Octo on left or right?

[ReefHound]

Since when do divers set up their gear in accordance with some clerk in a store? Stores do not set policy.

We're not talking about some "clerk", we're talking about the LDS owner.

 

[Daz]

I don't think I would follow the advice of a store clerk anymore than I would the door greeter at Wal Mart.

Agreed, and it wouldn't matter if said clerk owns the store or not. The owner may always be right when it comes to store policies and personell decisions - but the title of owner does not make one "all knowing"...

 

[diverrick]

been diving for thirty + years, and I always wear the regs Right, SPG and inflater on the Left. That is what I would call a "standard" configuration.

 

[tomboyy]

We're not talking about some "clerk", we're talking about the LDS owner.

Just because someone is a LDS does NOT mean they know everything. I've only been a diver for 5 years and as you can see in my profile, I'm a "newbie". I'm very comfortable in the water to say 130ft. That makes me a recreational diver.

Getting back to my original post.. I'd rather dive with the DM who advocated both on the right side.

Why?

The first time I dove with him was my last deep dive check out. He walked up to me and introduced himself and ASKED if he could look at my gear. He was very meticulate (sp?) He answered all my questions without being a smartass... like he really wanted to help.

Now compare this to the LDS owner... I told him I wanted a new mask as I couldn't see very well downwards... his responce.." well theres a trade off .. you can either see good down or up but not both" and thats it. His responce should have been well I have a few masks in the shop that might help you out ... stop in and we'll see what will work for you..... I bought a cressi online.. works great.

same reason I bought a BCD and a computer online.. employees didn't have time to answer my questions.. and I told LDS owner about this and he wasn't happy.

guess this is off the left or right question sorry

Tom

 

[Jim Lapenta]

A standard length octo hose leaves plenty of slack for two people to swim side by side if the donor is on the right with the out of air diver on the donors left. Also in this scenario the reg is not upside down and there is no big s bend pulling it out of the donees(?) mouth. If they are face to face on an ascent then the bend is not an issue. They should be in very close contact with each other. Putting the octo on the left may eliminate the bend but it is not what many divers are used to. In any case unless you are not diving with the person and they just show up out of nowhere, you should be as familiar with your buddy's set up as you are with your own. Of course there are those out there who don't know their own set ups but hopefully you'll never have to dive with someone like that.

If they don't know their own gear configuration with their eyes closed they're the person you don't want to dive with. Their training leaves something to be desired or they haven't been diving enough to stay sharp.

 

[OldNSalty]

First, just in my casual observation over the years I think having the octo on the same side as the second is the norm by a HUGE percentage but seeing how the shop keep is doing all this for free then....oh wait, are you actually paying for his services?!?

Unless it is unethical, illegal, a huge safety no-no that could get you killed or his store sued and as long as you are the customer then he better well configure your gear the way you want your gear configured.

Is he the only store for 100 miles? Knowing how closely most dive hops run towards bankruptcy with way too much competition and way too little demand I can't see how this guy can be acting this way.

I suspect, based on what you have said, that he is just too lazy to admit he made a mistake and is now covering up. Either way, I would probably look at moving my business to another store.

 

[spectrum]

BSAC we always have on the left. The theory being its rigged for your buddy ensuring the maximum length of hose and correct way up donate. If for some reason you do need it yourself then obviously the shorter twisted hose isn't an issue.

Exactly as I was taught through PDIC and that is just how it has worked for me. For various and sundry reasons I have donated air a good number of times and it has always worked elegantly and without incident.

That leaves the right side clear for the pony when it comes along.

Pete

 

[Teamcasa]

Tom, You are new diver and good for you for seeking advice here. However, as you see the opinions vary. So munch so that it appears either side works.

My 2psi.
Do you have available LP ports on each side of your first stage? Do you dive dry? Plan to? More importantly, do you have a regular buddy and if so then it really does not matter. If you are diving with new buddies, I suspect most have the Otco on the right side. I’d put it there to reduce confusion.

 

[Nemrod]

If you have a side breather or the second stage types that can be swapped it becomes less of an issue. Of course, there are many first stages around that cannot be rigged for left side because they don't have but one LP on that side. BSAC can do whatever they like, and the probably stubborn and lazy store owner as well, it changes nothing that in this country for decades the vast, vast majority of intructors and agencies have taught air supply on the right. I don't really see a problem with left side air supply other than not all equipment will rig that way and many people may not be familiar with it, does it matter, that is up to you.

N

 

[String]

I had heard this is why Apeks made their new second stages reconfigurable from either side. I must be daft, but I can't picture this with the inflator, octo and pressure gauge all on the left.

The XTX can be positioned left or right handed but other than independent twins i cant see the point of it. Nobody i know with them has bothered converting them anyway.

Generally you'll have 4 x LP (Primary,Octo,BC inflate,Suit inflate) and 1 x HP (spg) on a single tank setup.

So Primary right, drysuit right, BC left, octo left for the LP stuff. Works quite nicely on most of the setups ive seen. The only ones that look messy are some of the older scubapro and mares first stages and they look like a complete road accident with 4 hoses however you set them up (unless you like at least 2 hoses 45 degrees in the air in an X shape).

Edit:- I'd never seen an octopus on the right setup until i started going abroad, in the UK at least octo left is by far the most common. Having seen and tried both methods i will always teach octo left whether its BSAC or PADI as i think its the best system. Both work but the left in my view has advantages over right. That said, when im diving for myself as opposed to teaching i use primary donate/long hose which i believe is the best method of the lot.