Open-circuit technical divers often switch to breathing pure oxygen or a very rich advanced Nitrox mix such as 50%, to substantially reduce their required-stop times as compared to decompressing using just their bottom mix, called accelerated decompression. The depth where the gas switch occurs is relatively shallow, typically {20 fsw | 6 msw} for 100% oxygen or { 70 fsw | 21 msw} for 50% Nitrox. For profiles with very deep and/or very long bottom times, the diver can further reduce their required-stop times with multiple gas switches during the ascent, called staged decompression (not to be confused with regulator stages). The depths where the first gas switch occurs in staged decompression is relatively deep, typically {100 fsw | 30 msw} or a little deeper using a sport Nitrox mixture and for extreme exposures often the first switch is around {190 fsw | 57 msw} using normoxic Trimix.

In most cases, it is pointless to pay a top-shelf price for a high-performance regulator that will be dedicated to deco. Required-stop decompression in general is not an activity that demands high-performance regulators. Divers on decompression stops are normally at rest and decompression gas regulators are typically configured with only a single second stage. The shallower accelerated decompression depths are not at all demanding of regulator performance, almost any regulator would do in theory, but the very rich decompression gas requires the regulator be specifically designated as suitable for use with pure oxygen. Unfortunately, most regulator manufacturers only describe their regulators as suitable for Nitrox mixtures to 40% maximum. Most staged decompression depths do require a somewhat better performing regulator, at least qualified for sport nitrox mixtures.

Unfortunately, due to liability concerns of most recreational diving equipment suppliers, there are only few value priced regulators that are officially qualified for use with 100% oxygen. Dive Gear Express offers four value priced specialty decompression regulators all designed and qualified for use with 100% oxygen, but suitable for use in differing maximum depth ranges (and also limited to the maximum operating depth of the gas mixture) based on the performance of their first stages. The Dive Rite O2 Regulator is suitable to a maximum depth of { 50 fsw | 15 msw}. The DGX Gears O2 Regulator is suitable to a maximum depth of {130 fsw | 40 msw}. The Mares O2 Regulator is suitable for use to a maximum depth of {160 fsw | 50 msw}. The Dive Rite FT Stage/O2 Regulator is high-performance regulator suitable for staged decompression and does not have a maximum depth limit defined by the manufacturer.