Alternate Air Inflators

[coevan]

These inflators are more popular, but are they better. Yes, you have one less hose dangling, but is safety a factor? I have spoke with dive masters who think they can be dangerous if your dive buddy grabs your altenate air source and accidently pushes the inflator button. I am in the process of getting new equipment. What do you all think? Octopus or Alternate Air Inflator?

 

[sharkattack]

I agree. I also don't think you want an Octopus. You want the same high quality regulator as a back-up as you use for your primary. A 39.99 cheapo Octo is what it is. Cheap 39.99. Ever suck on one of those at depth? Like sucking through a straw.

 

[FoSheZZie23]

I love the idea of an inflator hose/ octo all in one.
If i did it over again I would buy the Atomic SS1 i have heard is awesome

I wouldnt say there is a danger of another diver grabbing it because i would think you would be aware of the situation around you, if they did grab it, its not to hard to dump air either. On 99% of the occasions you have to give someone a reg of yours you would give them your primary in a controled way. (even if they were panicing they should grab the one out of your mouth.

So all in all, if i had an extra $200 or whatever they cost i would buy one. But a normal octo works just fine. One consern that i might have with the dual purpose inflator/octo is if for some reason it fails. I dont know the technicalities of the reg but it might be two seperate systems so if one fails the other doesnt. Again i dont know the technicalities of it but that would be my only consern.

Buy the SS1!!!!!

 

[FoSheZZie23]

I agree. I also don't think you want an Octopus. You want the same high quality regulator as a back-up as you use for your primary. A 39.99 cheapo Octo is what it is. Cheap 39.99. Ever suck on one of those at depth? Like sucking through a straw.

?? 39.99$ octo or dualpurpose inflator/octo

 

[coevan]

A good secondary reg is around $100, less then $200 for the air inflator. I don't think I ever saw a $39. octo, maybe used on ebay.

 

[sharkattack]

?? 39.99$ octo or dualpurpose inflator/octo

Octo. My point being if your going to buy an "Octo", buy a high end 2nd stage to use as an "Octo". Not the Bright yellow thing that says Octo on it. Whatever regulator set up your running, buy a matching 2nd stage. The same you use as a primary.

IMHO Air2's and Air Sources are fine and dandy till you need to assist in a rescue or worse, need rescuing yourself. If your not familiar with them, it can get kind of tricky trying to figure out what button does what. maybe not to the owner but to a buddy who doesn't use the equipment....in an emergency? just a thought

 

[teamgs]

I learned with an AIR2, and used on one my first few dives. It worked great! However, after reading this forum, I decided to puchase an octo setup for both my wife and I when we got our gear. The main reason is that with an AIR2, you donate your primary to your OOA buddy. Now you have to either remove your AIR2 from your mouth to vent your BC as you ascend, or use a shoulder dump valve. I thought that this might be just a little much of a task load for my wife, as she is still a little tentative with diving. I also got an octo for myself, so that we would have the same setup.

While I am FAR from an expert diver, I don't personally subscribe to the philosophy that the octo needs to be equal to the primary. I believe that it should function properly in the conditions you are diving, but doesn't necessarily need to be as "dry" as your primary, nor equal in breathing effort. IMHO, as long as the octo will get you safely to the surface in an OOA situation, then it serves it's purpose.

Regards,

Gary

 

[rottielover]

You should check out the Gear issue of Sport Diver mag, they had a whole 1 or 2 pages on Octo's, some of which cost more for the octo than I spent on my primary and my octo combined!!!

If your looking for a suggestion, I'll stick my neck out and tell you I like and own, the Aqualung ABS octo. Doesn't feel like a straw at depth, yes there is a notable difference between my primary and my octo, but not so much that I wouldn't trust it to deliver air when needed. Part of the beauty of the ABS octo is it's simplicity.

It's exhaust is angled and helps when sharing air, and it's "thin" so when it's clipped up it's not sticking out so far you catch things on it.

Just my 2 cents, I'm sure others will have other recomendations.

Hope That Helps

 

[mred]

I would check with my LDS ... talk to them, and actually look at the thing, hold it, and try it out ... see if you like it or not

 

[DoItRite]

I think the best thing to do to prevent misuse of an alternate air inflator is to brief your buddy on emergency procedures. Just like tech divers practicing an "s" drill, practicing an out of air situation before a dive is a great idea.