Apeks MTX-RC Regulator

Apeks MTX-RC regulator

The MTX-RC started life as a military specification regulator and never really softened. It is the one we hand to divers who are done with regulators that breathe beautifully in Egypt and get temperamental in a British quarry in February.

Cold water is where regulators fail, and they fail by freezing open. The MTX-RC is environmentally sealed with an over-balanced diaphragm first stage, which is the combination that keeps intermediate pressure climbing with depth and keeps water away from the moving parts. It is not the lightest regulator in our diving regulators range and it was never meant to be.

Available in yoke or DIN, and as a single second stage or a full configuration. Get that choice right at checkout, because changing connection type later means a service visit.

• Over-balanced diaphragm first stage, environmentally sealed
• Built to a military cold water specification
• Reversible second stage for left or right hand routing
• Diver-changeable exhaust system, two tees supplied
• Yoke (232 bar) or DIN (300 bar)
• Rugged construction intended for harsh environments

Why divers choose the MTX-RC

It is genuinely a cold water regulator, not a warm water one with a claim

Plenty of regulators are marketed as cold water capable. The MTX-RC was designed against a military cold water standard, and the difference shows in the environmental sealing and the heat exchange around the first stage. For UK diving in winter, that is the specification that matters more than breathing effort figures measured in a tank at 20 degrees.

Reversible second stage suits how you actually rig

Being able to route the hose over either shoulder means the MTX-RC fits sidemount, twinset and standard single cylinder configurations without compromise. Divers moving towards technical setups do not need to rebuy.

Diver-changeable exhaust

Two exhaust tees are supplied. The larger one pushes bubbles wider and clears your field of view, which matters for photographers and anyone diving in low visibility where your own exhaust ruins the shot. Swapping them is a two minute job.

We service Apeks in-house

A regulator is only as good as its service history, and a cold water regulator that has not been serviced is a cold water regulator that will free-flow. Like every regulator we sell, the MTX-RC can be serviced in-house by our own technicians at our UK dive centre, so it never leaves the country and never goes into a queue at a distributor.

Features that matter underwater

Over-balanced diaphragm first stage

As you descend, intermediate pressure rises faster than ambient pressure. In practice that means the second stage keeps delivering easily at 40 metres rather than getting progressively stiffer. This is the single biggest contributor to how a regulator feels deep.

Environmental sealing

The first stage is sealed against water entry, which keeps silt, salt and cold water out of the internals. This is what prevents ice forming inside the mechanism during a cold water dive and is not optional equipment for UK winter diving.

Venturi and breathing effort controls

Both are sized to be operated in thick gloves. Set venturi to minimum on the surface to avoid a free-flow while kitting up, then open it once you are in. It is a small habit that saves a lot of wasted gas.

Built for abuse

The finish and construction are designed to survive being dragged over a boat deck rather than to look good in a display case. After three seasons the MTX-RC still works properly, which is the point.

Who the MTX-RC is for

• UK divers who dive through the winter
• Divers moving into technical training who want one regulator that carries over
• Sidemount and twinset divers needing reversible routing
• Anyone who has had a regulator free-flow in cold water and does not want it again
• Divers who prioritise reliability over weight

Who it may not be for: if you dive twice a year somewhere warm and fly with your kit, the weight and the price are hard to justify. The XL4+ gives you Apeks cold water capability in a much lighter package, and for holiday diving that is the better buy.

Our regulator buying guide explains what balanced, over-balanced and environmentally sealed actually mean if you want the detail before choosing.

Setup and servicing

A regulator rewards being set up once, properly, by someone who has done it before.

• Decide yoke or DIN before ordering. It is not a trivial change afterwards.
• Choose your hose lengths for the configuration you actually dive, not the one in the box photo. Sidemount and twinset need different routing to a single cylinder.
• Set the venturi to minimum before entering the water, every time.
• Rinse under mild pressure with the dust cap firmly in place, and never press the purge while rinsing.
• Book the service before the diving season, not during it.

Specifications

What's included

• Apeks MTX-RC first stage in your chosen connection type
• MTX-RC second stage
• Two exhaust tees
• Additional second stage and gauge only where the configuration you select includes them

Buying the MTX-RC

This is the regulator we recommend to divers who have decided they are serious about UK diving. It is not cheap, it is not light, and it will outlast several of the alternatives.

Choose your connection type and configuration above. If you are unsure how it should be rigged for the diving you do, tell us and we will spec it properly before it ships.