Advice for a new Mistral diver

[Bryan]

Hi Byron. My Name is Michael. For a many years I dived with an royal Mistral. ( I send him to you last year - but is was unreparabel ) Recently I bought a used Aqualung Mistral an tested him in a swimmingpool. I was really dispointed about the mouthpiece. Its very light of weight and floats up and pressed unter the mask. Do you have any experience with this ? The mouthpiece should weight a little bit more. Do you offer any weights or a mouthpiece made of metal ? Best regards Michael


I think this is par for the course when using a straight mouthpiece.....Share your advice below please.

[antique diver]

I know the feeling of mouthpiece floating up into mask, but I got much improvement by experimenting with changing the mouthpiece position.

Take the clamps off both hoses at the mouthpiece but leave hoses on the mp, then put the whole regulator in the position of normal use, with the mouthpiece facing you. Then with the regulator mouthpiece pointing at your mouth, rotate the whole mouthpiece opening upward about 1/4 of a turn in the hoses then clamp back together and try in the water. This will put torque on the hose that will help overcome the floatation. Experiment in the water until you find a more comfortable position.

[Ron]

In addition to what AntiqueDiver mentioned, which is entirely applicable, I also try to use the right mask. If you wear a tiny moderm mask with a mistral (or really straight mouthpiece), then it tends to ride up on you. If you wear a vintage mask, then it tends to stick out a little farther on your face and to ride little lower. This will keep your mouthpiece pushed down. Oval masks, the Cressi pinocchio, and other vintage type masks work well in this way.

<Cockney>
I say old boy...did he call you Byron? Odd chap that. Also, he wouldn't by chance be talking about the crappy new Mistral, would he? Those are super floaty bits of kit.

</Cockney>

[Bryan]

<Cockney>
I say old boy...did he call you Byron? Odd chap that. Also, he wouldn't by chance be talking about the crappy new Mistral, would he? Those are super floaty bits of kit.

</Cockney>

I've been called a lot worse I don't know for sure but I believe he is using an original Mistral. I put rebreather hose weights on the new Mistral I tried and it helped. I've never felt the need to use them on the original ones though.