7 foot hose Rec. Diving?

[nereas]

The 7 foot hose is your primary anyway. If the agencies wanted to teach the long hose, they certainly could. Everyone goes into diving with a blank mental slate about how the equipment works. It would not make a bit of difference to a new diver whether they had a long hose or not.

IF ... ... ... .

[The famous Spartan laconic reply, If. ]

I happen to believe that getting the agencies to do anything is like moving a mountain. That then is the "if" part. And then, getting all the agencies to do anything, ... unthinkable. At any rate, the ITC should cover that.

 

[Blackwood]

So what's the buoyancy characteristics of kevlar?

Depends on the weave.

 

[bottomfeeder22]

Depends on the weave.

Are we talking about African kevlar, or European?

 

[daniel f aleman]

For those who adopt primary reg donation in OOA stiuations in open water, the 5' hose will became the standard, as it functions as a 7' without the unnecesary extra 2'.

 

[nereas]

For those who adopt primary reg donation in OOA stiuations in open water, the 5' hose will became the standard, as it functions as a 7' without the unnecesary extra 2'.

You can just as easily accomplish that (primary reg donation) with a 40 inch hose.

There is nothing magical about 5 ft, 6 ft, 7 ft, 9 ft, or 150 ft.

 

[daniel f aleman]

You can just as easily accomplish that (primary reg donation) with a 40 inch hose.

There is nothing magical about 5 ft, 6 ft, 7 ft, 9 ft, or 150 ft.

Agree completely. I just do not like, or teach, the use of the 7' hose for open water or any recreational diving - I offer instruction with the 5' for those who want to use the primary for OAA situations. As a working DM, I change my rig depending on whom I am diving with - I'll use the OOA system that my clients/buddies use.

 

[floundergirl]

I have a long hose now too and some rec divers think it's ridiculous looking. But if you do have to hand off air to a buddy you'll have more distance between them b/c you'll hand off your primary and breathe off your alternate. panicked divers tend to grab the reg in your mouth anyways, so might as well have a long hose on it. just make sure it's on the top and nothing blocks it from coming off smoothly. if you carry a reel on a clip or something like it then you can loop it under your right arm and under the reel then around your neck. and yes a reg necklace or some type of shock cord, not necessarily surgical tubing, will keep it close if you drop it out of your mouth.

later.

 

[rk1]

Is there anything wrong with having a 7foot hose when recreational diving?
Any special considerations etc.? I am diving a single 80 Alu tank on a Zeagle Ranger.?????

Thanks! to those that have tried to answer my question.
I will refrain from saying anything regarding the people that might be of some value if they actually spent their time and energy trying to help answer the question asked instead of getting lost in their mixed up minds and games.

 

[The Horn]

Is there anything wrong with having a 7foot hose when recreational diving?
Any special considerations etc.? I am diving a single 80 Alu tank on a Zeagle Ranger.?????

Absolutely nothing! I have the same set up. Just have to change weights if singles or doubles or steel/al...............who cares have fun..........!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Abbo]

I have never met anyone who does cave, wreck or deep technical diving who does not use a 7 foot hose - except rebreather divers (who carry sling tanks instead).
if you're doing that kind of diving it makes a lot of sense. If you're newer to diving, and are still getting used to the underwater world, it makes less sense: the 7 foot hose takes a little getting used to, and can float up and get in the way a little until you're accustomed. It shouldn't be a fashion statement: use it only if the benefits outweight the entanglement hazard.

The benefits:
1. If your out-of-air buddy is panicked, the last place you want him is in your pocket. "Here's your air, now get away from me till you've calmed down!". Tech divers are not usually in that kind of a flap, but it's something to bear in mind.
2. The main reason for a long hose, though, is for going through constrictions. If you are on a short hose sharing air and you both have to squeeze through a tight hatchway or passage on a wreck or cave, you will want to go one in front of the other: usually, the one receiving the air goes in front. If you have tried it, it takes a little practice even with a long hose: I would not like to have to try it with a short one. These things are stressful at the best of times.

I use surgical hose to strap my secondary reg under my chin. I would recommend doing this whether you use the long hose method or not: then you always know where it is when you need it in a hurry. And it prevents your secondary dangling down in sand and getting gunk in it - or becoming an entanglement hazard when it gets caught in something.

Don't tie the secondary too tightly to the necklace: if you pull on it it should come loose.

In the end, it's your choice. If these arguments don't convince you, don't do it. Look at other people's gear: ask them why they chose a piece of kit, and why they rigged it in the way they did. But this above all else: never listen to ANYONE who tells you there's only one way of doing things. Adjust your equipment set-up little by little, getting used to each change before you change it more.