We got back from the Philippines last Sunday. I did 46 dives in 11 days. The diving was fantastic.
Mouthpiece comfort:
During all 46 dives I used the same Argonaut with the newest sample of the DSV mouthpiece and worked great! After one simple hose rotation adjustment the comfort level was superior to any previous DH mouthpiece I have ever used. I am used my favorite MP bite, but the balanced was also outstanding (after the minor adjustment). The mouth piece byte selection is now a personal choice with this new DSV.
With this number of consecutive dives using a vintage style mouthpiece I would always get a minor sore inside my lower lip. I didn’t feel even the slightest indication of any type sore.
Flow performance:
The flow diverter is also exceeding my expectations. With the flow diverter in place I can get the full advantage of the maximum venturi flow. As originally designed and intended, I can increase the venturi flow by blocking the side bleed air port in the second stage HPR body. This increases the venturi and the diverter flow takes full advantage of this flow by directing the air into the divers mouth.
Note: If the regulator is adjusted for maximum venturi flow, the DSV with the flow diverter is required or an excessive amount of air will go out the exhaust during normal inhalation.
Properly adjusted, the Argonaut has better venturi flow than all previous DH regulators (including a Phoenix with the HPR), but the only way to take full advantage of it's maximum performance is with the DSV mouth piece and the flow diverter.
Closing feature:
The sealing and friction O-rings provided the perfect amount of friction to hold the mouthpiece in place, but it allowed a single hand opening or closing ability while the mouth piece is in the divers mouth. It is easy to hole the mouth piece in your mouth and rotate the closing valve with one hand.
The seals are perfectly air and water tight. After 46 consecutive dives, there was not a single drop of water in the intake hose or inside the regulator cans.
With the mouthpiece closed, the diver can purge the small amount of water in the byte tube. There is a small channel and purge hole that seals when the mouthpiece is opened.
DSV convenience:
In the Philippines we were doing most of the dives from small boats. The preference was to remove our dive kits in the water and the dive crew would lift it out of the water. Having a DSV made it very elegant for me to remove the mouthpiece out of my mouth at any time without any free-flow. It became totally second nature to close the DSV every time before I removed the MP out of my mouth.
I could lay on my back and talk to anyone or I could take of my kit, inflate my wing and relax while laying on top of my dive kit while waiting for the rest of the divers to get on the boat.
Take a look at the pictures below.