5ft or 7ft hose for DIR setup

[Sas]

I've tried 5', 6' & 7' hoses & own them all. 5' is ok in the tropics when there is no light can, 6' hose works ok, but is a little short when routed under the can.

If the hose is not long enough to route under the canister, like a 5', is there some reason you need to have it routed under the canister? I have used 5' hose with canister and I just have it across my chest, not under the canister.

I'm just curious if that is required for any reason for you.

 

[Gombessa]

If the hose is not long enough to route under the canister, like a 5', is there some reason you need to have it routed under the canister? I have used 5' hose with canister and I just have it across my chest, not under the canister.

No you wouldn't, and unless you're particularly petit, you probably wouldn't be able get a 5ft to route under a can. I don't think Kathy said she tried using a 5ft with a canister. A 6ft may be long enough for her where NOT routing it presents more of a problem than routing it (if you don't route or tuck it, you may catch the loop behind the isolator, or the length that goes across your chest may be annoyingly saggy/floppy, and can catch on stuff as you swim by).

For a lot of long-hose divers, a 5f works great for when you're not using a canister light. But whenever you are, there's little reason not to simply go with the 7. You can use the 7 without a can light (routing is a bit of a pain but manageable), but I rarely hear of anyone diving a can light with a 5ft hose.

 

[Sas]

No you wouldn't, and unless you're particularly petit, you probably wouldn't be able get a 5ft to route under a can. I don't think Kathy said she tried using a 5ft with a canister. A 6ft may be long enough for her where NOT routing it presents more of a problem than routing it (if you don't route or tuck it, you may catch the loop behind the isolator, or the length that goes across your chest may be annoyingly saggy/floppy, and can catch on stuff as you swim by).

I was more wondering about this: "5' is ok in the tropics when there is no light can"

Why is 5' not ok when there is a can light? Or have I misinterpreted her post?

For a lot of long-hose divers, a 5f works great for when you're not using a canister light. But whenever you are, there's little reason not to simply go with the 7. You can use the 7 without a can light (routing is a bit of a pain but manageable), but I rarely hear of anyone diving a can light with a 5ft hose.

I think in open water environment there is little reason not to go with a 5' hose or a 7' hose. Either or, really and comes down to personal preference. I don't think either one of them in an open water environment has a clear advantage over the other.

 

[eelnoraa]

https://www.deepseasupply.com/index.php?product=1335

It's kinda funny, but before I had a can light, I really wanted something like this.

This is indeed funny. Never thought of such a product exists.

 

[kathydee]

If the hose is not long enough to route under the canister, like a 5', is there some reason you need to have it routed under the canister? I have used 5' hose with canister and I just have it across my chest, not under the canister.

I'm just curious if that is required for any reason for you.

I have never considered diving a 5' hose with a light canister because I find it just as easy and streamline to route the extra foot or so under the can -- and in many situations I'd rather have more hose than less -- even at the recreation level.

I dove the 5' hose when I was new to the long hose & before I owned a light canister. At the time, executing a proper S drill without the extra tuck was enough of a challenge.

250 dives and many S drills later, if I dove without a light canister today -- I probably would just use the 7' and a single tuck.

I don't think Kathy said she tried using a 5ft with a canister. A 6ft may be long enough for her where NOT routing it presents more of a problem than routing it (if you don't route or tuck it, you may catch the loop behind the isolator, or the length that goes across your chest may be annoyingly saggy/floppy, and can catch on stuff as you swim by).

For a lot of long-hose divers, a 5f works great for when you're not using a canister light. But whenever you are, there's little reason not to simply go with the 7. You can use the 7 without a can light (routing is a bit of a pain but manageable), but I rarely hear of anyone diving a can light with a 5ft hose.

Thanks Kenn.

 

[Rainer]

I think in open water environment there is little reason not to go with a 5' hose or a 7' hose. Either or, really and comes down to personal preference. I don't think either one of them in an open water environment has a clear advantage over the other.

Depends on what you envision an "open water environment" to be, I guess. For thirds dives in open water (i.e. where getting back to the anchor/mooring/shot line is paramount--e.g. busy shipping lanes, areas with floating gill nets, heavy fog, etc), it's nice to know that swimming in single file on a line is possible.

The extra 2' also allow you to move through kelp more easily (where you often want to go single file). Sometimes the best recourse isn't an immediate ascent...

A 7' hose also allows you to tow out in an OOG on scooters. It'd probably be pretty tight with a 5' hose.

In general, though, I agree, not much practical difference apart from consistency, which unlike you, I find to be a mildly compelling reason to stay with the 7' hose if you can make it work easily.

 

[Rainer]

My wife was given one of these to use for her OW class before she started using an actual can light.

This is indeed funny. Never thought of such a product exists.

 

[Sas]

Depends on what you envision an "open water environment" to be, I guess. For thirds dives in open water (i.e. where getting back to the anchor/mooring/shot line is paramount--e.g. busy shipping lanes, areas with floating gill nets, heavy fog, etc), it's nice to know that swimming in single file on a line is possible.

The extra 2' also allow you to move through kelp more easily (where you often want to go single file). Sometimes the best recourse isn't an immediate ascent...

A 7' hose also allows you to tow out in an OOG on scooters. It'd probably be pretty tight with a 5' hose.

In general, though, I agree, not much practical difference apart from consistency, which unlike you, I find to be a mildly compelling reason to stay with the 7' hose if you can make it work easily.

Yea sure I think part of it is environmental reasons. I don't have a scooter and nearly all of my dives are done off a live boat (unless I'm shore diving of course ) so generally I never need to get back to a particular spot. Same with most of the people I know (nearly everyone I dive with regularly have 5' hoses actually).

I know what you are saying about consistency, but I just personally don't find it a problem to switch between the two setups I have.

I dove the 5' hose when I was new to the long hose & before I owned a light canister. At the time, executing a proper S drill without the extra tuck was enough of a challenge.

250 dives and many S drills later, if I dove without a light canister today -- I probably would just use the 7' and a single tuck

I'm sorry, I don't know what you mean by 'extra tuck'? What exactly are you referring to?

 

[Gombessa]

Why is 5' not ok when there is a can light? Or have I misinterpreted her post?

I guess I should let Kathy speak for herself. My assumption is that most DIR divers would prefer to dive the standard 7ft hose in any OW environment (and I imagine some don't), but not having a can light makes the routing enough of a pain to where a 5ft is a fine substitute.

I think in open water environment there is little reason not to go with a 5' hose or a 7' hose. Either or, really and comes down to personal preference. I don't think either one of them in an open water environment has a clear advantage over the other.

I guess that depends on your perspective. I too believe that a 5ft is just fine, lengthwise, in open water. However, I highly prefer the benefits of a 7ft--my buddies and I will frequently set aside a few minutes to practice (s-drills, air-share ascents, etc.) and having the 7ft actually makes a big difference in terms of being able to maintain your distance and team contact. I'd imagine in a real situation, once the emergency has been averted, that extra length would be appreciated for the same benefits. As far as getting gas to an OOG diver during that real emergency and managing an ascent, I'm sure anything "standard octo-length" or longer will allow you to effectively donate and manage.

 

[Tortuga68]

Why is 5' not ok when there is a can light?

You wind up with the hose under the can light cord or vice versa - not good when you deploy and even worse if you use a Goodman handle