What You Need to Know About the Cressi AC25 Master Cromo
Below is a round-up of the Cressi AC25 Master Cromo’s notable features:
Rotating Turret
One of the features we love on the AC25 Master Cromo is the turret on the first stage. This rotates through 360 degrees and has four of the low-pressure ports located around it. The fifth LP port is mounted on top of the turret and is a co-axial hi-flow port that delivers a higher capacity than standard LP ports.
Having so many ports provides divers with plenty of configuration options to arrange regulators and gauges. Whatever configuration you use for your gauges and regs, the hoses and instruments are always in the right position thanks to the rotating turret.
One potential downside of rotating turrets is that more moving parts can equal more potential for something to go wrong. But that said, if a regulator with a swiveling first stage is kept in good condition and serviced regularly, this is a minor concern.
Balanced Piston First Stage
The AC25 first stage features a balanced piston and is made from a single block of copper and nickel-plated brass. It’s then coated with two different kinds of protective treatments to help protect the first stage from corrosion.
Internally, Cressi uses stainless steel and chrome-plated brass together with varying thicknesses of nitrile rubber (NBR) gaskets. As air enters the first stage, a nickel-plated sintered conical filter captures any impurities from the valve and cylinder ensuring the air you breathe is as clean as possible.
The overall result is a regulator that delivers consistent intermediate pressure and makes breathing easy and fluid even with low tank pressures.
Second Stage Materials
Cressi has used a number of advanced materials to develop the Master Cromo second stage. A mixture of titanium components and semi-flexible sound-absorbing techno polymer plastics makes it ultra lightweight, weighing in at just 7.2 ounces (205 grams).
The Master Cromo’s elliptical shape reduces the surface area of the second stage when compared to some of its competitors. It features an oversized intake diaphragm to provide smoother breathing. The contact plate features a Teflon-coated cam that reduces the amount of friction with the diaphragm which, in turn, increases the durability of this component.
A laser-etched front plate finishes of the polished design to leave a second stage that looks as good as it performs.
Adjustment Knob
The breathing effort adjustment knob is oversized and made from titanium. It’s completely protected from the environment by double O-rings. This adjustment knob is easy to use while wearing gloves and allows divers to modify the inhalation effort, turning it clockwise to increase and anticlockwise to reduce resistance.
There is also a nut for fine-tuning the breathing effort but this should only be carried out by an authorized Cressi dealer.
Venturi Control
Venturi control switches are becoming more and more standard on new regs. However, it’s still a great feature that deserves a mention. Cressi uses a flow deviator set into the top of the second stage, just in front of the mouthpiece, to control and optimize the venturi effect. There are two settings and it’s simple to operate and easy to use when wearing gloves. The switch is set to pre-dive mode when on the surface to prevent freeflow and flipped onto dive mode before descending.
Cressi After Sales and Servicing Support
Cressi’s excellent reputation extends to its after-sales and ongoing support services. As with all the company’s regulators, the AC25 Master Cromo comes with a limited two-year warranty which starts from the initial purchase date. You can register your reg online.
During this warranty period, if there are any defects relating to the manufacturing, material, or design of the product, Cressi or one of its authorized dealers will make repairs or completely replace it free-of-charge. The warranty obviously doesn’t cover any damages caused by diver error or as a result of faulty maintenance.
The company website features plenty of videos and additional information, including a location finder to search for your nearest Cressi authorized dealer. A full user manual for the AC25 Master Cromo can be found here.
Ongoing Maintenance?
Like all regulators, the more you look after your AC25 Master Cromo, the longer it will last. It should be rinsed in fresh water at the end of every diving day to prevent corrosion caused by exposure to salt. Always remember to replace the dust cap before rinsing.
Cressi recommends that owners have their regulator inspected and serviced at least once a year. All repairs and servicing must be carried out by an authorized Cressi service center. This is vital during the warranty period to keep the guarantee valid.
Summary
Cressi has again succeeded in producing a regulator that’s innovative by using a combination of a high-performance first stage with a sleek-looking and comfortable second stage. In our opinion, the AC25 Master Cromo is a great reg that comes in at a very reasonable price point.
Buy The Cressi AC25 Master Cromo If:
The Cressi AC25 Master Cromo is a regulator that’s technologically advanced, comfortable to use and, with Cressi’s reputation for reliability, will keep divers safe at any depth.
If you’re looking to purchase your first set of regs, then you can’t go wrong investing in the Cressi AC25 Master Cromo. It’s a high-performance regulator that also has enough bells and whistles to satisfy even the most experienced diver.
Have you used the AC25 Master Cromo or need more information? If so, leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts.
Specs & Features
| First Stage | adjustable balanced piston |
|---|---|
| Ports | 2 HP and 5 LP |
| Turret | 360-degree swivel turret |
| Second stage | pneumatically balanced |
| Adjustable | breathing effort and dive/pre-dive venturi switch |
| Front cover | Laser-etched titanium front cover piece |
| Heat exchanger | Internal heat exchanger |
| Second stage body | Noise-absorbing technopolymer body on the second stage |
| Exhaust deflector | Removable exhaust deflector |
| Cold water rating | Certified for use in water colder than 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) |
| LP hose | Lightweight threaded 30-inch (76.2 cm) LP hose |
| Connection | Yoke or DIN configuration |
| Operating pressure | Yoke: 230 BAR (3,336 psi) |
| Operating pressure | DIN: 300 BAR (4,351 psi) |
