5’ – 7” Long hose for a non-DIR configured diver OK?

[Teamcasa]

I have no issue with DIR folks using long hoses but should they be recommending this configuration to a typical recreational diver not trained in it deployment, use or routing configuration?

Do see many typical recreational divers, using NON-DIR gear use a long hose?

 

[24940]

What issues do you see?

Use is pretty simple. It's just a matter of routing and stowing properly. Deploying requires an additional movement and snorkels can complicate this a bit, but it's basic stuff.

On the positive side, air shares are much more comfortable, horizontal egress becomes possible and jaw fatigue is eliminated. I consider the use of an AIRII type secondary to be a more difficult configuration for executing shared air ascents.

Tech divers use the config, but it's not technical... It just makes good sense.

BTW, I'm an OW instructor and that pretty much excludes me from being DIR.

 

[ACR]

I'm not a DIR or near-DIR diver... but I would think that it would be common sense that a change in any of your gear should be proceeded with the requisite training and some time in the pool.

Admittedly, for all intensive purposes I'm a newbie at this diving thing but I got the 'know your limits' message pretty early on. I don't think that there is a problem with the gear config itself, only with the user.

 

[BGF]

most non DIR divers I see don't have a long hose (or any other DIR config equipment) but I don't really see an issue with them choosing to use a long hose. As said above, "it's basic stuff". Would recommend to any diver, if you're changing your gear config get into a pool and play around with it. When I first bought my rig I got in a pool and set my tank way low/way high on my bp/w, I tried different amounts of weight, I tried different masks, different fins, etc. I changed how my gear was configured until I "liked it", and knew where it was and how it felt. After I set it up, if it moves I know quickly because it feels wrong. My philosophy is to each their own. If your comfortable in your gear it's way easier to get comfortable under water.

 

[Firefyter]

I have no issue with DIR folks using long hoses but should they be recommending this configuration to a typical recreational diver not trained in it deployment, use or routing configuration?

It aint rocket science....

 

[reefduffer]

I have no issue with DIR folks using long hoses but should they be recommending this configuration to a typical recreational diver not trained in it deployment, use or routing configuration?

Do see many typical recreational divers, using NON-DIR gear use a long hose?

I'm not sure who you are asking the question of. DIR/tech divers? All divers?

FWIW: I'm not tech or DIR, and not a tech or DIR wannabee. I'm not interested in overheads, hard or soft. I just want to fly over the reef with my wife and look at the pretty fishies. I'm about as recreational as it gets.

But on researching my first major gear purchase, with a lot of reading here, and really disliking the traditional octo that I could never find a way to reliably stow, I decided that to me, the long-hose/bungied-backup made the most sense of the three mainstream regulator configuration options. For a number of reasons that have been endlessly thrashed out here. I went that way, and I'm quite happy with it. I simultaneously went to a pocket snorkel I've never needed to deploy.

I haven't yet had to deploy it in a real air-share, but I did do a sort-of S-drill with my wife on our first dive together with my new gear. Not a big deal understanding it AFAIC, for either of us.

I also went with spring straps based on intrinsic benefits. Love 'em.

That's about it for anything resembling tech. It's not conformity with standards that motivates me. For the moment I'm really happy with my weight-integrated back-inflate travel BC and air-integrated console computer. If I ever go BP/W it will be to reduce travel weight and size further, but that won't happen anytime soon, if at all. Oh, and as my signature makes clear, I really don't care about the Men In Black (tm) standardization. :14: But I don't begrudge them if it makes them happy.

So, to answer your question directly:

- I think long-hose/bungied backup stands by itself as a valid gear configuration, independent of any other configuration choice other than the use of a full-time snorkel, and is appropriate for recreational divers. I think it's the best of the three.

- I don't think it requires much training. But I did do a good deal of reading about it's use, and I tend to learn easily from reading. Some people don't, I acknowledge that. I also bought and watched the 5thd-x "Essentials" DVD, which shows S-drills as well as finning techniques I'd like to try to learn. I agree it would be a mistake to strap it on some OW diver without explaining how it's supposed to be used. I'm sure PADI could create a specialty course, maybe an adventure dive option for AOW.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

You raise a good question. I think it's very important that with any equipment configuration, make sure you practice with it regularly and know how to use it by touch without having to think.

With regard the a long hose, I switched to it at about dive 25 or so and I'm not DIR. I do dive a BP/W along with the long hose, but that doesn't mean I'm DIR. I simply see it as a more streamlined, sensible way to dive and it works for me.

Now that I'm preparing to take Adv. Nitrox/Deco it's nice because I don't have to learn to dive a bp/w nor a long hose. That's a very good thing because I'm finding doubles hard enough to adjust to.

 

[Gombessa]

It aint rocket science....

It certainly isn't, but in my short time diving I've seen quite a few "improperly" rigged long-hoses, not in the "this isn't DIR so it's Wrong" sense but rather that the setup defeats some or all of the purpose of the long-hose.

Also, I was diving a long hose several months prior to getting more formal training on how to dive it. And as easy as it seems to donate a long-hose, I screwed up multiple times (forgetting to put the bungeed secondary around my neck, not deploying over the head when donating, having the long hose somewhat "trapped" between the backup and the bungee...). Things are just tough when you can't see what's going on and are under the pressure of donating gas. Now, I understand the wisdom of a quick mod-S drill to ensure routing and setup.

So after going through the whole process, my only contribution is to say, if you newly adopt a long-hose setup, PLEASE drill with it and practice routing/deployment in a safe environment so that you're familiar and comfortable with it in a way beyond merely inhaling and exhaling from it.

 

[rongoodman]

I don't see the long hose as being a DIR issue--they were around before DIR came to be, and are used by many non-DIR divers. As someone else noted, it's not rocket science. I assembled and began diving my Hog rig as soon as my OW dives were done with no problems at all.

 

[muddiver]

I personally don't think that a new diver with the typical vacation SCUBA level of training should be expected to use a long hose effectively with out some research or formal training. But, whom am I to say one type of equipment is ok and another is not. I use a fullface mask, a dry suit and a completly redundant secondary air source. I've never had formal training on how to do this from a recreational SCUBA agency, nor am I a DIR/Tech diver.

I think if a green horn diver wants to try some type of equipment that is diffirent than the standard recreational SCUBA set-up, it is their choice to do so. I would just hope that they would learn the techniques required and practice them a little.

My direct answer is "NO", I would not recomend a long hose setup to a "Basic Open Water" level trained diver. They don't have the knowledge base or experience to understand the use of the long hose rig.