Second To None - Atomic Aquatics SS1

Sport Diver Magazine - August 2003

When Atomic Aquatics set out create an integrated power inflator/safe second, they face a unique challenge. To live up to the company's reputation, the new product had to be more than good - it had to be the best.

To accomplish this, Atomic Aquatics' engineers started with a low-profile elliptical case designed to lie flat against a BC, then added oversized, contoured controls. On the inside, they used the same technologies and materials as on their high-end primary regulators, fabricating corrosion-resistant components from a combination of titanium, zirconium/nickel-plated brass and 316 stainless steel. To enhance airflow, they increased the size of airways and orifices.

The resulting product was said to perform on par with a premium primary regulator. I put that claim to the test on a recent deep dive, switching to the SS1 at a depth of 100 feet, then continuing to breath it to a depth of 125 feet while swimming against a reasonably swift current.

The regulator worked as promised. Even when I intentionally simulated an over-breathing incident, the SS1 continued to deliver smooth, controlled inhalations and low-effort exhalations. The controls were easy to locate and operate, there was no free flow during the giant-stride entry or when facing into the current.

No doubt about it, Atomic Aquatics has raised the bar with the SS1, creating the first safe second that really could be compared to a high-performance primary. And the best news: it will fit on most any brand of BC, thanks to a unique adapter device.

Impressions: A safe second that actually breathes like a high-performance primary.

Key Features: Large contoured control surfaces with low activation effort, threaded disconnect for easy storage and service, large purge surface, enlarged orifices for enhanced air flow, proprietary seat-saving orifice.