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

[Teamcasa]

What issues do you see? ..Use is pretty simple. It's just a matter of routing and stowing properly.

... 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…

..It aint rocket science....

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.

.. in my short time diving I've seen quite a few "improperly" rigged long-hoses…. as easy as it seems to donate a long-hose, I screwed up multiple….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.

I agree, training is important when switching gear configurations. My point was that I see threads from time to time where a response is “Get a long hose..” in an obvious recreational diver situation. Will a long hose work with any reg/BC or BP/W combo? Should the long hose setup must always be paired with a bungeed alternate. Should this also be mentioned when offering the long hose advise?

To date I have not used a long hose so I ask these questions with genuine curiosity.

 

[24940]

. Will a long hose work with any reg/BC or BP/W combo? Should the long hose setup must always be paired with a bungeed alternate. Should this also be mentioned when offering the long hose advise?
.

I can't think of a combo it would not work with. I went to the 7' while diving a Black Diamond. There was no can light or knife sheath to trap the hose, so stuffing the extra in the cummerbund worked fine.

As to the bungied secondary, it would depend on the context the suggestion is made. If it is solely about regulator pull, the bungied secondary is not a factor. If it is about looking at gear as a system, then it would definitely be worth discussion.

I don't know of a long hose class, but if I were to be training someone, it would go like this:

Hose runs down along tanks right side, up and across chest, around neck and into mouth. Take up the slack and stuff it as a loop inside your belt or cumberbun. Prior to descent, make sure it is deployable. Instead of remove and thrust forward, the movement is remove, bring behind and around the head and thrust forward.

There will be some slight variation, depending on the config they dive, but that's about it.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Will a long hose work with any reg/BC or BP/W combo?

Absolutely. A long hose does not require a bp/w, although most who prefer the benefits of a long hose also seem to prefer the benefits of a bp/w or at least a back inflate BC. A bp/w does make it easier to stow the long hose, especially if you also use a canister light.

Should the long hose setup must always be paired with a bungeed alternate.

Yes. I'd hate to donate my long hose only to go searching for my alternate. IMO they go hand in hand .... long hose on primary, alternate bungeed

Should this also be mentioned when offering the long hose advise?

I think it would be a good idea. I'd never advise someone to go off an switch to a long hose without at least offering to show them how to set it up or how to use it.

 

[Gombessa]

I agree, training is important when switching gear configurations. My point was that I see threads from time to time where a response is “Get a long hose..” in an obvious recreational diver situation. Will a long hose work with any reg/BC or BP/W combo? Should the long hose setup must always be paired with a bungeed alternate. Should this also be mentioned when offering the long hose advise?

To date I have not used a long hose so I ask these questions with genuine curiosity.

I took a class that focuses on "DIR" techniques as applicable to recreational diving. The only gear requirements were a long-hose setup and fins you can back-kick in. Although most people who take such a class are somewhat tech-minded and will do so in BP/W, they were pretty specific in saying that a regular jacket BC would be just fine.

The bungeed backup regulator is a great benefit to a long hose setup. It all but eliminates the "where's my octo, I clipped it off but it may have fallen out and be dangling somewhere" phenomenon, and is immediately accessible the instant you need it. Also, it eliminates potential confusion - which reg will you be donating? The 60" hose or the 40" hose? Why would you have an octo and a long hose? IMO, if you dive a long hose, the bungeed backup naturally follows suit.

Someone above mentioned diving a long hose with an Air2. To me, this goes more towards the pros and cons of using an Air2, but putting that aside for a minute, it sounds like it could work (long hose + air2 seems like a better solution than a "standard hose" + air2).

 

[M_Bipartitus]

I'm not a DIR diver.* I have used a long hose since I bought my first reg. I find no problem with donating it and it helps alot in some of the specialized diving I do (Human Powered Submarine.) I do always make sure to demonstrate the idea to any potential dive buddy. The only problem with my stuff is that my backup is still yellow. Come to think of it I need to change that...


* Besides that I would likely fail the DIR Essentials class, I have a bungied wing (OH NO!!!!)

 

[sea nmf]

I'm just a rec diver. Granted, I have lots and lots of rec dives. But the bungeed back-up seemed like such a great idea, I had to have it.

Then, I got a 5' hose, because I don't have a canister light. I don't need a canister light here in sunny Hawaii.

So, yes, the long hose is an acceptable configuration for a rec diver. I suspect it will be more common than the other way in 10 years. It just makes so much sense.

 

[texdiveguy]

I see no issues with recreational geared divers using a long hose primary and necklaced alternate...actually its a good idea in most cases. The DIR gibber has nothing to do with using this configuration.

 

[amascuba]

Using a long hose with a bungied backup isn't rocket science. The "training" would take all of 30 seconds. The only problem that you would really run into with a 5 - 7' hose in say a typical jacket or back inflate BCD would be stowing the hose properly so that it can be easily deployed and stowed.

That said, If I were to start using say a jacket or back inflate bcd over my backplate/wing again I would use a bungied backup on a 22'' hose and a 40'' hose routed under my arm for a primary. It's actually much more fluid and less cluttered than the typical setup.

 

[Flightlead]

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...).

I think the best answer to this problem is for the diver to develop a specific order of donning the gear, a check list if you will. For me, I always follow this procedure once I have setup my gear on the bench:

1. Check all valves are in the correct "open" position
2. Smell the air from each regulator
3. Breath each regulator, clip primary to RHS shoulder D ring
4. Test inflation/venting on wing/BC
5. Arms in harness, shoulder straps positioned correctly and not twisted
6. Backup regulator around neck
7. Dry suit inflation hose connected
8. Test dry suit inflation
9. Waist/crotch strap buckled
10. Unclip primary, route long hose, reclip primary
11. Check backup lights correctly stowed and off
12. Turn on, check, turn off primary light
13. Enter water
14. buddy gear check. Your buddy/team mates should understand your gear configuration in order to properly perform a pre-dive mutual gear check. This is important if you are not diving the same configuration or if your buddy is not a "long hose diver".
15. While standing in the water, test your deployment of the long hose, this will ensure the host is routed correctly and that there is nothing over the top of it (harness, light cable, etc). I also test deployment of my cutting tools and check the contents of my pockets (e.g. lift bag and spool, wet notes, double enders, etc)

 

[muddiver]

Do you have that on a leg board or a USAF approved flip chart?