AIR2 'legal' outside US ?

[stargost]

This is NOT a question about AIR2 vs Octo (please ;-)

But whether it is (or not) true that in some countries you are not allowed to dive with an AIR2 ?

The (European) magazine didn't specified which countries, and kind of hint that it is a global rule, which clearly is not the case in the US. I assumed it meant that if you go to a dive club/boat/or anything where you will have some kind of supervision, you will be ask to have an Octo to participate to the dive activity.

Has anyone heart about it to confirm ?

thx

 

[300bar]

Never heard of it.

But that said,it wouldn't surprise me if France had such a law.

 

[widget]

No, never heard of it either.

 

[mike_s]

The Air 3 is on the French Aqualung web page. I would imagine that if it was illegal, they wouldn't be advertising it

I know this thread title is about the Air2, but they don't show it anymore, even on the US page. I'm assuming it's been replaced by the Air3.

Aqua Lung - Professional Diving Equipment

 

[drdaddy]

This is NOT a question about AIR2 vs Octo (please ;-)

But whether it is (or not) true that in some countries you are not allowed to dive with an AIR2 ?

The (European) magazine didn't specified which countries, and kind of hint that it is a global rule, which clearly is not the case in the US. I assumed it meant that if you go to a dive club/boat/or anything where you will have some kind of supervision, you will be ask to have an Octo to participate to the dive activity.

Has anyone heart about it to confirm ?

thx

Air2 is illegal to dive with in Israel. The Israel Dive Authority (IDA) requires that you use an octopus. This is not a rumor, it is true. I have been diving Red Sea/Israel many times and my son is a PADI Instructor trained in Israel.

If you have a Air2, you will also have to mount an octopus. The ISA is a government institution and does enforce it's laws.

My thoughts about an Air2 is that it does illuminate a hose, but at a cost. In an out of air buddy dive situation, the Air2 must be used for both an inflater and regulator, which increases complications in a very stressful environment. I have one, tried it out, and will no longer use it.

Another comment about the IDA. If you are a DM or Instructor, and you want to work in Israel, you must pass an exam and be issued a license to teach.

 

[DennisW]

It's not illegal in the Netherlands Antilles, I have dived there. If you are using the Air 2 (or other combo regulator / power inflator) or any other octopus, you should not be adding any air until you get to the surface. I use my shoulder dump valve when ascending to keep the correct bouyancy as I ascend. I have used my Air 2 when someone took my primary regulator once a long time ago and I practice with it regularly. It is not a confusing or overly complicated octopus to use.

 

[ptyx]

It was a long time ago, but when I dived there, Air2 was legal in France.

FFESSM instructors were supposed to have two completely redundant regulators (i.e. two first stages and two second stages - usually on a Y valve when diving singles) - but that was the only regulation I was aware of regarding regulators.

Edit: and by regulation, I don't mean 'legal' - might have been an agency requirement

 

[OldNSalty]

Outside of things like boater/consumer safety, laws governing diving should not exist IMHO.

 

[scubafanatic]

......perhaps those AIR2 thingy's SHOULD be made illegal though ???

 

[redacted]

......perhaps those AIR2 thingy's SHOULD be made illegal though ???

Why??? They do the job OK for a recreational diver who spends a bit of time practicing required skills and drills. I finally got my wife to retire her Air2 but I'm not sure she is not going to go back.