BC Vest problem

[oatmeal7]

hate to sound like an old fart, but it seems to me that, before auto-inflaters, beginning divers learned good buoyancy control a WHOLE LOT FASTER than they do now...believe me, when you have to manually fill your BC every time you need to trim, you learn FAST!

just my $.02

 

[Web Monkey]

For any of the OOA situations I've seen, it doesn't make any difference at all. They both work sort-of-not-OK-but-probably-good-enough.

Since the Air-2 has the inflator built in, it's one less hose to have around, and won't be dragging in the dirt.

However, because it has the inflator built in, it's also very strange to use as an inflator when you're also using it as a regulator, and having all that functionality in a small package makes me a little uncomfortable (as things get smaller, they typically become more delicate).

OTOH, I don't really like either, and in the event of a failure, prefer to have a completely redundant air supply.

Terry

OK - so the argument that an Air2 is "one less hose to look after" is basically just crap then?

 

[CuriousMe]

For any of the OOA situations I've seen, it doesn't make any difference at all. They both work sort-of-not-OK-but-probably-good-enough.

Since the Air-2 has the inflator built in, it's one less hose to have around, and won't be dragging in the dirt.

However, because it has the inflator built in, it's also very strange to use as an inflator when you're also using it as a regulator, and having all that functionality in a small package makes me a little uncomfortable (as things get smaller, they typically become more delicate).

OTOH, I don't really like either, and in the event of a failure, prefer to have a completely redundant air supply.

Terry

I'm not a big Air2 fan at all, and I've never quite understood the argument of not having an additional hose to "drag in the dirt". There's another way to solve this....don't let it drag in the dirt. Clip it in some way to you, and then it's not dragging anywhere.

Just my .02

Peace,
Cathie

 

[nwdiver2]

No one less hose is better, I still have my buddy’s primary or alternate (which ever is the case) if my air2 is out of commission and I need air to surface. If my Air2 was put out of commission I would call the dive approach my buddy and share air to the surface after all we have sufficient air to safely return from wherever we are at the time of the malfunction as we are a buddy team with multiple redundancy.

 

[GreekCmasDiver]

I do not think I should aborted the dive as it was a simple problem and hopefully I was fully trained to deal with the exact problem...I remember that when I was doing this exercise I was trying to fill the BC vest with air using my mouth for 15 minutes but nothing happened. I was so bored but fortunately I get a good use of it at the day of the incident. Imagine if this occured without knowing how to deal it. I would floating like a balloon or getting down like an anchor

 

[gj62]

I do not think I should aborted the dive as it was a simple problem and hopefully I was fully trained to deal with the exact problem...I remember that when I was doing this exercise I was trying to fill the BC vest with air using my mouth for 15 minutes but nothing happened. I was so bored but fortunately I get a good use of it at the day of the incident. Imagine if this occured without knowing how to deal it. I would floating like a balloon or getting down like an anchor

Exactly how were you trained to deal with it?

If your auto-inflator was stuck open, that means that there is an open path into and out of your BC once you disconnect the LP hose. Granted, it could only be open due to the LP pressure and it is not a large hole, but your BC could be leaking air and/or taking on water during your dive.

But hey, if you want to risk it, fine.

 

[MikeFerrara]

Exactly how were you trained to deal with it?

If your auto-inflator was stuck open, that means that there is an open path into and out of your BC once you disconnect the LP hose. Granted, it could only be open due to the LP pressure and it is not a large hole, but your BC could be leaking air and/or taking on water during your dive.

But hey, if you want to risk it, fine.

As you yourself pointed out...when horizontal the air just has no reason to want to come out there because where the inflate hose goes into the blagger isn't the highest part of the bladder. That is assuming that you don't need a lot of air in the bc. Even if it does leak some it'll me a small leak.

I would say that in most cases the diver should end the dive but there shouldn't be any hurry.

The other problem is that while divers are taught to inflate the bc manually at the surface and maybe while doing a fin pivot at depth, many classes don't require a diver to actually dive whle manually inflating. It shouldn't be a big deal though. Power inflation is a convenience not a requirement.

 

[Paul Evans]

Quote
No one less hose is better, I still have my buddy’s primary or alternate (which ever is the case) if my air2 is out of commission and I need air to surface. If my Air2 was put out of commission I would call the dive approach my buddy and share air to the surface after all we have sufficient air to safely return from wherever we are at the time of the malfunction as we are a buddy team with multiple redundancy.

If you're Air2 is out of commission why aren't you still useing your primary second stage, if both have failed then the chances are you have a first stage faliure, it does'nt matter if you have Air2 or a conventional octo, you are out of air. :11:

The big problem with Air2 is that you have a double failure nearly every time, Inflation and secondary air source

As for hoses or octos dragging, if you can't manage you equiptment at this level you need to get in a pool and practise there is no excuse for this.

The other problem with Air2 is the supply of air is at the end of a very short hose, not very comfortable for you or your buddy if a dive is called, you're at 40m have to do a safety stop in rough seas or strong currents.

IMO, I'd think long and hard about buddying with a Air2 user it would be very much affected by conditions, this is only my personal opinion and has no reflection on the diver themselves.

 

[Tiny Bubbles]

As you yourself pointed out...when horizontal the air just has no reason to want to come out there because where the inflate hose goes into the blagger isn't the highest part of the bladder. That is assuming that you don't need a lot of air in the bc. Even if it does leak some it'll me a small leak..........

Unless you have bungeed wings! (Now Boogie has 2 things to rant about...)

-Tiny-B.

 

[Bretagne]

Our Course Director dives with an Air2 and a second full reg (not just octopus). And he has had one occasion when he had 3 people breathing on his bottle.