What is an Octo?

[GCullen94]

I am not sure that this particular distinction is widely accepted, or even known. An alternate air source can EITHER be secured somewhere on a BCD (e.g. in the ‘triangle’, OR placed under the diver’s chin on a bungee necklace. I personally prefer it be on a bungee necklace, but others are free to do whatever pleases them. To specifically designate a second stage on a bungee necklace as the ‘secondary’ doesn’t seem to be particularly useful terminology to me.

To me, an octo is a traditional style backup regulator on a 36 inch yellow hose somewhere in the triangle

the secondary/backup regulator is attached permanently to a bungee around the neck and the primary regulator is passed to the OOG diver.

the designation is simple, in an octo set up the octo is passed to the OOG diver while in a backup/secondary model the primary is passed to the out of gas diver and the primary is traditionally on a longer hose (coming from a GUE standpoint)

 

[Lorenzoid]

The term "octopus," which refers to the backup/alternate second stage regulator and its hose, never made any sense to me. A second stage regulator and a hose does not in any way resemble an octopus. Maybe one could say that the first stage with the primary second stage's hose, the backup/alternate second stage's hose, and the SPG's hose, all coming out of the first stage resembles an octopus. But for whatever reason, that's not how the term is used.

 

[tstormdiver]

Personally I would not get the air inflator integrated Octo since you have to give up your primary and use your secondary and many people have said they are hard to breath from as well

So, You would rather give a harder breathing regulator to an already nearly panicked diver? If a diver is so uncomfortable that they can not be without a regulator for a few seconds to give up the primary & pick up a back- up,.. they have no business being in the water in the first place. My secondary is the exact same second stage as me primary (a SP S600), so I can breathe just as easily as my OOG buddy.

 

[TheHuth]

Thank you all for your responses. Although its clear as mud, I think I get it

Both are terms for a secondary air source, and there are two types. One that integrates with your bc, and one that is just another regulator hanging off your first stage. Simple enough. It sounds like if you dive allot, the integrated BC would be nice to streamline your profile. But otherwise they both accomplish the same goal.

 

[Littlerayray]

My Octo and reg are the same brand and are both easy breathing it's not that I wouldn't give up my primary it's that I don't like the setup and while diving I come first that's the mentality I was taught because I can't help a panicked diver if I am struggling as well

On a side not a panicked diver that's in an oog situation will grab after the reg that's in your mouth cuz they know it works I would let them have it then once I get my Octo in my mouth and we settle a bit then we would switch for an ascent another thing panicked divers tend to do is spit out their regs I know I've seen it happen the bc integrated Octo iMO are not good my bc hose gets dragged through muck and what not and I take it apart and clean it about every ten dives so that it functions properly that would mean I would have to do a reg service on top of my regular cleanings with the Octo secured to my bc out of the way it stays clean as well my reg and Octo are sherwood sr1's I love them and people have tried mine in log and couldn't believe how easy they were to breath from

 

[diver 85]

I know what a safe second is. But I see allot of people talk about using an octopus instead. Looking online, they dont look any different than a safe second to me. Can someone explain what the difference is between an "octo" compared to basic safe second?

"a safe second"----when/where did that get started???....

 

[Colliam7]

To me, an octo is a traditional style backup regulator on a 36 inch yellow hose somewhere in the triangle . . . the secondary/backup regulator is attached permanently to a bungee around the neck and the primary regulator is passed to the OOG diver.

And, I fully understand what you are saying. And, it is your set-up, so do whatever works for you. My only comment was that the distinction you make is now an uncommon one, and not altogether accurate in current practice.

the designation is simple, in an octo set up the octo is passed to the OOG diver while in a backup/secondary model the primary is passed to the out of gas diver and the primary is traditionally on a longer hose (coming from a GUE standpoint)

In fact, both an 'octo' - as you describe it - and an alternate second stage on a bungee necklace, represent a 'secondary' second stage. There is no distinction. What is in your mouth for the majority of the dive is a 'primary'. Any other second stage is a 'secondary' (or alternate - or, if you insist on DIR terminology, a 'back-up') second stage. If it isn't the primary, by definition it is a secondary. Now, the valid distinction that can be made is whether you donate the 'primary' or donate the 'secondary' in an OOA situation, and that is a matter of procedure, not terminology. In fact, more than a few OW students are now taught to breathe from the second stage on the (longer, 36") yellow hose (possibly with a yellow purge cover in addition) as their 'primary', and to donate that primary to another diver in the event of an OOA situation, after which they go to their secondary (often on a bungee necklace).

The term "octopus," which refers to the backup/alternate second stage regulator and its hose, never made any sense to me.

LOL, I can understand. Here is an excerpt from The New Science of Skin and Scuba Diving, for many years the 'bible' of scuba instruction (and, possibly, still the bible for some), that may have helped create such nomenclature: 'Easier than sharing a single regulator and mouthpiece between buddies is the use of an additional second stage attached directly to the air tank. Called an "octopus" because its use gives the scuba the appearance of having many arms, it has a longer hose for easier use by the needer.'

"a safe second"----when/where did that get started???....

As for 'safe second', I don't know the origin, but it has been around for a while (http://www.scubaboard.com/community/threads/safe-second-v-octopus.21720/). I confess that I am personally not a fan of alternate inflator regulators (nee 'safe second'), but one thing that their use does is promote donation of the primary second stage in an OOA situation, and I AM a fan of primary donation.

 

[decompression]

"a safe second"----when/where did that get started???....

I recall that terminology used by NASDS many moons ago.

 

[clownfishsydney]

In Australia it has been called an octopus or ocky for at least the last 30 years. It is the most common way to refer to the additional second stage regulator (whether part of BCD inflator or not).

I had never heard the term "safe second" till I got involved in the Gabe Watson matter.

I suspect that most of the world uses the term octopus from my experience travelling.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

... and for those who use a hogarthian configuration it's also called a "necklace", "bungeed reg", and "backup" ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)