24" SPG Hose

[mahjong]

I recently switched my "standard" SPG hose for a 24" DIR one on my doubles setup (twin HP100s). Even after unclipping my SPG and moving it forward as much as I can I have to really twist my head to read it, and rather than read it I am more like catching a quick glimpse of it, and not without some neck strain. In other words, I can just barely read my SPG with a 24" hose, such that, when I think to myself to check my air, I'm now thinking twice because of what a PITA it is to read the gauge.

I don't think DIR would have such a tried and true protocol if divers had to strain like I need to. Is there something I might not be doing right? Is there a trick to moving the SPG comfortably into eye-shot when on a short 24" hose?

 

[lv2dive]

I am kind of short (relatively speaking, anyway - 5'5") and actually have changed my SPG hose to an even shorter length than 24" (on instructor recommendations). Anyway, I don't have any problem seeing my SPG... I unclip it, bring forward and directly in front of me, shine my primary light on it to illuminate it, and check pressure. Are you bringing it in front of you? If so, it shouldn't be hard to read.

NOTE: I am speaking from a position of having a Xen bc I *do* have some challenges with reading gauges on my forearms that are not OLED/LCD.

 

[mahjong]

I don't think I'd have any trouble bringing forward my SPG on a 24" hose diving a single tank.

I am your height and I also have to strain sometimes to read gauges on my forearm, at least when wearing a 400g Thinsulate undergarment underneath my drysuit. That said, if someone 6'+ tall and diving a drysuit can read their SPG on a 24" hose then I must be doing something wrong.

I'm wondering if it might have to do with hose routing?

I am kind of short (relatively speaking, anyway - 5'5") and actually have changed my SPG hose to an even shorter length than 24" (on instructor recommendations). Anyway, I don't have any problem seeing my SPG... I unclip it, bring forward and directly in front of me, shine my primary light on it to illuminate it, and check pressure. Are you bringing it in front of you? If so, it shouldn't be hard to read.

NOTE: I am speaking from a position of having a Xen bc I *do* have some challenges with reading gauges on my forearms that are not OLED/LCD.

 

[Gombessa]

Maybe post a picture of your reg setup on a tank?

 

[eelnoraa]

A picture would help.

I think double actually needs a shorter SPG hose.

 

[mahjong]

Here's a quick partial rigging just done in my garage. I'm wondering if my SPG hose hasn't landed behind the wing each time I have dove since switching to the shorter hose? I will pay close attention to the hose routing next time out, which will be sometime late next week, after I return from La Paz on Wed.

Gombessa and I did cross paths at depth just off the line to the Barge on Saturday--my buddy and I were heading back, you and your buddy were heading out. Did you happen to notice if my SPG hose was routed in front of or behind my wing? ;-)

---------- Post Merged at 09:51 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 09:45 PM ----------

I think you're right, eelnoraa, as the left post is obviously closer to the left hip. I'm wondering if my SPG hose has been getting trapped behind my wing.

A picture would help.

I think double actually needs a shorter SPG hose.

 

[Gombessa]

Gombessa and I did cross paths at depth just off the line to the Barge on Saturday--my buddy and I were heading back, you and your buddy were heading out. Did you happen to notice if my SPG hose was routed in front of or behind my wing? ;-)

Nah man, I was too busy capturing the celebratory "The line is over there!" handshake and fist bump!



From the setup picture, it all looks OK, the only difference in my setup is that I usually route the SPG behind the wing, but at depth there's not a lot of gas in there so I don't imagine it would affect things much. One thing I've always had a hard time doing is "chicken winging" the SPG over the shoulder. It's always been a lot easier for me to swing it up from below. It could also be that one man's "straining to see" is another man's "plenty of space" so it's hard to tell. Phil can definitely let you know though, and he might recommend a different length hose.

 

[PfcAJ]

Looks set up properly from here (I'd ditch the balanced inflator though ).

I've yet to see someone have trouble bringing the gauge up in front of their face. It might have been caught behind the wing, but I feel like that's pretty unlikely. Are you unclipping it and moving it straight up along the body?

I never do the chicken wing thing. Even with a bunch of stages (light or heavy) and associated cave diving accouterments, it just not needed.

 

[eelnoraa]

looks fine to me too. I wonder if the tanks are setup too high.

 

[PfcAJ]

You know what, I wonder the hose was trapped under the drysuit inflator hose somehow. That could bind the hose in a way that would make it hard to see.