Aqualung Pro HD BCD Package: Apeks MTX-RC + Octopus + Gauge

Aqualung Pro HD BCD Package: Apeks MTX-RC + Octopus + Gauge

This package pairs the Aqualung Pro HD BCD with the Apeks MTX-RC regulator, an octopus and an Apeks pressure gauge, as one fixed rig at one price. The Pro HD is a durable BCD with integrated weights, and the MTX-RC is the most rugged regulator Apeks makes.

It is the practical rig for UK divers who dive hard and want kit that does not complain. The MTX-RC started life as a military specification regulator and was built for cold water first. You choose the Pro HD that suits you: the Pro HD men's, Pro HD women's and Pro HD Compact. They share the same integrated weights and the same no-fuss approach, in different shapes.

The package comes with a DIN regulator, an alternate air source and an Apeks pressure gauge. Choose your Pro HD version, size and colour above. Options shown crossed out are out of stock or on order right now, so ask us and we'll tell you when they're due. If you're unsure of your size, we'll fit it in store.

What's in the package

• Aqualung Pro HD BCD, in the version, size and colour you choose (men's, women's or Compact)
• Apeks MTX-RC first stage, DIN 300 bar
• Apeks MTX-RC second stage, with two exhaust tees
• Apeks alternate second stage (octopus)
• Apeks pressure gauge with high-pressure hose

Not included: cylinder, dive computer and weights.

Why this pairing works

A regulator that does not freeze open

Cold water is where regulators fail, and they fail by freezing open. The MTX-RC first stage is environmentally sealed and over-balanced, which keeps water away from the moving parts and keeps intermediate pressure climbing with depth. It was designed against a military cold water standard.

A BCD that takes the same punishment

The men's and women's Pro HD are made from ResisteK, a tough material that resists fading, with SureLock II integrated weights. The MTX-RC's finish is designed to survive a boat deck rather than a display case. Both suit divers who use their kit hard.

Controls you can work in thick gloves

The MTX-RC's venturi and breathing effort controls are sized for thick gloves, and its diver-changeable exhaust comes with two tees. The Pro HD's integrated weights mean no weight belt to fumble with cold hands, which is the point in February.

Ready to grow with you

The MTX-RC's second stage is reversible, so the hose routes over either shoulder, and it carries over if you later move to twinset or sidemount. The regulator is the part of this package you keep, whichever BCD you move on to.

Who this package is for

• UK divers who dive through the winter and want a regulator built for cold water
• Divers who want integrated weights and no weight belt
• Women divers who want a BCD shaped for them
• Travellers who choose the Pro HD Compact for its packed size
• Divers who value reliability over saving weight in the regulator

Who it may not be for: if you dive twice a year somewhere warm and fly with your kit, the MTX-RC's weight is hard to justify. If you want the smoothest breathing and the tidiest hose routing, the Pro HD and EVX200 package is the more refined choice.

Set up, tested and serviced in-house

Every package is put together by our own team before it leaves. We help you choose the right Pro HD for your build, connect the BCD's own inflator hose, route the regulator hoses and gauge, check the intermediate pressure and breathe-test the regulator. Both the BCD and the regulator can be serviced in-house at our UK dive centre afterwards, so neither waits in a distributor's queue.

Coloured Miflex hoses can be chosen on the product page as an optional upgrade. Customers spending over £100 can also try their kit in the water at one of our five pool sites for free, with instructors present, which is the sensible way to settle your weighting before open water.

Specifications

Frequently asked questions

Which Pro HD should I choose?

The men's is the standard jacket-style BCD. The women's is shaped for the female figure and has dual zip waist pockets and octo and SPG pockets. The Compact is a wing-style, back-inflation BCD that is ultra-light and rolls and folds for travel. Tell us your build and how you dive and we will point you at the right one.

How do I choose my size?

Pick your version, size and colour above. Crossed-out options are out of stock or on order, so ask us about those. If you're unsure, tell us your height, chest size and usual exposure suit, or come in and we'll fit it.

Is the MTX-RC in this package DIN or yoke?

DIN, rated to 300 bar. The package has no yoke option. DIN is the standard for most UK cylinders and for technical diving, and if you travel to destinations that use yoke valves, a DIN-to-yoke adapter covers you.

Why choose this package over the Pro HD and EVX200 package?

The MTX-RC is the more rugged regulator, built for the harshest conditions. The EVX200 breathes slightly more smoothly and routes its hoses better. Both are properly cold water rated, so choose on ruggedness or refinement.

Does the package include a gauge or dive computer?

The gauge is included: an Apeks pressure gauge with its high-pressure hose, fitted to the first stage. A dive computer isn't included, but we can fit an air-integrated transmitter when you buy one.

Buying the Pro HD and MTX-RC package

This is the package we recommend to divers who have decided they are serious about UK diving and want a BCD that keeps up. The regulator is not light and it was never meant to be. It will outlast several of the alternatives, and the Pro HD is a dependable partner for it.

As a package, it arrives set up and tested as one rig, gauge included, ready to dive. If you are unsure which Pro HD to pick, ask us before you order.

Want to compare the parts on their own? See the Aqualung Pro HD BCDs (Pro HD men's, Pro HD women's and Pro HD Compact), the Apeks MTX-RC regulator and the Apeks pressure gauge, or browse all our scuba packages.