ScubaPro MK25 EVO Scuba Regulator Review

A Sports Car…for Breathing Underwater

Picking the ScubaPro MK25 EVO up out of the box, one can feel the sturdiness and heft. The model we’re using for this review is the “black tech,” and the coloring is clean and blemish free.

Experienced divers, in particular, will notice the two opposing high-pressure ports, giving them the option of either up or down placement. Divers will also notice the five low-pressure ports, located on a swivel turret, with the fifth port being located on the end. This makes hose routing options plentiful, and is a primary reason that the MK25 EVO is a top choice among technical divers worldwide.

Of all the regulators on the market, this is my personal go-to. I actually use two of them while tech diving with a double tank set-up. For me, the brand reputation, the ability to handle lower temperatures, the ruggedness, and the hose routing options make it my immediate choice. But this regulator is not just for the technical diver.

As the choice for most dive pros around the globe, divers in harsh conditions, and technical divers seeking reliability and confidence from a regulator, the MK25 EVO meets and exceeds the needs and expectations of divers at all levels and from every corner of the planet.

When shopping for the MK25 EVO, divers can choose from three separate models — the traditional silver, the black tech, which I use, and the carbon model, which cuts down the second-stage weight by more than half.

Spec Breakdowns & Features

The ScubaPro MK25 EVO features a balanced, flow-through piston, providing effortless and constant airflow, regardless of depth, tank pressure, or breathing rate. As a diver, you will feel no difference in breathing whether you’re diving at 40 feet or 130 feet, or whether you have a full tank or are reaching the halfway point of your dive.

While not completely environmentally sealed like ScubaPro’s MK17 EVO, the mechanical elements of the MK25 EVO are fully isolated from the cold, using the XTIS (extended thermal insulating system), which increases freezing resistance by 30% from previous models.

The MK25 EVO features two high-pressure ports, which gives divers the freedom to position the regulator either up or down, and five low-pressure ports, housed on a swivel turret, giving freedom of movement for hose routing.

At 27.9 oz (791 g) in both the EVO and carbon models, the MK25 EVO is on the heavier side, but not exceedingly so. While perhaps not the traveler’s dream regulator, the additional weight is negligible.

While divers who are not trained in regulator servicing should never undertake this feature, the MK25 EVO does come with an externally adjustable intermediate pressure, making for a quick adjustment from your local service technician or a service technician while on vacation.

Accessories

Many different second-stage regulators work with the MK25 EVO, including the S620i, the S600, and the G260. However, ScubaPro and many authorized dealers recommend the A700. The A700 is ScubaPro’s high-end, high-performing regulator, which provides constant and effortless flow due to the balanced flow valve.

At 9.2 oz (261 g) this regulator is heavy, but not overly so. The weight comes from the metal casing, screw-down casing cover, and metal valve housing. If this regulator were a vehicle, it would be a tank. Nothing can break it. This regulator also has a diver-adjusted inhalation valve — just another factor that makes the A700 a top-of-the-line regulator from ScubaPro.

Price/Quality Ratio

While not the most affordable regulator on the market, as a buyer, the diver will get exactly what they pay for. For what may be considered mid-range cost (roughly $1200 USD at the time of writing), divers get a high-quality product. High-cost regulators in this class cost almost double, while more affordable options are roughly two-thirds the cost of the MK25 EVO, and they don’t have the swivel turret or the bottom port.

As with other ScubaPro regulators, the MK25 EVO must be serviced every 100 dives, or every two years, whichever comes first. The service packages and labor costs are comparable with other brands across the board.

ScubaPro’s “parts for life” program ensures that you never pay for parts on any piece of equipment, as long as it is serviced on schedule, and you purchase a regulator, BC, and computer within a year of each other.

Comparable regulators (with prices at the time of this review):

Atomic T3: ($2100)

Aqualung Legend Elite: ($1200)

Apeks MTX-R: ($915)

Oceanic FDXi: ($715)

Do we recommend the ScubaPro MK25 EVO?

The MK25 EVO tops a lot of lists, and our opinion is no different. Yes, we fully recommend this regulator. This is a great all-around workhorse regulator that can meet the needs of a wide variety of divers, from recreational divers to technical divers looking for a solid regulator that can handle depths and diving in challenging conditions. This regulator should give any diver confidence that they’re using a safe piece of machinery with the backing of a great brand.