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MIFLEX Hoses / Accessories
Are Double-Braided Flex Hoses Better Than Rubber?
YES! After generations of rubber as the status quo in scuba hoses, technology has finally been used to improve this important product used by every diver. Every aspect of the double-braided polyester hoses out perform rubber hoses. Double-braided is much more flexible, at least a third lighter, much more durable, kink resistant and enormously stronger. Recent updates with high-pressure fittings have addressed the early issues and these too are now better than found on rubber hoses. The only issue remaining has been price, and now even that has reached parity or better at The Scuba Doctor.
Only a handful of companies have the technology to make double-braided polyester hoses, although these same hoses are sold under a variety of different names. The Scuba Doctor sells the Italian made, premium quality, Miflex brand.
The Miflex Carbon HD and Miflex Xtreme-hi + ranges of high pressure gauge hoses bring clear benefits when compared to traditional HP hoses to better suit the majority of divers requirements. Slim-line and Lightweight design, approximately 60% lighter than traditional HP hoses with a burst pressure in excess of 2,000 bar (29,000 psi).
Miflex Xtreme Low Pressure Regulator hoses and Miflex Xtreme LP BCD/Inflator hoses feature an external nylon safety braiding designed to resist the snags and abrasions that divers can often encounter. The patent-pending Miflex Xtreme double braiding also resists UV rays out of the water, thus extending the lifespan of the hose.
Unlike traditional hoses, the Miflex Xtreme nylon safety braiding is not simply pushed over the hose fittings. Instead the braiding is tightly bound and fixed to the hose core by stainless steel or brass sleeves.
Each Miflex Xtreme Low Pressure Regulator hose comes standard with 3/8" Male and standard UNF 9/16" Female connections. The Miflex Jacket/BCD/Inflator hose comes standard with 3/8" Male and quick release coupler fittings.
All Miflex hoses come in a Water Resistant Document Wallet, and are Oxygen Cleaned from the factory.
As a related business imports and distributes the Miflex range of diving hoses in Australia, we know these hoses better than anyone else in the region.
Tech Tip: Dive Hose Life
In our experience double-braided polyester diving hoses are more reliable than rubber hoses, but keep in mind that all SCUBA hoses, both rubber or polyester, will fail sooner or later either due to age, storage conditions or handling.
Do not allow hoses to receive prolonged exposure sunlight, as the heat and UV from strong sunlight will significantly shorten the life of the hose. Do not attempt to flush the inside of the hose with any form of solvent or other chemical. New hoses are factory clean and if you have any reason to think they are no longer clean then the hose should be replaced.
Prior to every dive trip you should always pressurise and inspect your hoses for mechanical damage, corroded fittings, bulges and leaks. For more information about the care and maintenance of your dive hoses, please see Caring For Scuba Diving Hoses.
The Scuba Doctor suggests replacing all SCUBA hoses every five years or 500 dives, whichever comes first.
Victorian Shipwreck Protected Zones
Protected zones are declared for nine fragile and highly significant historic Victorian shipwrecks.
It is an offence to enter, anchor, fish, trawl or dive in a protected zone without a permit. People found within a protected zone without a permit can be issued with on-the-spot fines of over $295 and multiple fines can be issued if more than one offence is detected. If prosecuted, people may be issued with fines of more than $7000.
The protected zones are (WGS 84):
| HMVS Cerberus 0.5 h rectangle | Latitude: 37° 58.043′ S (37.967382° S) Longitude: 145° 0.473′ E (145.007876° E) |
| SS City of Launceston 500 m radius | Latitude: 38° 4.610′ S (38.076829° S) Longitude: 144° 49.579′ E (144.826321° E) |
| Clarence 100 m radius | Latitude: 38° 12.154′ S (38.20257° S) Longitude: 144° 43.395′ E (144.723253° E) |
| Joanna 100 m radius | Latitude: 38° 12.478′ S (38.20796° S) Longitude: 144° 43.806′ E (144.730102° E) |
| Will O' The Wisp 50 m radius | Latitude: 38° 14.490′ S (38.241498° S) Longitude: 144° 42.070′ E (144.701159° E) |
| William Salthouse 250 m radius | Latitude: 38° 16.377′ S (38.272943° S) Longitude: 144° 42.330′ E (144.705493° E) |
| SS Alert 500 m radius | Latitude: 38° 29.217′ S (38.486944° S) Longitude: 144° 45.033′ E (144.750556° E) |
| PS Clonmel 50 m radius | Latitude: 38° 44.640′ S (38.744° S) Longitude: 146° 40.668′ E (146.6778° E) |
| SS Glenelg 500 m radius | Latitude: 38° 33.144′ S (38.5524° S) Longitude: 147° 12.444′ E (147.2074° E) | SS Federal 800 m radius | Latitude: 38° 7.333′ S (38.122222° S) Longitude: 148° 43.850′ E (148.730833° E) |
See the Victorian government web page Shipwreck protected zones for more details. Heritage Victoria has developed a brochure Historic Shipwreck Protected Zones (Adobe PDF | 396.41 KB) to assist in avoiding the protected zones located within Port Phillip.
Other Shipwrecks
All shipwrecks 75 years and older are declared historic under State and Commonwealth legislation. Historic shipwrecks are fragile structures that often have weakened and vulnerable hull remains due to their long submersion underwater.
Anglers are allowed to fish near historic shipwreck sites that aren't in protected zones. However, anglers should be careful about placement of their anchors (and also weighted shot lines) because it is illegal to interfere with, damage or destroy historic shipwrecks and their relics and severe penalties apply.
