bubble noise

[Cliff]

I have an old two hose unit that I use to escape having bubbles stream past my ears, but, there is no way to connect it to a BC. If any dive company is listening, an attachment (with check valve?) that would route exhaust bubbles to a diffuser on your back would (should) dramatically lower bubble noise, make it easier to approach fish, etc. I like the breathing characteristics of the single hose unit, is there any real reason exhaust couldn't go through a second hose hooked to a diffuser?
Cliff

 

[DA Aquamaster]

If your old double hose reg has a hookah port (one of the DA Aqumaster, Royal Aquamaster variants or copies) you can get both hoses and adapters to aattach an inflator hose to the fitting.

Aqualung has recently introduced a new double hose reg called the Mistral. It has no similarity to the original Mistral. The first stage looks a lot like a Titan and has standard HP and LP ports. The second stage is attached to this and incorporates a relatively normal looking double hose arrangement.

Price is a bit steep however at about $900-$1000 US thanks to our crippling national debt, trade deficit and generally anemic dollar. But the trend is good (the trend for double hose regs, not the devalued dollar) and I think that more manufacturers may follow the lead and develop similar designs to accommdate photographers and fish watchers.

Breathing performance of the new Mistral is comparable to a modern single hose regulator.

If you are a DIY'er, many older metal cased second stages used a metal lip that the exhaust tee slipped over and it would be relatively easy to DIY an exhaust hose by slipping on and then glueing a suitably sized corrogated BC inflator hose to this fitting. Alternatively you could attach the hose to one side of an exhaust tee and plug the other.

You could then use a piece of pvc and a reducer on the other end to attach a butterfly valve to keep water from entering the hose. It would probably make the most sense to run the exhaust back along the LP hose.

 

[IlikeItwetPls]

I have an old two hose unit that I use to escape having bubbles stream past my ears, but, there is no way to connect it to a BC. If any dive company is listening, an attachment (with check valve?) that would route exhaust bubbles to a diffuser on your back would (should) dramatically lower bubble noise, make it easier to approach fish, etc. I like the breathing characteristics of the single hose unit, is there any real reason exhaust couldn't go through a second hose hooked to a diffuser?
Cliff

Hey Cliff,
I too have the same problem. The bubble noise is very irritating while diving. I had thought maybe some type of standard clear, plastic tubing that is used on fish tanks etc. to attach somehow to the exit port of the reg. It could be long enough to trail behind while moving. However I did consider how 'whisker like' it would look.

If you come up with a solution please post, and I'll do the same.

Ronnie

 

[FredT]

Solutions:
1. Rebreather!
2. The Snark II has a LP port as do several other versions of the DH.
3. Grow a full beard. The bubbles filtering through a full beard are dispersed enough to limit the bubble noise. The beard also gives the jellyfish something else to sting besides your face.
4. Exhale slower. This makes smaller bubbles and generally extends your air supply.

I use 3 & 4.

FT

 

[Doc]

Easier solutions:

On any single hose you usualy have those exhaust thingies on either side. Go to the local hardware store, find the correct PVC tubing size that will jam down onto the outside of the exhausts.

Try using 8" on each to start with. Run a small hole with a power drill thru the tubing as well as the exhaust snoods and thread a small cable tie through. Make the PVC tubing curve back and toward your head. Try to be smart enough not to hit any moving parts inside the shell of the 2nd stage.

If it's too long, you could get a trickling free flow. I have also packed the ends gently with aquarium diffuser stones as well as the angel hair from the filters, securing same with several methods.

Mufflers for your regulator can assist you in creeping up within a foot of Garden Eels.

People look at you funny, but then again, so do the Eels.

 

[MoonWrasse]

3. Grow a full beard. The bubbles filtering through a full beard are dispersed enough to limit the bubble noise. The beard also gives the jellyfish something else to sting besides your face.

Do the bubbles tickle you?

BTW this solution is not very practical for females

 

[CBulla]

Solutions:
1. Rebreather!
2. The Snark II has a LP port as do several other versions of the DH.
3. Grow a full beard. The bubbles filtering through a full beard are dispersed enough to limit the bubble noise. The beard also gives the jellyfish something else to sting besides your face.
4. Exhale slower. This makes smaller bubbles and generally extends your air supply.

I use 3 & 4.

FT

I'm with Fred on 3&4 - 3 is mostly because I look 12 when I shave.