When is it time to switch to a long hose setup?

[growcurlyhair]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently diving with a standard recreational setup; Octopus on a short hose clipped to my BPW, standard length primary, etc. I’ve been reading up on long hose configurations (5–7ft hose for primary donate and bungee backup) and I’m curious when divers typically make that transition.

I'm not tech diving (yet), and most of my dives are recreational, within 25m depth, with decent visibility and usually with a regular buddy or guided group. However, I am thinking more about streamlining, ease of gas sharing, and just having a cleaner setup that works well in emergencies.

So my question is:

At what point does it make sense to switch to a long hose configuration?

Was there a specific dive scenario or training progression (e.g., Rescue, Cavern, or Intro to Tech) that made it worthwhile for you?

I'm also curious if any of you made the switch early in your dive journey; Do you need to get some training for it?

Appreciate any insights, especially from those who started recreational and later moved into more advanced diving.

Thanks!

Best
Garrett

 

[boulderjohn]

For most recreational diving, I use the system described by Tursiops in post #2.

The key point for me, though, is not the long hose. It is the bungeed alternate that goes with it. I first started diving the long hose when I took tech training, but I at first did not switch my recreational gear because I didn't see the need. Then I read a story about a diver who drowned because she ran out of air and went to her buddy, only to find that his alternate had fallen out of its keeper and was somewhere behind him. She died trying to get it while she was panicking.

I realized then that my alternate was regularly falling out like that. I remembered how, as an instructor, I had to make sure the students' alternates were in the right place before doing an OOA exercise. The traditional alternate is designed to come free easily in an emergency, so it comes free easily even when there is no emergency. The bungeed alternate is designed to stay in place beneath the chin, and that is where it will be when you need it.

 

[rhwestfall]

primary donate,,,,

that is the skill and concept you need to understand and execute.

 

[yn37605]

I've also been considering switching to the long hose setup, and in fact have already purchase two sets of hoses, but have been reluctant to change them out. The hoses that came with my regulator set are labeled as EAN250A and the replacements are not. Thus my reluctance to switch. Is this something that I should even worry about?

 

[tursiops]

EAN250A

I think you mean EN250A, which is jsut a marking showing European compliance.
Where did you get your new hoses?

 

[boulderjohn]

I've also been considering switching to the long hose setup, and in fact have already purchase two sets of hoses, but have been reluctant to change them out. The hoses that came with my regulator set are labeled as EAN250A and the replacements are not. Thus my reluctance to switch. Is this something that I should even worry about?

There is no concern abut switching those hoses.

https://www.scubaschool.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/EN-250.pdf

 

[Bowers]

I teach my ow students in a long hose primary donate reg setup. There isn’t really a reason to wait. Not only does it have better streamlining and more efficient use in emergencies, but if you do later want to get into a type of diving that requires it, then you will have already had plenty of practice using it. No sense in switching dive configurations just before going into a task loading class and then have to figure it all out at the same time..

 

[Brett Hatch]

I switched once I felt that my diving was together enough to try major gear config changes safely. Maybe 30 or 40 dives? Something like that. It was years ago, I don't remember clearly

My partner recently did an OW course. She's still working on the basics, so a big gear config change wouldn't be appropriate. But, it won't be long before she is dialed in enough to start experimenting, maybe another dozen dives or so, somewhere in there

 

[tursiops]

It might be good to clarify what is being meant by "long hose" by the various posters. Traditionally, that means 7 ft, primary donate, neck-bungeed secondary. Some today say 5 ft. Some say 40 inches or even a bit shorter; these are sometimes called "recreational" or "Florida" long hoses. Depending on the length, the hose goes around your neck to use up length, or jsut under your arm.

The key (as BoulderJohn said) is the primary donate. This is the BIG advantage of "long hose," whatever the length.

The useful hose length is mainly determined by what kind of gas-sharing is intended; the 7 ft is needed for single-file exits from (say) a cave. The 5 ft is probably not long enough to do this for most people. The 40 or 36 inch is just fine for open water, side-by-side or face-to-face gas-sharing, depending on your preference and training.

Can you use a 7 ft in open water? Of course. Its disadvantage is there is more hose to manage, which (hopefully) you will never need; also, it make handing up your rig when exiting the water to a small boat rather difficult...easy entanglement of all that extra hose.

For someone not intending to cave dive (or other situations demanding single-file gas-sharing) the 7 foot hose is unnecessary, and perha[ps disadvantageous, no matter how cool it makes you look.

The 40-inch under the arm version retains the primary-donate benefit and is an easy transition to a longer hose should you ever need one.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

The 40-inch under the arm version retains the primary-donate benefit and is an easy transition to a longer hose should you ever need one.

My hose is longer than your hose.

 

[yn37605]

I think you mean EN250A, which is jsut a marking showing European compliance.
Where did you get your new hoses?

My bad. I did mean EN250A. I bought one set from my LDS and believe they are XS Scuba and the other set I purchased online and they are Halcyon.