When is it time to switch to a long hose setup?

[growcurlyhair]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently diving with a standard recreational setup; Octopus on a short hose clipped to my BPW, standard length primary, etc. I’ve been reading up on long hose configurations (5–7ft hose for primary donate and bungee backup) and I’m curious when divers typically make that transition.

I'm not tech diving (yet), and most of my dives are recreational, within 25m depth, with decent visibility and usually with a regular buddy or guided group. However, I am thinking more about streamlining, ease of gas sharing, and just having a cleaner setup that works well in emergencies.

So my question is:

At what point does it make sense to switch to a long hose configuration?

Was there a specific dive scenario or training progression (e.g., Rescue, Cavern, or Intro to Tech) that made it worthwhile for you?

I'm also curious if any of you made the switch early in your dive journey; Do you need to get some training for it?

Appreciate any insights, especially from those who started recreational and later moved into more advanced diving.

Thanks!

Best
Garrett

 

[Brett Hatch]

Oh, OK, false alarm

 

[scubadada]

Air 2’s are fine, snorkels are fine, just learn to use them, practice with them on each dive, once you get the hang of each toss the snorkel in a bag and look into the necklaced second even if you keep the air 2 eventually you’ll decide what works best for you.

Always an interesting discussion. I dived an Air 2 from 2002-2018, just under 1500 dives. I did Deep Diver in it with a deep OOA simulation in 2004 and did Rescue in it in 2005. I practiced switching to it relatively frequently. I told new buddies about it and let them know I would be donating my primary.

I switched to a 40" primary under my right arm and a bungeed short hose second in 2018, 1000 dives. I practice switching to it relatively frequently. I tell new buddies I would be donating my primary.

I have never been involved in a real OOA event. The Air 2 system was easier to doff and hand up before boarding a RIB, especially in big seas. . I have adapted by switching to my second and clipping off my primary at the safety stop before doffing my gear and boarding the RIB.

 

[paddydiver]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently diving with a standard recreational setup; Octopus on a short hose clipped to my BPW, standard length primary, etc. I’ve been reading up on long hose configurations (5–7ft hose for primary donate and bungee backup) and I’m curious when divers typically make that transition.

I'm not tech diving (yet), and most of my dives are recreational, within 25m depth, with decent visibility and usually with a regular buddy or guided group. However, I am thinking more about streamlining, ease of gas sharing, and just having a cleaner setup that works well in emergencies.

So my question is:

At what point does it make sense to switch to a long hose configuration?

Was there a specific dive scenario or training progression (e.g., Rescue, Cavern, or Intro to Tech) that made it worthwhile for you?

I'm also curious if any of you made the switch early in your dive journey; Do you need to get some training for it?

Appreciate any insights, especially from those who started recreational and later moved into more advanced diving.

Thanks!

Best
Garrett

It makes sense to switch at the time you need to, i.e. if you start technical wreck or cave diving. Working in the industry for years I've had plenty of real life opportunity to share air. I've used primary donate, traditional secondary donate, and air2. I've never had an issue with any of them in normal open water dives. On the other hand I've seen plenty of mishaps with non-technical (and some supposedly tech trained) divers. Long hoses dangling in the water getting caught in the rib when pulled up, second stage falling on to dive deck and being stood on as it hasn't been secured. I even bailed one guys dive buddy out as he was low on air and his long hose wielding mate was f@*cking around trying to sort himself out.
It's not neccessary in normal open water diving to have an extra long hose and creates extra faff. Loads of people will disagree, just my 2 cents.

 

[halocline]

I’ve used a 5ft hose and bungee necklace alternate on OW dives for most of the 25 years I’ve been diving. I can’t remember exactly when I switched; I was originally taught like most people with the 26” or so primary and 36” alternate on a keeper somewhere on my chest. I never found it comfortable; the primary hose was short enough to constantly feel a tug or push at my mouth depending on which way I turned my head, and the longer alternate hose felt awkward and not always easy to find quickly.

The 5ft hose routs just like a 7ft hose except it goes under the right arm, straight across the chest, over the left shoulder and behind the head. It’s not really wrapped around your neck. Larger people might find that it’s a little tight; ideally there would be hoses available in 4” increments at that length. There is a way to easily find the best length hose, using a coupler (easily available for a few $) to join two short LP hoses, and you can experiment until find the right length. Then if you want you order a custom hose. Or just dive with the coupler.

Anyhow, in addition to the benefits of having more flexibility to air share, it’s just a very streamlined and comfortable system. The longer primary hose is very flexible (I use rubber hoses, not braided) and if the 2nd stage comes out of your mouth, it just hangs right there. The alternate is right under your chin, there is never any issue in finding it. With a little practice, you can even get to it without your hands.

For a while I was a DM trainee in Roatan and stayed on to do some guiding; during that time I had to share air unexpectedly twice. Both times my primary 2nd stage got pulled right out of my mouth. OOA divers are FAST, lol. Point is, you can end doing a primary ‘donate’ whether you plan to or not! I put ‘donate’ in quotes because the reality in my situation, and I believe it’s typical, is that a distressed diver is going for the regulator in your mouth whether you like it or not.

 

[Centrals]

Long hose? I assumed it is the 7ft long hose that the OP is asking.
For OW dive there is no need to use the 7ft long hose. In overhead environment then it is entirely different story. For some very tall person, the 7ft might not be long enough!!

 

[paddydiver]

I’ve used a 5ft hose and bungee necklace alternate on OW dives for most of the 25 years I’ve been diving. I can’t remember exactly when I switched; I was originally taught like most people with the 26” or so primary and 36” alternate on a keeper somewhere on my chest. I never found it comfortable; the primary hose was short enough to constantly feel a tug or push at my mouth depending on which way I turned my head, and the longer alternate hose felt awkward and not always easy to find quickly.

The 5ft hose routs just like a 7ft hose except it goes under the right arm, straight across the chest, over the left shoulder and behind the head. It’s not really wrapped around your neck. Larger people might find that it’s a little tight; ideally there would be hoses available in 4” increments at that length. There is a way to easily find the best length hose, using a coupler (easily available for a few $) to join two short LP hoses, and you can experiment until find the right length. Then if you want you order a custom hose. Or just dive with the coupler.

Anyhow, in addition to the benefits of having more flexibility to air share, it’s just a very streamlined and comfortable system. The longer primary hose is very flexible (I use rubber hoses, not braided) and if the 2nd stage comes out of your mouth, it just hangs right there. The alternate is right under your chin, there is never any issue in finding it. With a little practice, you can even get to it without your hands.

For a while I was a DM trainee in Roatan and stayed on to do some guiding; during that time I had to share air unexpectedly twice. Both times my primary 2nd stage got pulled right out of my mouth. OOA divers are FAST, lol. Point is, you can end doing a primary ‘donate’ whether you plan to or not! I put ‘donate’ in quotes because the reality in my situation, and I believe it’s typical, is that a distressed diver is going for the regulator in your mouth whether you like it or not.

Don't know whats going on in Roatan, but never in 1000's of dives as a guide, have I had a diver try to pull the reg from my mouth.

 

[jadairiii]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently diving with a standard recreational setup; Octopus on a short hose clipped to my BPW, standard length primary, etc. I’ve been reading up on long hose configurations (5–7ft hose for primary donate and bungee backup) and I’m curious when divers typically make that transition.

I'm not tech diving (yet), and most of my dives are recreational, within 25m depth, with decent visibility and usually with a regular buddy or guided group. However, I am thinking more about streamlining, ease of gas sharing, and just having a cleaner setup that works well in emergencies.

So my question is:

At what point does it make sense to switch to a long hose configuration?

It was taught as standard to my daughter in her basic GUE Rec 1 class in 2020. She's known no other way of diving other than with a 7' primary. So to answer your question, now.

 

[tursiops]

Just to be clear: a 7ft primary is totally unnecessary in open-water recreational diving, which is what this thread is about. If you want to dive that way, that's up to you. But be clear that it is not necessary and does have some disadvantages, as clearly stated in a number of posts.

 

[Lorenzoid]

The 5ft hose routs just like a 7ft hose except it goes under the right arm, straight across the chest, over the left shoulder and behind the head. It’s not really wrapped around your neck. Larger people might find that it’s a little tight; ideally there would be hoses available in 4” increments at that length.

As I mentioned above, I found the 5-ft hose uncomfortable, and I'm all of 5'8" tall and of normal girth. I have no idea if a hose having some length between 5 and 7 feet would have worked better for me, because I switched from there to the 7-ft hose, as it's somewhat of a standard.

 

[halocline]

As I mentioned above, I found the 5-ft hose uncomfortable, and I'm all of 5'8" tall and of normal girth. I have no idea if a hose having some length between 5 and 7 feet would have worked better for me, because I switched from there to the 7-ft hose, as it's somewhat of a standard.

We’re probably about the same size and I find the 5ft hose to be fine. I do have a 1st stage with a turret, so I put the long hose on the end port and point the 1st stage down and a little to the right. That might give it an extra 2”.

Another option for someone who likes the routing but finds 5’ a little tight is to put a 90 elbow on the 2nd stage, that probably saves a couple of inches as well because it points the hose straight back.

Ultimately it’s a personal preference for hose length, but it’s the same principle.