As an instructor I spend a lot of time with students in confined and open water environments, training the use of the alternate air source second stage or octopus, as it's commonly known. The most common position for the octopus is on the owner's right, attached at the front in the inverted triangle formed between the neck and waist. This position makes it available to the owner in the event of a primary second stage failure or malfunction. The problem with this location is it does not make presenting the second stage to the buddy very ergonomic. You have to grab the hose, and twist it around 180° to present the mouth piece right side up to the diver in need.
Too many times, Ive seen the octopus presented upside down and the would be diver in need gets a mouth full of water, because it won't clear up side down. Sure when you, show them the correct way (again) they get it right, but what happens in a real stress situation? More often than not if it's not simple or a natural motion, it's done wrong. We can respond with more training, drills etc, but this is one area where the technology has all ready solved the problem.
The solution is a side port second stage, similar to the old Cyklon, by Poseidon or Oceanic Omega. This style of regulator is not common in the sport industry in North America, but it should be. All manufactures should be producing a side port regulator as standard for the octopus. Think about it. This second stage doesn't care which side the supply hose is on. This second stage doesn't have an upside down, you just put it in your mouth and exhale, and it clears. What's wrong with this picture? Cost. The fact is, most of us already have an octopus, and most manufacturers bundle their own equipment with their own version of an octopus, either with a change in color, or their own low profile design. I'm guilty of this too; I don't have a Poseidon style second stage on any of my 3 regulators (pool set, open water set, or backup o/w). At approximately $100 - $150 per set up that's a hefty upgrade, especially when it will obsolete 3, second stages.
Now if manufacturers all standardized on one design (THE OCTOPUS) then there would be plenty of volume to justify the added tooling to produce it, and the price would be lower, and they could be offered to the existing industry at a discount for up grades. (Make it fit standard 2nd stage hoses, so we don't need to buy new ones with it). Make it available on a cost plus shipping to instructors, AI's, DM's, rental shops etc. This would promote the change over in the industry quickly; existing second stages would be turned in for use as primary second stage in rental or instructional gear. There are lots of possible ways to go about it.
Mike D
:blfish:
Too many times, Ive seen the octopus presented upside down and the would be diver in need gets a mouth full of water, because it won't clear up side down. Sure when you, show them the correct way (again) they get it right, but what happens in a real stress situation? More often than not if it's not simple or a natural motion, it's done wrong. We can respond with more training, drills etc, but this is one area where the technology has all ready solved the problem.
The solution is a side port second stage, similar to the old Cyklon, by Poseidon or Oceanic Omega. This style of regulator is not common in the sport industry in North America, but it should be. All manufactures should be producing a side port regulator as standard for the octopus. Think about it. This second stage doesn't care which side the supply hose is on. This second stage doesn't have an upside down, you just put it in your mouth and exhale, and it clears. What's wrong with this picture? Cost. The fact is, most of us already have an octopus, and most manufacturers bundle their own equipment with their own version of an octopus, either with a change in color, or their own low profile design. I'm guilty of this too; I don't have a Poseidon style second stage on any of my 3 regulators (pool set, open water set, or backup o/w). At approximately $100 - $150 per set up that's a hefty upgrade, especially when it will obsolete 3, second stages.
Now if manufacturers all standardized on one design (THE OCTOPUS) then there would be plenty of volume to justify the added tooling to produce it, and the price would be lower, and they could be offered to the existing industry at a discount for up grades. (Make it fit standard 2nd stage hoses, so we don't need to buy new ones with it). Make it available on a cost plus shipping to instructors, AI's, DM's, rental shops etc. This would promote the change over in the industry quickly; existing second stages would be turned in for use as primary second stage in rental or instructional gear. There are lots of possible ways to go about it.
Mike D
:blfish:
