Mares Dual ADJ 62X Regulator

The Mares Dual ADJ 62X is a feature-rich balanced regulator with genuinely useful breathing adjustment, making it a strong mid-range choice for Australian divers who want control over their breathing performance.

## Overview

Mares has built the Dual ADJ 62X around a simple premise: give the diver control over how their regulator breathes, and let them tune it to suit the conditions. At $754 AUD, it sits in the upper-mid range of the regulator market — more expensive than entry-level unbalanced units, but meaningfully cheaper than the flagship models from Mares and their competitors. For that money, you get a balanced first stage with Mares' DFC (Dynamic Flow Control) technology, a swivel turret for flexible hose routing, and a second stage with an adjustable breathing effort dial.

The adjustable breathing is the headline feature, and it is worth examining whether it delivers practical value or simply adds complexity. After testing the Dual ADJ 62X across varied Australian conditions — from easy reef dives in the Coral Sea to current-swept dives at South West Rocks and cooler immersions around Flinders in Victoria — the adjustment system proves its worth as a genuinely useful tool rather than a gimmick.

## Key Features

- **Balanced first stage with DFC technology**: Dynamic Flow Control maintains consistent intermediate pressure across varying demand, improving breathing effort at depth and during high workload - **Adjustable breathing effort on second stage**: External dial allows the diver to increase or decrease breathing resistance to suit conditions and personal preference - **Swivel turret**: First stage turret rotates to optimise hose routing regardless of tank valve orientation - **Chrome-plated brass construction**: Durable, corrosion-resistant finish suitable for regular salt water use - **Venturi assist lever**: Second stage includes a venturi switch for controlling free-flow tendency during pre-dive and surface swimming - **Comfortable orthodontic mouthpiece**: Ergonomically shaped mouthpiece designed to reduce jaw fatigue

## The Good

- **Adjustable breathing is practically useful**: The external breathing effort dial on the second stage is not just a feature for the spec sheet. Dialling up resistance when swimming into a strong current at Fish Rock Cave prevents the reg from free-flowing air into your mouth, while opening it up for relaxed reef dives at the Ribbon Reefs gives you effortless inhalation. Once you have it, you miss it on regulators without it - **DFC technology delivers smooth breathing at depth**: The balanced first stage with Dynamic Flow Control maintains noticeably consistent breathing effort as depth increases. At 30 metres on the ex-HMAS Adelaide wreck, the 62X breathed with the same ease as at 5 metres during the safety stop. This is where balanced design earns its premium over unbalanced alternatives - **Swivel turret simplifies hose management**: The rotating turret on the first stage allows you to position your hoses cleanly regardless of whether you are using a yoke or DIN valve, or how the tank sits in your BCD. On crowded dive boats where setup space is limited, this small feature saves real frustration - **Venturi lever works as intended**: The venturi switch on the second stage effectively controls free-flow when the reg is out of your mouth during surface swimming or buddy breathing drills. It is a simple feature, but one that entry-level regs often lack - **Good value for the feature set**: At $754, the Dual ADJ 62X offers balanced performance, breathing adjustment, swivel turret, and DFC technology. Competitors offering a similar combination of features typically cost more - **Comfortable mouthpiece for extended diving**: The orthodontic mouthpiece shape reduces jaw fatigue during multi-dive days. On back-to-back dives at Julian Rocks, the difference compared to standard mouthpieces was noticeable by the third dive

## The Bad

- **No explicit cold-water rating**: While the chrome-plated brass construction and balanced design provide some resilience, Mares does not market the Dual ADJ 62X as a cold-water regulator. Divers planning regular use in the sub-12-degree waters of South Australia or Tasmania should consider a specifically cold-rated model - **Adjustment dial can be bumped accidentally**: The external breathing effort dial on the second stage is exposed and can be inadvertently turned if it catches on a BCD pocket or wetsuit collar. It is not a frequent problem, but it does happen, and suddenly finding your breathing resistance has changed mid-dive is momentarily disconcerting - **Chrome plating is standard, not exceptional**: The finish quality is adequate but not as refined as some competitors at a similar price point. Minor cosmetic imperfections in the plating were visible on the test unit, though they had no functional impact - **Weight is typical of brass regulators**: Like all chrome-plated brass regulators, the Dual ADJ 62X carries weight. Travel divers watching their luggage allowance will notice it compared to lighter alternatives - **Port count is not specified on the turret**: While the swivel turret provides flexible hose routing, the total number of LP and HP ports is adequate for standard recreational setups but may feel limiting for divers running complex configurations with drysuits and multiple accessories - **Servicing requires Mares-trained technicians**: The DFC technology and adjustment mechanisms mean servicing is best handled by technicians specifically trained on Mares regulators. In major Australian cities this is not an issue, but divers in regional areas may need to post their reg away for annual service

## Verdict

The Mares Dual ADJ 62X delivers a compelling combination of balanced breathing performance, practical adjustment features, and thoughtful design at a fair price. The adjustable breathing effort dial is the standout feature — it provides genuine utility across the range of conditions Australian divers encounter, from calm tropical reefs to current-swept temperate sites. The DFC technology ensures smooth breathing at depth, and the swivel turret is a welcome convenience.

The lack of a cold-water rating is the most significant limitation for divers who frequent southern Australian waters, and the exposed adjustment dial could be better protected. But for divers based in the warmer half of the country, or those who primarily dive in temperate rather than genuinely cold conditions, the Dual ADJ 62X offers a lot of regulator for the money. It is a smart choice for intermediate divers stepping up from entry-level gear who want a reg they can fine-tune to their preferences.

**Rating: 4.0 / 5 stars**