AIR2, inflator octo+ thingie questions?

[*Floater*]

I've always been fascinated by these things. I've never used one, but the idea of one less hose and a more minimalist rig appeals to me.

However I have a few questions:

1. Which brands are helf in best regarded? Which to avoid?

2. Which brands are easiest to self service? Can you get service kits and a manual for them? (Where?)

3. Which brands can you open up underwater (without tools) to remove debris if necessary?

4. How long a corrugated hose is recommended?

5. Can anyone see an issue if you run the inflator/octo from the left on a bungee necklace instead of the right like a regular backup? (The longhose would cross on top of the corrugated/inflator/backup hose, but I don't think this should be a problem).

6. Can you orally inflate your wing from one of these? (Which brands and is there some trick to it?)

7. What if you need to disconnect the inflator hose due to some problem, can you then still breathe the gas left in the wing through your octo?

I'm probably not going to bother installing one, but just asking for future reference in case I happen to see one on ebay for dirt cheap.

 

[victor]

I have had an AIR2 for 10+ years.

1. Only one I have used is an AIR2
2. Never tried, but as scubapro and the AIR2 have been around long enough it should be readinly available.
3. Never necessary, cannot imagine any situation where you would need to, for either primary/secondary reg or inflator.
4. Only slightly longer than normal, I have never changed mine so it is slightly short if I twist my head as far as I can to the right.
5. Not sure I understand this
6. Yes with the AIR2, just breath in, switch to AIR2, press the deflate button and breathe out.
7. Loads of recomendation to never breathe from your BCD. Some very nasty bacteria can grow in there even if you clean it regularly. However if it was a last chance, no other air available, yes you could.

Last but not least. Regs are your life support system underwater. If you believe that your life is cheap then buy dirt cheap from ebay. :no
Personally I buy the best that I can afford and I look after it.

 

[*Floater*]

3. Never necessary, cannot imagine any situation where you would need to, for either primary/secondary reg or inflator.

It's a DIR requirement for a reg; to be able to unscrew the top with your hands. One story I heard was that someone threw up into the reg (primary in this case), clogged it up, and had to open it up and clear it underwater. I agree the backup is unlikely to get clogged up, but it would be nice to have the option to open it up underwater just in case. Can you uncrew the AIR2 open with your hand?

5. Not sure I understand this

I like to hang my backup from the neck on a bungee necklace. With a normal backup I run it over the right shoulder, but I run the inflator over the left shoulder. If I were to combine the two, then I think it would be better to run them over the left shoulder because the air2's seem to be made for the left side use, but I'm just wondering if doing it that way would interfere with my 7 ft primary hose which I run across the chest, over the left shoulder and behind the neck to my mouth.

I don't want to leave the inflator/octo hanging there like a normal inflator hose because I would need something longer than the 14" corrugated hose I'm used to in order to be able to move my head freely with it in my mouth and I wouldn't want the longer hose to hang down there creating drag and getting in the way of my left chest D-ring and things I put there.

Last but not least. Regs are your life support system underwater. If you believe that your life is cheap then buy dirt cheap from ebay. :no
Personally I buy the best that I can afford and I look after it.

I know, but I just want to try it out. I cannot justify spending a lot since my current regular backup works fine and also if I don't like the air2 then I'll have wasted my money.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[DennisW]

If you are DIR and show up with an Air 2, expect to get a lot of grief.

 

[*Floater*]

If you are DIR and show up with an Air 2, expect to get a lot of grief.

I'm not DIR, I just like most of their ideas and system, but I want to try out other things too for myself to have educated opinions about these things.

 

[Hoosier]

Interesting!!!

Dir diver is interested in Air 2? Just kidding

Please don’t debate on Air 2 this thread. We had enough …
For the info. wise, here are my answers:

• ScubaPro. As I know, SP has manufactured Air 2 for a long time compared to any other brands. I was told that Atomic is also nice and good. Why not? They are the former SP technicians, but pricey and hard to get the part.
• ScubaPro and Tusa. They are the same product except the cosmetic. Tusa are making ScubaPro one, too. LOL~~~
• ScubaPro Air 2. Air 2 is also using a pin for the cover like R190 that is compatible with Dir configuration
• 16inch. Otherwise, you will be experiencing the jaw fatigue. You can get the shorter one from the Diveriteexpress.com. I also have a 12inch corrugated hose and Air 2, but you need to get the shorter Air 2 hose, too. SP is only making one length, so you need to get the Air 2 hose adaptor and a BC inflator hose on your preferred length.
• Yes/No. You need to get at least 16in hose for this thought. And, it isn’t easy fully to deflate BC from this set up..
• Of course…..
• Of course….

This is a reg. set up, not tech setup (deco and cave). So, please don’t BS other Air 2 lovers


BTW, Air 2 on ebay isn't a dirty cheap any more.

$70 including a shipping plus a kit and service. It will be easily end up $100. Sometimes, you have to get the Air 2 hose separately.....

The service is an essential for any equipments off the ebay.. Yeah, you will be surprised at what is inside.... LOL~~`

 

[ZzzKing]

1. Which brands are helf in best regarded? Which to avoid?

I have an Atomic Aquatics SS-1. I think it is one of the most recent additions to the market and it breathes really well. It can be unscrewed from your inflator hose, making it very easy to clean and dry the inside of your wing. It also makes it very easy to rinse the inflator/octo, itself. Unscrew, turn the hose in there and push all the buttons until it's flushed well.

2. Which brands are easiest to self service? Can you get service kits and a manual for them? (Where?)

I bought mine at Scubatoys but they only sell them over the counter. I haven't bought a service kit for it since I don't do my own servicing. I will try to get one for my upcoming trip to Belize, though, just in case. You might be able to download one from the Atomic Aquatics website. I'm pretty sure you can download a manual for DiveRite's too.

3. Which brands can you open up underwater (without tools) to remove debris if necessary?

Not the SS-1. At least not easily. the DiveRite one has a metal band around it and may be capable of this. Not sure.

4. How long a corrugated hose is recommended?

Mine seems longer that a standard hose and allows good head mobility. Not sure of the length. (My wife tells me length doesn't matter. She may be just telling me that to make me feel better.) It tends to hang down when I'm horizontal (The octo/inflator, silly! Get your mind out of the gutter!)so I have a little magnet thingy that ties it back to my harness and keeps it out of the way until needed.

5. Can anyone see an issue if you run the inflator/octo from the left on a bungee necklace instead of the right like a regular backup? (The longhose would cross on top of the corrugated/inflator/backup hose, but I don't think this should be a problem).

No problem here. I use a 5' hose wrapped around and over the inflator hose (singles OW rig). No conflict. When you hand off the long hose it is no longer in the way.

6. Can you orally inflate your wing from one of these? (Which brands and is there some trick to it?)

Works just like any other power inflator. You push the button and blow. Venting your wing while breathing is easily accomplished by depressing the button about half-way.

7. What if you need to disconnect the inflator hose due to some problem, can you then still breathe the gas left in the wing through your octo?

Yes. It works exactly like any other power inflator in this regard. You can still orally inflate the wing, too. The only problem is that you have now lost your safe second and should probably thumb the dive unless you have a bailout bottle or some contingency plan (i.e. buddy nearby).

I'm probably not going to bother installing one, but just asking for future reference in case I happen to see one on ebay for dirt cheap.

You will DIE if you use any gear purchased on Ebay. Of course you will DIE if you use an octo/inflator, too. Seems you may be cheating the grim reaper by only dying once despite making two crazy decisions. hehehe...

 

[DennisW]

I didn't want to start a debate, just a friendly warning. I have been using an Air 2 since 1988.

 

[bperrybap]

..... I have a little magnet thingy that ties it back to my harness and keeps it out of the way until needed.

This sounds interesting to me. What exactly are you using for
this?

--- bill

 

[ZzzKing]

This sounds interesting to me. What exactly are you using for
this?

--- bill

It has two pieces with a magnet in each that nest together. It is really a holder for a trout net that I modified for use on my SCUBA gear. (I've had it for years and have no idea where I got it.) When they get within about an inch of each other, they jump together and hold well but are easy to separate with a little tug. No silly octo holder thing that is difficult to deploy and stow. I saw something similar on a photo on ScubaBoard about six months ago from some guy in Scandanavia someplace. I e-mailed him to ask about it and he said it is pretty common over there. Don't recall who it was.

Edit: Just looked in my in box and it was a guy named Ed, screen name 300Bar Diver. He's not in Scandanavia, though, he's in the Netherlands. Said he's seen them in Bonaire, also. An excellent excuse to do some travelling, I'd say.