jh_MacLeod
Contributor
Hi everyone,
This question was prompted by a recent experience of mine, and the recent thread on regulator hose routing.
I understand the logic: your primary is "known to be working" and a panicked, out-of-air diver is likely to fixate on it. But personally, I just don't like the idea of "teaching" people to grab the primary out of a buddy's mouth without asking. I mainly dive open water, and often get paired up with tourists/experts who happen to be passing through my region.
I've had this "out-of-nowhere grabbing" my primary happen to me once, and fortunately I had the presence of mind to calmly comply (then take, clear and use the octopus for myself). But ever since that experience, I've made a point of making it crystal clear to any new dive buddy (before getting into the water), that I will donate my "yellow" octopus, not my primary. I typically dive with a 1.2-meter hose primary (routed under my right arm) and a 1-meter yellow octopus (routed under my left arm and attached clearly to my upper right shoulder strap).
So my question, "Is it too much to ask that a buddy, who starts to experience out-of-air problems, bangs on his/her tank or somehow gets my attention, and then requests my octopus?" Or, must we all learn to comply with this "new standard" which is starting to become well-known, that all technical divers donate their long primary and that it's "acceptable" to just grab it?
If I were diving in a confined space with known buddies, of course I would use a 7-foot primary and comply with the conventional practices. But out in open water, I like to use shorter hoses; and I don't like people grabbing my primary air.
Regards,
John
This question was prompted by a recent experience of mine, and the recent thread on regulator hose routing.
I understand the logic: your primary is "known to be working" and a panicked, out-of-air diver is likely to fixate on it. But personally, I just don't like the idea of "teaching" people to grab the primary out of a buddy's mouth without asking. I mainly dive open water, and often get paired up with tourists/experts who happen to be passing through my region.
I've had this "out-of-nowhere grabbing" my primary happen to me once, and fortunately I had the presence of mind to calmly comply (then take, clear and use the octopus for myself). But ever since that experience, I've made a point of making it crystal clear to any new dive buddy (before getting into the water), that I will donate my "yellow" octopus, not my primary. I typically dive with a 1.2-meter hose primary (routed under my right arm) and a 1-meter yellow octopus (routed under my left arm and attached clearly to my upper right shoulder strap).
So my question, "Is it too much to ask that a buddy, who starts to experience out-of-air problems, bangs on his/her tank or somehow gets my attention, and then requests my octopus?" Or, must we all learn to comply with this "new standard" which is starting to become well-known, that all technical divers donate their long primary and that it's "acceptable" to just grab it?
If I were diving in a confined space with known buddies, of course I would use a 7-foot primary and comply with the conventional practices. But out in open water, I like to use shorter hoses; and I don't like people grabbing my primary air.
Regards,
John