A tale of three regs

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ReefGuy

Contributor
Scuba Instructor
Divemaster
Messages
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Location
Punta Gorda, Fl.
# of dives
500 - 999
I'm sitting on a fence here, and would like some considered opinions.

I have three regs, Titan LX primary and secondary, an Auqalung octo, and an Air Source.

I started out with the LX and Air Source, and liked it a lot. Then on a dive, the hose got damaged to the Air Source, and I took it to the LDS for replacement. The hose was on back order, so I bought the octo, and continued to dive with it for the past several months.

I now have the Air Source back, and am trying to make a decision as to what to do.

I could use all three, but that just adds complexity with no gain - with the added risk that there are three regs that could freeflow instead of two.

I could drop the air source, but I really don't like the extra hose. I intend to go with a 7' primary hose, and will expect to donate my primary when necessary anyway.

Or, I could drop the octo. I like the Air Source, but I know that a lot of people don't. Are there REALLY any good reasons against them? I've used mine comfortably as deep as 115' without issue.

Opinions???
 
ReefGuy:
I'm sitting on a fence here, and would like some considered opinions.

I have three regs, Titan LX primary and secondary, an Auqalung octo, and an Air Source.

I started out with the LX and Air Source, and liked it a lot. Then on a dive, the hose got damaged to the Air Source, and I took it to the LDS for replacement. The hose was on back order, so I bought the octo, and continued to dive with it for the past several months.

I now have the Air Source back, and am trying to make a decision as to what to do.

I could use all three, but that just adds complexity with no gain - with the added risk that there are three regs that could freeflow instead of two.

I could drop the air source, but I really don't like the extra hose. I intend to go with a 7' primary hose, and will expect to donate my primary when necessary anyway.

Or, I could drop the octo. I like the Air Source, but I know that a lot of people don't. Are there REALLY any good reasons against them? I've used mine comfortably as deep as 115' without issue.

Opinions???

I dove for years with something like an airsource. They work ok and they have the major advantage over the "traditional" octopus that you always know for sure where it is. .... However, I think a well placed octopus works better because you don't have to take it out of your mouth to vent on the ascent. If you're going with the 7ft hose then my advice would be to bungie the octopus and dump the airsource.

R..
 
I would dump the airsource too... Makes air sharing and ascending at the same time interesting to say the least. I just never liked them because they are so finicky... And the fact that I hate taking them apart to fix em...
 
I was on the fence like yourself because I secretly liked my Air2. Despite the harsh opinions I read on this board, I felt that it worked well and reduced the number of hoses on my rig. OOA drills were a little awkward, but nothing that would cause me to toss the Air2.

My opinion changed when I had an OOA with an AOW student from 60ft. He and I were stressed out. This was my first dive with him. Things went to crap very quickly. 1) He doesn't signal OOA, but swims up to me frantically looking for my octo. He has never done an OOA with an Air2, so we waste time establishing his OOA. 1) After I donate my primary, his buoyancy goes to crap and he starts drifting up almost losing my primary. I have to grab him with both hands. 2) He calms down, but I forget to vent my BCD. By the time I realize to pull my dump valve, we breach the surface. Diving is OVER for the day.

Normally, I vent my BCD holding my Air2 in my left hand over my head as I was trained to do. In the OOA, I had to change what I do just for this situation. As a result, I guess it shouldn't have been a surprise that my "training" broke down. Some people who have Air2 get around this ingrained habit of using their Air2 to dump air by using the pull dump valves on the right shoulder.

I still like Air2 and I think it probably has a place in rec diving. I've seen octo's dragged in the muck, etc. Air2 seems to solve some of the problems associated with octo's. But, I've now gone over to a primary on a 7 ft hose with a bungied secondary around my neck and sold my Air2. It's not that I want to be a techie. But, OOA drills feel more fluid to me with less worries about task loading. I give the primary with one hand and with the other, I'm reaching for the octo around my neck. Simple.

I don't know if this is for everyone. Scuba is such an individualized sport that everyone has strong opinions of everything. But, if you're going with the 7 ft primary, then your Airsource will probably go. There isn't much point in servicing three 2nd stages when you only need two. Try some drills and see what is more comfortable for yourself. For me, I can't say enough good things about the bungied octo around the neck.
 
Hantzu, I breathe off my secondary on every dive, but have wondered about an actual ooa. What you are saying makes sense, although when using the airsource, I did vent by pulling for exactly the reason you are describing, but it was still a little awkward.
 

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