What they are. Low- and high-pressure regulator hoses with a braided outer jacket instead of a thick rubber one. Miflex, made in Italy, is the best-known brand; they come in black and a range of colours and meet the same EN250 standard as rubber hoses.

Why divers want them. Three reasons. They are lighter: a full set of braided hoses weighs roughly two pounds less than the same set in rubber, which you notice in your luggage. They are more flexible, and they stay flexible in cold water, where rubber hoses go stiff and pull the regulator around in your mouth. That matters a lot in New England. And colour: a different colour for your primary, your octo and your inflator hose makes a regulator set easy to sort out at a glance, and a coloured long hose is easier for a buddy to find.

Good to know. Price is about the same as a good rubber hose, and we see no difference in reliability between the two. Either kind should be replaced after around five years or 500 dives. Braided hoses don’t need hose protectors (see why we remove those).

What we’ll ask you. Which hoses to replace (primary, octo, inflator, drysuit, SPG), lengths, and colours. If you are not sure about lengths, we’ll recommend based on how you dive.

Interested? Tick it on the equipment service request when you send your gear in. Nothing on that list is added to your estimate; we confirm the details and the price with you by email before anything is fitted or charged. Questions: service@ecdivers.com or 617-277-2216.