Where life support equipment is concerned I believe in the old adage of 'keep it simple, sweet'. The more complex, complicated and over engineered a system is, then all the more capacity for things to go wrong and for human error to creep in. I suppose if I was asked to sum up the TX 100 regulator in a couple of words, then the phrase I would choose would be 'perfectly engineered'.

The TX100 is the flagship regulator from Blackburn based equipment manufacturer Apeks Marine Equipment, replacing that reliable workhorse and veteran of many a diving expedition, the TX50, as the top of the range. For those who know and trust their TX50 or TX40 the good news is that the modifications Apeks have made to an already good valve have produced something that is even better.

The first stage on the TX100 is a radical departure from the cylindrical body and turret shape that are common to both the TX40 & 50. The beauty of the chunky first stage is that the ports are designed in such a way as to allow the hoses to be routed downwards and so stop huge great loops of hose sticking out around the divers back. The first stage is environmentally sealed so that it is ideal for tepid UK winter waters. As you would expect the model I was using was a DIN fit and I found the screw-in hand wheel to be ergonomic and easy to fit even when attaching it to the cylinder with gloves on. The first stage is finished in what Apeks describe as 'luxurious satin chrome', however having seen it in its polished brass stage, I wished I could have grabbed a couple in their raw state as they looked so impressive.
The second stage hasn't seen as much of a radical overhaul as the first stage and is of a similar design to that of the TX50. It is claimed to be of a smaller and lighter construction, however without the benefit of an engineer's micrometer and set of scales, it felt roughly the same as the TX50 to me. Of significance to the UK diver is the fitting of a heat exchanger to the second stage again to combat freeflows. The mouthpiece was a 'comfobite' style which, in the immortal words of the Ronseal Wood Treatment advert, 'does what it says'.

Having used the valve on a couple of dives around the 50m mark in water temperatures down to 3ºc the valve was tested on the Buitenzorg expedition in early March. Dives were made to 88m, 96m, 82m and 84m. The valve performed exactly as it should, it delivered its gas, breathed easily and at no time did I feel uncomfortable with it. As we were using a rich trimix the venturi was kept set in the minus position and the fine tuning knob (breathing resistance control) was opened only a fraction. Switching over to my travel mix valve on the ascent it felt like sucking toffee through a straw in comparison to what I'd just been used to, although obviously this has to be offset against the fact that I was on a denser gas.

So what if any are the downsides to the valve? For me there wasn't really anything I would complain about. Speaking to other divers using the TX100 a few said that they thought the first stage was a bit too large and heavy, especially with an A-clamp yoke. One instructor stated that they thought it was the same length as a house brick and nearly as heavy! Me, I just found the build reassuring. The only other complaint was that the valves are all right hand feeds.

Well built and sensibly priced the TX 100 certainly makes it into the ranks of valves that any discerning UK diver should consider.

Review by Ron Mahoney