This could be a lower specification or older, unbalanced second stage without an air-flow adjustment control. What benefit the High Flow ports do have, however, is that they help to reduce the breathing effort from the second stage. The Mk11 has an advertised airflow rate of 5,500 litres per minute the C370 second stage at 1,600 litres per minute. Airflow to the diver is limited by the second stage, not the first. They sort of imply that the other LP ports are sub-standard, in which case why have them at all? All of Scubapro's latest models of the higher-spec'd Mk17 EVO, Mk21 EVO and Mk25 EVO have ports that are all HFP, so what's the difference? I've never really been convinced as to the merits of HFPs as a selling point. Two of the four LP ports are labelled 'HFP', or 'High Flow' ports - delivering 15 per cent greater airflow than the other two, regular ports. A fellow diver remarked that they thought it looked to be set up 'backwards' and while I agree - I much prefer my HP port to be well below the LP port for ease of routing - the port location is really not a problem. Depending on how you orient the regulator and to which LP ports you connect the second stage and LPI hoses, the 'standard' recreational setup means that the inflator hose is either above or below - but always behind the HP hose. This is not unique in the world of regulators but I'm uncertain if the claim of port positioning 'for optimal hose routing' is applicable. Port placement has the HP port situated in-between and forward of the LP ports. Dedicated cold-water divers will probably be looking at a higher-spec regulator in the first place, but the Mk11 does cover all the temperatures that a recreational diver is likely to encounter. The Mk11 is of an air-balanced diaphragm design and bears the EN250 stamp for cold-water use, however, the chamber is not dry-sealed and it doesn't have the anti-freeze coating present in the Mk25 or Mk17 regulators. Despite the low profile, it still manages to fit two HP and 4 LP ports onto the fixed barrel. Mk11 First StageĪt just over 60mm in height, the Mk11 is one of the most compact regulators around, with the DIN version weighing in at just 490g (710g for the INT version). The classic Mk2/R195 combo, much loved by dive centres around the world is still available for the lowest of price points, but the Mk11/C370's versatility and performance far exceeds that of the Mk2/R195, with an RRP of only £24 more.
Scubapro's MK11 first stage has been around for a while now, but the latest version, coupled with the C370 second stage released in December 2017 provides an excellent entry-level option for the travelling diver.
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