Why do we hate the Air2?

[redacted]

I use the Air-2 and love it for the size and placement of the buttons. Can't get used to the smaller, often "poorly" placed buttons on my other inflaters. I only use it as a last resort as a second stage. I'm a manly man and don't wear necklaces (tee hee).

I agree with the button placement and operation advantage. When I converted from an Air2 to a bungeed octo because the Air2 and my slug pony conflicted for space, I also converted to Scubapro Balanced Power Inflators as they have the same button design as the Air2.

How do you operate it? Yanking your head to the right? Does it work for divers who wear dentures?

Dumping from the BCD is no problem but is worth some practice time. You can remove the Air2 from your mouth and hold it overhead if you are comfortable with that. You can also just pull down on the middle of the corrugated hose to activate the pull dump. At one time a device was available that attached to the pull dump cable in about the middle of the corrugated hose that made it fairly easy. Some versions were inside the corrugated hose and others were installed in the middle of a 2-piece corrugated hose. My wife uses the ladder on her rig.

Dumping air from the BCD is not a problem as long as you practice whatever you have planned.

 

[VooDooGasMan]

Were not talking wavy devon, it is a constant kelp going by. So thick it is insane, though when I got my cabezon today in low vis it is worth it.

 

[DaleC]

Dang, I knew I should have stayed awake more in sunday school.

 

[VooDooGasMan]

Rhone, I remember reading way back when on Jablonski's theory of diving.

As Knowone pointed out BP/W and air2 were out so long ago that this is no new practice it is just for a diver that can handle any dive gear any time. I always laugh to think that if the only breathing apparatus that was available to go save some one was a double hose, that person would die cause they only know one way to dive, yet they needed to go down and bring a diver up.

It seems Mcguiver has brought up a point in his first post, that divers need to be aware of how air2 works if you are put with a buddy with an air2.

 

[Levigarrett]

They breathe inferior as compared to a quality second stage octo coupled with less functionality. The onus is on you to justify...

I'm not concerned with defending or attacking anyone gear choice but my experience has been quite different with the device I use. I'm not so sure your statement can be reasonably applied in such blanket fashion.

 

[UCFKnightDiver]

ZKY, you can still dive with a buddy, just need to take old rescue class. or a double hose rescue class.

Or just review, this is my air, that is your air, see you on the beach.

How is that buddy diving?

 

[VooDooGasMan]

It is a Inside joke to ZXY, read is thread, I'm just suggesting to bring his buddy to go diving, but the thing is, he was joking to a point, probably a true story, yet ZKY is a vintage diver, solo diver, spearfisher, and dives with buddy's.

But thanks for you and NWGD pointing that out. Of course I call that Buddy diving, My wife is the only one I ever dived with in the water as a buddy, I have ran into the other diver, yet I would rather be alone while diving.

 

[Lead_carrier]

How are you going to vent your bc if you have to use it? Its in your mouth. Are you going to take it out and raise it up every time you need to vent? What about the fact that its right in your face. Are you going to vent all the air in your face?

When you need to vent air from your bc, just push the to deflate button. While I'm sure many will say that won't work, it does, I have done it a number of times, I teach that if you use it, that is one way do release air from your bc there are others. Would I even suggest using it in tech or cave diving? Absolutely not except for an inflator only. That is my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

 

[UCFKnightDiver]

When you need to vent air from your bc, just push the to deflate button. While I'm sure many will say that won't work, it does, I have done it a number of times, I teach that if you use it, that is one way do release air from your bc there are others. Would I even suggest using it in tech or cave diving? Absolutely not except for an inflator only. That is my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

If you're weighted close to neutral and it's towards the end of the dive are you sure it will work?

 

[Lead_carrier]

They breathe inferior as compared to a quality second stage octo coupled with less functionality. The onus is on you to justify...

The main point is, they breathe. If I'm using it, I'm on my way up, period. Can I tune it to breathe as easily and smooth as a quality second stage, yep. But that makes it more succeptiable to free flow which is why your second stage is normally not as easily breathing as your first. Either way, I'm breathing which is the main goal.