Hollis 500SE + DC7 Regulator Review

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For the recreational scuba diver, there are lots of great options for regulators at very competitive prices. The regulator industry is an extremely competitive industry which is great for the consumer because you get great products at low prices. If you are a recreational diver, it is hard to go wrong with most products on the market today. For those with more demanding needs, it is important that you select the right regulator. In this article, we will review the Hollis 500SE + DC7 regulator. We will take an in-depth look at its design, features, and specifications and compare it with some of its competitors to see how it stacks up.

About the Hollis 500SE + DC7

The Hollis Company is a well-known scuba diving supply company based in Australia that has been in business for over 35 years and has become one of the most widely recognized brands of scuba gear. Hollis products are known for their unique and stylish appearance, and their regulator sets continue this tradition. The Hollis 500SE + DC7 is an excellent regulator for both professional and recreational divers. This regulator set is designed for consistent performance in a variety of settings, including cold water. The Hollis 500SE + DC7 gives outstanding performance and easy, natural breathing in a lightweight, stylish regulator set.

Product Specs  

The Hollis 500SE + DC7 is a fully balanced regulator set designed with performance and style in mind. The first stage is constructed from marine grade black anodized brass for added strength and durability. It has been streamlined in its design to be compact and lightweight. The Hollis 500SE + DC7 first stage is a balanced diaphragm design and is environmentally sealed. This design gives the regulator outstanding cold water protection and protects the internal components of the first stage against contamination.  An environmentally sealed fully balanced diaphragm design is suited to cold water dives as the internal components will not freeze. Freezing leads to free flows and loss of air. The first stage of the Hollis 500SE + DC7 features 4 fixed low-pressure ports and 2 high-pressure ports for multiple hose routing options. Hollis includes a braided type nylon hose with this regulator set that is more flexible, burst-resistant and has a higher flow rate than a typical rubber hose.  The second stage of the Hollis 500SE + DC7 is a pneumatically balanced servo controlled valve design which ensures consistent breathing performance regardless of depth, water temperature, or tank pressure. The second stage is designed with a side exhaust which routes bubbles away from the face and features a large soft purge cover that makes clearing the regulator easy. The second stage of the Hollis 500SE + DC7 is constructed of a combination of plastic, rubber, stainless steel, and chrome plated brass.  

The mouthpiece is made of durable silicone that has stronger bite points but is soft around the gums. This regulator set weighs a total of 2.7 lbs in yoke configuration and is Nitrox compatible up to 40% of O2. Overall, this regulator set is very sturdy and well constructed, with consistent breathing performance in a wide range of environments.

Pricing  

The Hollis 500SE + DC7 is available for approximately $600 making this regulator a moderately priced set with features that match its more expensive competitors. Overall, this regulator set is a good value at this price.

How It Compares

We picked a few similar products available on the market to see how they compare.  

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Price 

The Hollis 500SE + DC7 is priced around $599.95 making it a fantastic value when compared to similarly designed regulator sets on the market.

Features  

This regulator set is loaded with great features including a balanced diaphragm environmentally sealed first stage, and pneumatically balanced servo controlled second stage which ensures natural breathing even when the tank pressure drops.

Design  

The Hollis 500SE + DC7 is a very well-designed regulator built with performance and style in mind. The side-mounted exhaust cover is a plus for those taking photos underwater as bubbles won’t get in your face.

Durability  

This regulator is very durable and is designed to perform in extremely cold water as well as it does in warm water.

Pros

• Environmentally sealed balanced diaphragm first stage for excellent cold water protection  
• Balanced servo controlled valve second stage for outstanding breathing characteristics 
• Braided nylon hose and silicone mouthpiece

Cons

• Brass first stage is slightly heavier than competitors
• Some second stage components are made of plastic and rubber

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The Beuchat VX10 Evolution is an outstanding regulator made by Beuchat. This regulator set is available in Yoke configuration and weighs in at just over 2 lbs. The first stage of the Beuchat VX10 Evolution is a fully balanced diaphragm design that is environmentally sealed for outstanding performance and cold water protection; this regulator won’t freeze open in extremely cold water. The Beuchat VX10 Evolution features 4 medium pressure ports and 1 high-pressure port mounted on a swivel turret.

The second stage of the VX10 Evolution is a balanced demand valve design that offers easy and consistent breathing and improved visibility underwater due to its side-mounted exhaust cover. The second stage features a manual venturi adjustment control that eliminates free flows during descent and ascent. Overall, this is a very good regulator set that is designed for beginning divers and can be used in a wide variety of environments.

Price

The Beuchat VX10 Evolution can be purchased for around $189.76 making it a very good value.

Features  

Beuchat has designed this regulator with several outstanding features including swivel turret for diver comfort, and side mounted exhaust cover for improved visibility.

Design

This regulator set is designed for reliability and easy breathing. This regulator is easy to use and easier to maintain with its environmentally sealed first stage that cuts down on the maintenance required.

Durability

The Beuchat VX10 Evolution is a very durable regulator set that will perform well in cold water or warm water. Also, the silicon mouthpiece is comfortable yet durable and will last for years.

Pros

• Environmentally sealed balanced diaphragm first stage
• Swivel turret
• Side mounted exhaust cover

Cons

• Some components made of plastic
• Manual venturi adjustment is necessary

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The Beuchat VR200 Soft Touch is another outstanding regulator in the Beuchat lineup. The VR200 features an environmentally sealed diaphragm first stage that offers outstanding breathing performance and excellent cold water protection. The first stage features 4 medium pressure ports and two high-pressure ports and a finned metal cover for improved thermal properties.

The second stage is a balanced demand valve design with a large soft purge button, easy to operate breathing sensitivity control, and manual venturi adjustment switch. The second stage is constructed from marine grade plastic, and chrome plated brass for enhanced durability and resistance to corrosion. Overall, the Beuchat VR200 is an outstanding regulator set, especially for cold water dives.

Price

The VR 200 Soft Touch HF is priced at approximately $339.13 making this regulator a good value for the design quality and features included.

Features

The VR 200 Soft Touch HF is loaded with features that make this regulator an excellent choice for all divers. A fully balanced and environmentally sealed design makes this regulator set the choice of many divers that want reliable performance.

Design

This regulator set is very well designed with a finned metal cover on the first stage which decreases the likelihood of internal components freezing during cold water dives.

Durability

Beuchat has designed this regulator for years of worry-free use. Marine grade chrome plated brass and stainless steel construction, and braided nylon hose are examples of the outstanding construction that ensure a long lifespan for this regulator set.

Pros

• Fully balanced first and second stage
• Swivel turret for ease of use
• Stainless steel finned cover for enhanced thermal properties

Cons

• Some components are constructed of plastic
• Manual venturi adjustment is necessary

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The Oceanic Zeo is an outstanding cold water regulator manufactured by Oceanic. The FDX-i first stage is a pneumatically balanced diaphragm design that is environmentally sealed for outstanding cold water performance. The first stage features 4 low-pressure ports and 2 high-pressure ports on a swivel turret for multiple hose routing options and ease of use. The fully balanced design offers outstanding breathing performance regardless of water depth or temperature. Also, the FDX-i first stage offers some of the highest flow rates in the industry.

The Oceanic Zeo second stage is a pneumatically balanced valve design which ensures consistent breathing performance even in cold water. The second stage features an easy-to-use inhalation effort adjustment control that allows the diver to fine tune the resistance to the right amount. The second stage is engineered with Oceanic’s Dynamic Adjustment technology that automatically maintains the divers preferred inhalation effort throughout the dive. A manual venturi adjustment control eliminates free flows during descent, and the purge cover is large and easy to use. Overall, the Oceanic Zeo is an outstanding choice for divers that regularly dive in cold waters.

Price

The Oceanic Zeo is available for around $650 making this regulator set a good buy for this price tag.

Features  

The Oceanic Zeo has several great features including angled ports, fully balanced first and second stages, and Dynamic Adjustment technology that make this regulator set an outstanding choice for cold water divers.

Design

The Oceanic Zeo is a very well designed regulator. The angled ports, in line ball swivel, and large purge button are some of the features that make this regulator stand out amongst its competitors.

Durability

Oceanic regulators are known for durability, and this set is no exception. The environmentally sealed first and second stages enhance cold water protection and reduce the number of contaminants that can come in contact with internal components which increases lifespan and reducing maintenance necessary.

Pros

• Pneumatically balanced first and second stages
• Angled ports for ideal hose routing
• Dynamic adjustment technology automatically keeps inhalation effort at its desired level

Cons

• Some components are made of plastic
• Manual venturi adjustment necessary

Conclusion

A scuba diving regulator must be reliable and durable, as they supply air to the diver. A tremendous amount of engineering and technology go into dive regulators, and the industry is extremely competitive and robust. Options abound, and manufacturers routinely re-design and re-release improved versions of excellent products to gain a larger market share. Scuba diving is a fun activity for some, a way of life for others, and an occupation for some. Scuba regulators are as varied in their design and features as the divers that use them. Therefore, it is important for the scuba diver to select the right regulator for them.

One of the most important considerations is whether the diver will dive in extremely cold water temperatures of below 50 degrees F. If so, then special consideration must be given to the design of the regulator to ensure it is designed to perform in cold water. The Hollis 500SE + DC7 is an excellent cold water regulator that features a fully balanced first and second stage for excellent breathing characteristics. The first stage is a balanced diaphragm design that is environmentally sealed which is ideal for cold water dives. The second stage is pneumatically balanced and environmentally sealed for cold water protection and enhanced durability.

If you are in the market for an outstanding cold water regulator that you can depend on, the Hollis 500SE + DC7 is an excellent choice.