A humidifier for use with a breathable gas supply apparatus includes a
hollow body adapted for partial filling with water to a predetermined
maximum water level, a gas inlet to the body above the maximum water
level and a gas outlet from the body above the maximum water level. The
humidifier further includes a temperature heating element for heating the
water and/or an adjustable flow divider adapted to divide the interior of
the body above the maximum water level into a relatively dry gas region
and a relatively wet gas region. The position of the divider is variable
so as to vary the relative proportion of the gas flowing from the inlet
to the outlet that passes through the relatively dry and relatively wet
gas regions to thereby vary the amount of humidification thereof.