the poppet have been designed based on the results of our advanced aerodynamic research, aimed at channeling airflow and minimizing drag. This generates a highly consistent and smooth behavior and offers the highest efficiency.

By reducing the length of the poppet, compared to those used in other second stages, we have been able to miniaturize the components and reduce the general size of the second stage without compromising overall performance and reliability.


Air Balanced

The air-balanced valve technology of SCUBAPRO second stages features a balancing chamber in the second stage mechanism, slightly offsetting the force of the downstream air entering from the first stage.

This allows reduced spring tension and decreases the inhalation resistance to the lowest possible level.

The result is super smooth breathing in all conditions.


Diver adjustable Inhalation Effort Control

The inhalation effort control system, proven by long use on earlier regulators, is applied on the A700 with the best results ever, allowing anyone to fine tune the smoothness to their personal preferences.

Personalization is important. It puts the diver at ease creating the most natural relationship with the regulator, so that the only thing the diver needs to do is fully enjoy the dive.

The inhalation effort control knob on the A700 has micrometric reference marks to ensure the highest precision; it operates by varying the pre-load on the internal spring and thus changing the work of breathing as seen by the modifications shown on the WOB chart. This variation in sensitivity is perceived by the diver and is visible by the change in the position of the breaking point: this phase begins when the valve opens and the air starts flowing.



Dive / PreDive

This innovative air flow management system gives the diver full control both on the surface and under water. The system (patented) is based on a principle that keeps the air passage cross-section the same in all situations. This ensures the best air supply.

With the control set to Pre-Dive, the air flow is directed towards the diaphragm, putting pressure on it to control the air delivery.

Set on Dive, the airflow is directed towards the mouthpiece, enhancing the Venturi effect and thus reducing the inhalation effort. This system is composed of two parts that can pair one way only, to ensure the highest safety. This configuration allows the maximum reduction of size, contributing to keep the overall regulator size compact. Furthermore, it makes inspection easier and facilitates regular maintenance operations. This is possible thanks to the extremely low tolerances obtained by precision-machining the metals components.

The Dive/Pre-Dive control knob operates through coaxial parts matched with perfectly round seats, resulting in extremely smooth movements: the regulator responds immediately to every action on the adjustment from the diver in an effortless way.

The Dive/Pre-dive feature on the A700 is an implementation of SCUBAPRO patented Venturi-Initiated Vacuum Assist (VIVA) available on all SCUBAPRO second stages. VIVA uses the power of a vacuum assist to reduce work of breathing and increase breathing comfort. It is diver adjustable on all current SCUBAPRO second stages except the R295. A VIVA in MAX position gives powerful breathing support on every single breath. A VIVA in MIN position helps prevent free flow on the surface, ideal for training, buddy breathing, in currents, or when used as an octopus.



Exhaust Valve

The exhaust system uses components optimized for the best performance. The exhaust port on the second stage case is machined from solid metal by a numeric control lathe. This allows a reduction in thickness, minimizing the weight and maximizing the air passage cross section.

The profile of the valve support spars is arched to achieve the best possible position of the exhaust valve diaphragm when closed and so ensure the highest safety.

The valve diaphragm, made of silicone and manufactured with the strictest tolerances, contributes significantly to the reduction in the Work of Breathing. It also directs the air towards the exhaust tee channels more efficiently. The innovative shape of the exhaust tee ensures the correct flow of exhaust air bubbles, regardless of the diver-s position.

The bottom channels spread the air flow to keep it away from the mask to avoid clouding the field of vision to better enjoy the underwater scenery.


SCUBAPRO Orthodontic Mouthpiece

SCUBAPRO uses a comfortable orthodontic mouthpiece on every second stage to reduce jaw fatigue and gum irritation. It was developed by dentists and dental laboratories and lasts longer than any other mouthpiece, because only a minimum effort is needed to hold it comfortably in place.

In A700 the mouthpiece pipe is part of the metal case and has a wide cross-section to ease the air flow and reduce the breathing effort.

The clip, newly designed for this specific application, keeps the mouthpiece safely in place, yet the latch mechanism makes it easy to open when it-s time to change the mouthpiece.


Superflow Low Pressure Hose

The superflow low-pressure hose remains flexible at any water temperature. It has the same standard outer diameter and uses thin neoprene and reinforced-fiber hose wall reinforcement, with an enlarged inner bore, for optimal regulator flow performance.

It enhances safety and outperforms all existing intermediate pressure hoses.



Development of the A700 project

A700 was born with a clear goal: satisfy the needs of those divers that demand the absolute best from their regulator. The path from the problem to the solution runs along a long history of people and experiences, technology and tradition, research and style.
The concept was born in 2006, with the idea of leveraging the exceptional thermal conductivity of metal to create a second stage regulator that would be able to withstand the most extreme diving conditions.

The starting hypothesis of using only one metal component, even if it would have been a crucial one such as the valve housing, was soon considered insufficient when faced with the project-s ambitions. Further studies showed that to reach the very best results, it would be necessary to build an all-metal second stage.

This turned out to be a very ambitious challenge, because it doesnt simply entail the design of something that is completely new, but also means facing and solving several problems inherent in the choice of a noble material such as metal. SCUBAPRO-s long experience has proven more than a real advantage in this project. As a company that has been creating regulators for over 40 years and started such a successful endeavor with a metal regulator, we were confident in our ability to resolve the challenges to create a brilliant all metal regulator.

At this point, we began investigating the most advanced and modern technologies and materials, including those used to create dedicated equipment for the US Army.
Laboratory tests, however, showed that the safest path was to be found in the optimization of every detail: each single component needed to be manufactured with the best technology that would grant it the characteristics necessary to ensure top performance.

At the same time miniaturization, internal aerodynamics studies and design development was being conducted. The prototypes, at first just mock-ups used to evaluate the look, became working models and started accumulating hours and hours of tests in our research labs. This massive dataset was turned into an input for the project, making the product better and better until it was ready for the first test dive at sea.

At this stage, it-s no longer about data and numbers, however impressive they may be. Now its about what the diver experiences, the harmony that is created between the life-defining act of breathing and the machine that allows it to happen underwater. These first test dives gave us important results: some milestones had been reached, some things needed to be refined further and we were back to the lab and also to the drawing board - a state of the art CAD workstation actually - to implement some new development ideas that had originated during in-water tests.

There were now only a few details that remained to be defined, but the goal was in sight and it was time to give the project a name. This new regulator will be called A700: A, as the first letter in the alphabet, marks its peak of excellence and 700, a number that relates to and goes beyond recent models of SCUBAPRO regulator history. It-s outer shell will be polished chrome to underline the solidity of metal. A true masterpiece created by the caring hands of an artisan and by the quality and reliability of the most advanced industrial manufacturing processes. A breathing machine certified by the world-s strictest certification agencies to ensure safety. A700, a jewel, to be admired for its performance underwater and for its stunning look on the surface.


Manufacturing the A700

How can we have the lightest metal case- How should we make this light metal case strong and rigid- Which technology gives us the lowest tolerances- Which material ensures the lowest friction- And which material has the highest corrosion resistance-
There is no single answer for all of these questions. Instead there are several answers, each one the optimal solution for each of the questions. The synergy that ensues by combining these answers is much more, and much better, than the sum of the characteristics of each single element. A700 stems from this synergy of technologies and materials.

The thin brass sheet metal is deep drawn and then cut to obtain the shape of the case and cover. Forged and machined rings create the strong and rigid structural elements that ensure perfect mating surfaces and a perfect seal between case and cover. Extruded tubes form the large bore section through which the air going to the mouthpiece flows unimpeded. The components that hold the diaphragm safely in place are with O-ring sealed Torx screws. The inner air passages are machined on numerical control lathes from raw brass bars. The case is assembled by hand-welding its components. It is then accurately tested to check both dimensional accuracy and pressure resistance, to ensure the highest quality.

Polished chrome plate exterior finishing creates mirror surfaces that highlight the richness of metal while protecting it from salt water aggression. The inner components, machined to clockwork precision, are manufactured with low-friction technopolimers, die-cut stainless steel, extremely thin silicon diaphragms- each question has its answer.

The response to a request for a supreme top regulator is the A700 by SCUBAPRO.