air2 vs. normal octo

[EllyBell]

Before I start, yes I did do a thread search, but didn't find anything specific to my question.

I am going to be purchasing a BCD soon and am wondering if there is any real advantages/disadvantages of having either Air2 or a normal octo. The BCD I'm thinking of purchasing has either option, just Air2 is a bit more expensive. I don't have enough dive expericen under by belt to really have an opinion having only used a BCD with a normal octo.

And suggestions, advice?

 

[Doc Intrepid]

Hi Elly,

Air 2 units are a hot button topic, with many divergent opinions.

Mine happens to be that regulators mounted on BCs are often not as well cared for as regulators on tanks.

Another pragmatic issue is that - in the event of an OOA incident - you would ostensibly be donating the reg in your mouth, putting your BC-mounted Air2 in your own mouth, and ascending. The short hose on your primary second stage is going to ensure that this process will be conducted with you in extremely close proximity to whomever is on your primary second stage.

Air2's and similar units work fine in recreational diving. Like many other things, they demand that you are familiar and proficient with their deployment, and that you maintain them so that they're reliable.

I personally prefer a secondary second stage on a bungee around my neck to an Air2 unit - having used both. I find that secondary second stages are more useful in a wider range of diving environments (e.g. wreck diving, for example - it might be tough to maintain such close proximity while exiting a confined space, if your buddy ever went OOA inside an confined space of any sort. In fact, that shouldn't ever happen for all sorts of reasons we won't discuss here, but oddly enough many things occur underwater that shouldn't).

But Air2 units work fine, and if its your decision to go with one then ensure you maintain it properly and it will serve you well.

Welcome to ScubaBoard! Don't hesitate to ask any questions that come to mind.

Doc

 

[tk trekers]

The Air2 is somewhat difficult to use for any amount of time, it is an extra cost when it is time for service (though this balances out with the cost of servicing two regs) and many people will tell you it is also an additional source for a potential failure.

The Air2 will make you more streamlined and you have less dangling hoses to potentially snag on something. If a buddy is out of air, you donate your primary (or if they have ripped it from your mouth) and put the Air2 in to do your ascent. It may be cheaper than buying a decent octo as well.

Aside from that, I do have one on my BC and I use an octo. The BC I purchased had it to begin with as I would not have paid extra to have it. My sole reason for leaving it on is that I dive with my son and my wife and if something really bad happened I figure that I can get both of them to the surface on my air alone. If I get to the point where I am only diving with one other person, I will probably take it off.

 

[djanni]

Before I start, yes I did do a thread search, but didn't find anything specific to my question.

I am going to be purchasing a BCD soon and am wondering if there is any real advantages/disadvantages of having either Air2 or a normal octo. The BCD I'm thinking of purchasing has either option, just Air2 is a bit more expensive. I don't have enough dive expericen under by belt to really have an opinion having only used a BCD with a normal octo.

And suggestions, advice?

I've never breathed from an Air2 but I do use the same thing by Atomic - the SS1. The SS1 breathes nearly as well as my Atomic B2 primary. I like it a lot. Elimates a hose. Easy to reach. Easy to use. Easy to donate the primary. After using it for some 6 years now I'd hate to have go back to standard octo. Especially one hanging around my neck.
If I have to donate my primary then the dive's over for me anyway so I wouldn't be having to use it for any extended period of time.

 

[RAWalker]

I have dived with both standard octo and the inflator octo style.
As with any piece of diving equipment you must be familiar and practice in it's safe use.
The advantages of the inflator octo is that it is always close at hand and easy to find. It can't get loose from it's mounting point so you can rely on it being where you can get to it. It eliminates the extra hose for the standard octo. It is more streamline. If a standard octo becomes dislodge from it's mounting it can drag or become hung up on sensitive environment and become a hazzard to both the diiver and environment.
As for the complaints about using a inflator octo...

Some don't breath well on the other hand some breath as well or better than many primary second stages.

The limit head movement. This can be overcome with a longer inflator hose but since you are ending a dive when this device is used, this is a minor inconvienence that is over in minutes and hopefully is rarely or never necessary.

Since you are donating your primary you need to switch regs. Yes this is a fact but in a real out of air situation the OOA diver often grabs the primary anyway. If your octo is easy to find you'll have a easier time dealing with it. If the Octo is knocked loose you have to deal with it The octo inflator being at hand makes the reg exchange quick and simple.

THe primary second stage hose is short keeping the divers close together during the OOA situation making things more difficult. Again this will hopefully be a situation you don't experience but if you do it should be just the time it takes to surface safely. Many people are taught that the donor diver is suppose take control of the dive including hold on to the other divers harness. This is same distance that the primary second stage hose can cover anyway. Again longer hoses can be purchased.

In the end it becomes a choice where you must think of your preference balanced by the environments your be diving in. While and after making your decision you must prepare yourself for the eventuality of its use.

My choice is the Octo inflator style. I have inreased my primary second stage hose to 5' but have not found increasing the inflator hose length necessary. I do practice switching regs regularly and have even done the occational OOA drill.

 

[fdog]

...You're talking about a lot of money here, soooo....

Try before you buy.

I'm serious. Find someone (or a shop) that has one that's already set up. Most shops will let you tag along when they have a pool session, especially if you're buying a hunk of stuff.

Do some out-of-air drills. Especially: ascend, breathing off the Air2, while you dump air out of the BC.

On the bottom, adjust your buoyancy to a perfect neutral, while breathing off the Air2.

After that, make your decision. An integrated octo isn't for everyone; for some, it's perfect.


All the best, James

 

[RAWalker]

...You're talking about a lot of money here, soooo....

Try before you buy.

I'm serious. Find someone (or a shop) that has one that's already set up. Most shops will let you tag along when they have a pool session, especially if you're buying a hunk of stuff.

Do some out-of-air drills. Especially: ascend, breathing off the Air2, while you dump air out of the BC.

On the bottom, adjust your buoyancy to a perfect neutral, while breathing off the Air2.

After that, make your decision. An integrated octo isn't for everyone; for some, it's perfect.


All the best, James

While I agree that trying one out is helpful.
And dumping air while breathing on one is a necessary skill. ( Hint: Use the BC dump valves)
Adjusting for neutral buoyancy is not. If you find yourself in a real OOA situation you'll be dumping air to control the accent to surfacing at a safe rate. On the surface it is no longer needed for breathing it is just an inflator.
I also agree it isn't for everyone but for recreational diving it is a solid choice.

 

[dori fish]

1 is try b4 u buy
2 is think about cost
3 enviroment, warm reefs an octo inflator is perfect, wrecks i would say have both b/c your buddy is going to go for the closest one, and just incase your primary fails and buddy runs ooa you have something to breathe with and so does he
personally i don't own a b.c. system yet and still looking but this question has popped into my head a bunch of times, i now own a reg set with a normal octo

any suggestions for a b.c. system, my preference is a bp/w

 

[TSandM]

One thing you should know is that the inflator hose to an Air2 is not standard. Should you forget to bring your BC on a trip, your regulator won't work on a rental unless the LP inflator hose is replaced. Similarly, should your reg malfunction, you may be unable to find any regulator at a resort that is compatible with your BC, and you may have to rent one of those, too.

I started out with an Air2, on the thought that getting rid of one hose would streamline and simplify my gear. I did not like the very long and bulky inflator, and I did not like using it for air-sharing. I now use a bungied necklace regulator and I'm much happier.

You might find a thread entitled, "What did you buy that you regret?" interesting.

 

[promocop]

I had an SS1 on a rig, sold it and went back to an octo and wired SPG. Hated it. Sold it, went back to SS1 and wireless (SOL) and less hoses. I'm happy again. FOR ME, the unincumbered feeling of not having all those hoses and ones around my neck (very popular now, but not for me) was worth it. FOR ME, the most improtant drill inn OOA emerg, is 'ditch and recover' and having my budddy breath off my PRIMARY and me breathing off my SS1