Integrated Alternate Air Source

[RJP]

Seems like the majority of divers I see claiming they bought an integrated inflator/octo for "streamlining" purposes is entirely decked out with all manner of trinkets and retractors and gadgets and whatnot with a giant console dragging behind them. Further they are typically overweighted, flailing their arms like crazy, and frantically bicycle kicking... while zipping around 45deg out of trim.

Yeah... good thing they eliminated that one extra hose

 

[flots am]

Seems like the majority of divers I see claiming they bought an integrated inflator/octo for "streamlining" purposes is entirely decked out with all manner of trinkets and retractors and gadgets and whatnot with a giant console dragging behind them. Further they are typically overweighted, flailing their arms like crazy, and frantically bicycle kicking... while zipping around 45deg out of trim.

Yeah... good thing they eliminated that one extra hose

An integrated inflator isn't just saving an extra hose, it's emergency equipment that can never get lost and can be easily deployed.

The rest of the complaints are irrlevant for the purpose of this discussion. It's like complaining that the guy with the bulletproof vest wears white shoes after labor day. The shoes might look out of place but the vest still does it's job.

flots.

 

[RJP]

An integrated inflator isn't just saving an extra hose, it's emergency equipment that can never get lost and can be easily deployed.

The rest of the complaints are irrlevant for the purpose of this discussion. It's like complaining that the guy with the bulletproof vest wears white shoes after labor day. The shoes might look out of place but the vest still does it's job.

flots.

I was taking specifically about the people who claim streamlining as the reason for switching.

It's like the cyclists we see who are 30lbs overweight themselves buying a $200 carbon-fiber waterbottle cage to put on their heavy al bike in order to save 20grams of weight. About the weight of a mouthful of water.

 

[Mike.D]

An integrated inflator isn't just saving an extra hose, it's emergency equipment that can never get lost and can be easily deployed.

The rest of the complaints are irrlevant for the purpose of this discussion. It's like complaining that the guy with the bulletproof vest wears white shoes after labor day. The shoes might look out of place but the vest still does it's job.

flots.

Did you forget to read this???

Yes, it is a personal preference. The breathing perfomance aside, let's see what is the advantage and disadvantages:

Advantage:
- One less LP hose
-You always know where it is

Disadvantages:
- LESS streamline because in order to be able to NOT restrict head movement, the corrogated hose needs to be long. Long enough to dangle when not breathing from it if the diver is remotely in trim
- If you find issue with the AAS before splash, you are less likely to find replacement than a standard inflator. More likely to cost your a dive.
- If your inflator malfunction, you have to disconnect the LPI, you lose your octo as well. Turn single failure into multiple failure
- If you octo free flow, you lose your inflator too. Turn single failure into multiple failure.

So the real quesiton I have is why??? I don't see it since the day I got OW.

 

[flots am]

Did you forget to read this???

I read it, but none of the disadvantages are relevant.

- LESS streamline because in order to be able to NOT restrict head movement, the corrugated hose needs to be long. Long enough to dangle when not breathing from it if the diver is remotely in trim
- If you find issue with the AAS before splash, you are less likely to find replacement than a standard inflator. More likely to cost your a dive.
- If your inflator malfunction, you have to disconnect the LPI, you lose your octo as well. Turn single failure into multiple failure
- If you octo free flow, you lose your inflator too. Turn single failure into multiple failure.

#1 The corrugated hose is always the right length unless the user has specifically changed it. "Head movement" isn't a problem since the only direction they're going is "up" and it's easy enough to look up when using it.

#2 I don't know of any recreational dive boats that carry spare inflators of either style for customers or would be willing to have any boat crew disassemble customer equipment. If you need a spare of anything, you should bring your own. In fact, if you plan on using this argument, the Atomic SS1 is actually better than a normal inflator since it comes with a screw-on fitting. If you have a spare, it can be changed with no tools.

#3 OW divers are taught that a failed component means the dive is over. It doesn't matter if it's a reg or an inflator.

#4 They're specifically designed to not freeflow. The only time you'll see this is if they haven't been serviced in a really long time or are damaged.

flots

 

[D_B]

if you have to use a different BC than yours, , you'll need an adapter to hook up your larger than standard inflator coupler .. I carry one

 

[kneptoon]

The dive industry like any other business is trying to sell us new stuff or completely different stuff so that we continue buying. I like trying the new stuff split fins, back inflate, BP/W, air integrate. I tried an Atomic SS1 air integrated at the same time I bought the Knight Hawk back inflate BCD. Over about 50-100 dives I was in two situations where other divers low or out of air (not my buddy) approached me to share air. As they swam to me, not panicked, they looked at the area where an octo is normally positioned. Even though I held out my primary for them to share with the SS1 in my mouth, there was some confusion on the other diver's part. Do you want confusion in an OOA situation? The SS1 breathed beautifully, but because Scuba Pro uses a stiff plastic ribbon instead of a coated stainless cable as the dump control you are always fighting the memory of that stiff plastic ribbon. Consequently, it is impossible to get a relaxed natural bite on the mouth piece even with a longer corrugated hose. I am back to using a standard octo. These are all personal choices. After diving the back inflate then moving to a Halcyon BP/W I'm back to a jacket style BCD. Crazy? Personal choices.

 

[freewillie]

I'm joining the dance late again, but I'm just getting back from family vacation in Cancun! Had a few dive with my oldest daughter who just completed AOW before vacation.

Actually had my integrated AAS on my BC. I actually prefer my Atomic SS1 to my standard power inflator. Personally I find the buttons easier to feel especially with gloves and easier to find by feel. I did find the feeling of breathing off it restricting when turning to the right so changed to longer inflator hose. And no, it does not hang or dangle with use. It certainly doesn't dangle any more than a loose octo.

 

[aprivetera]

Question out of curiosity for integrated AAS owners: It is easy to share your primary with an OOA diver with a standard length primary hose? Or do you have a octo length primary hose to make it easier to share?

 

[Dr. Lecter]

Question out of curiosity for integrated AAS owners: It is easy to share your primary with an OOA diver with a standard length primary hose? Or do you have a octo length primary hose to make it easier to share?

Short answer: both work, and both suck compared to a 7' long hose. The long hose has the added benefit of allowing one to back up well away from a panicked diver... and disengage from them, if necessary, at a distance that will preclude them from grabbing back on to you/your gear.