5ft or 7ft hose for DIR setup

[fisheater]

7' works great for me and I dive single tanks. Also, you be in a virtual overhead, even when not in a cave, cavern or wreck, such as in kelp or around boaters. There, the extra 2 feet are handy when swimming horizontally with the OOG diver.

I've not had stowage issues with my 7' Miflex, even before I started using a can light.

 

[bamamedic]

No issues with my 7 foot hose in a single cylinder, but I do tuck it under my can light. I've got a buddy who dives without a can light; he just tucks it in his waist strap and it hasn't been an issue so far.

I really do prefer the way a 7 foot hose routes, as opposed to my 5 foot hose. The 5 foot hose winds up tucked under my armpit a bit too closely, and while it's not uncomfortable, it's just less cumbersome routing a 7 foot hose. Even in a single tank, I never had problems with the extra length, and I'm an itty bitty girl

 

[BB1]

If you don't have a can light on your right hip area, a lot of people tuck the long hose under either a knife or bellows pocket that is slid onto the harness. Both Halcyon and Dive Rite make one.

The bellows pocket is my plan as well....

 

[elan]

7ft !!!! The 7 feet long hose provides you with a good safety margin for reaching the other diver if they are in a small confined space, and once in the open, your control and swimming are not hampered by constantly bumping in to the other diver who is pulled too close by a short hose (e.g. in a current or during decompression)

Confined space ? On a single tank ? During decompression ?

to the OP: while 5ft works in OW I found found it get in the way of D-ring a lot and interferes with all operations with that ring. while it's manageable it's kind of annoying. I eventually switched to 7ft on single tank and was much happier.

 

[Tortuga68]

If you don't have a can light on your right hip area, a lot of people tuck the long hose under either a knife or bellows pocket that is slid onto the harness

Why create a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. Just use a 5' hose with singles

I'm not DIR and we're not in the DIR forum, but since the OP asked about DIR:

Your knife should be accesable by both hands, which means it should be on the front of your harness not the side

Your pocket should be glued to your wetsuit, not mounted on your harness

Why modify your equipment just so you can use a 7' hose when you don't need it?

If you find a benefit to the 7' hose with singles, great

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

As a few others mentioned, your instructor is a key adviser to listen to.

One thing I learned the hard way is the 5' hose is dependent on your body size since the routing is around your torso. I found being a big guy in cold water gear the 5' was a bit tight for comfort. I ended up purchasing a 2nd 6' hose, so I am odd indeed. I would expect a small person might find the 5' hose a little long, but not so long they could tuck it in.

In hind sight, if I had gone to a 7', the routing would change and it would have been a bit easier to adjust to the idea length by tucking it in/around something.

 

[ajduplessis]

Confined space ? On a single tank ? During decompression ?

.........

Confined space is not always in a cave. Have you never dived in a wreck on singles? Deco - Even though it is not a tech deco, you still have to "decompress" or off gas on your safety stop during recreational dives. It is also very easy to exceed your NDL on a single tank, thus requiring decompression stop.

 

[Dragon Eye]

I just went through the same process.... my thread was very helpful in weighing the options. In the end I went with the 7ft and am extremely happy with my decision.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/advanced-scuba-discussions/330722-little-lady-looking-long-hose.html

 

[Jax]

I used the 7ft hose for both (but I'm a big guy) and it seems that for singles it was actually a little tighter than with the doubles.

Mike, I don't understand what that means. Would you please help a noob out with understanding it?

 

[mikemill]

Mike, I don't understand what that means. Would you please help a noob out with understanding it?

I'm large enough that my 7ft hose is right up against me. With doubles it is just slightly looser.

Now Don and another poster pointed at that with doubles the reg is about 6" off center so the run is slightly shorter.