Combined BC Control/Octo & Buddy Breathing

[24940]

Pretty obnoxious though to assume that you know what's best for me or OP. It works for what I do, where I do it and who I'm doing it with.

Not to be a dick, but with <100 dives, it's not likely you have a clue as to what works best and it's fairly arrogant to think you do. I understand your defensiveness. I'd be defensive too, if I had spent cash on a system that has the issues an AIRII type secondary presents.

AIRII works, but is far less than ideal in execution, when compared to a bungeed secondary and a long hose. Issues I have with the config:

• The inflate/deflate buttons are in less than ideal locations. Some even have the inflate and deflate buttons opposing one another, which can easily result in both buttons being depressed at the same time.
• The hose places a lot of stress on the jaw when used as a reg.
• In horizontal trim, the reg has to be removed to dump air.
• Many require a special lp connector.
• Kits using AIRII are not modular. You are without a secondary should you need to swap out the BCD for one without an AIRII.
• They are a serious PITA to use in an OOA ascent

Yes, they eliminate a hose, but I've never once heard of a diver complaining about that damned extra hose being an issue.

 

[Randy43068]

Wow - much hate for the inflater / octo combo! I've got a Zeagle Octo-Z and love it. With a wireless transmitter for pressure readings on my VT3 I've got only two hoses from my first stage - one to the Octo-Z and the other to my primary. Very streamlined, very simple.

Great that you're practicing with this set up of yours prior to actually needing it! I've found that donating my primary and using the Octo-Z is easy and haven't had the issues you have w/ venting on the way up. It does take a bit of getting used to - but then again so does just grabbing a standard inflater and pushing the right button. Either way you're going to want to practice because even though you KNOW Stop, Breathe, Think, Act when it comes right down to it you want to be very comfortable with your gear.

I took Rescue this last weekend and the instructor used and Air2 inflater / octo. Prior to going through the pool work we talked about how we'd share air regarding the drills. This is the same conversation I'd have on a boat getting buddied up w/ someone. Letting them know I'll donate my primary and use my inflater/octo. As an aside I find it much easier to use if I release the velcro strap that holds it to my left chest strap.

I'd avoid breathing the bladder air as well, but in an emergency you may have to. Keep practicing and if it turns out you don't get the hang of it then consider switching to a standard octo. There are benefits and drawbacks to each. Consider all your options and make the choice that's best for YOU and the way YOU dive.

I don't hate it. It's just a dumbass piece of gear and requires too much fiddling around to get things to work right in an emergency.

 

[Byte Me]

If your profile is correct, with less than 25 dives I seriously doubt you should be preaching to divers with many, many years of experience. As Rick Inman stated, I too have tried both set ups therefore I can make an educated statement about which set up is best. I believe I have more than backed up all of my statements in this thread.

Who's preaching? Me? Uh, no. Simply commenting on what I prefer.

Because I've only got ~20 dives I can't have a gear / setup preference?

I've tried both setups as well - and I'm making an educated statement about what's best FOR ME.

"Those who know whats best for us
Must rise and save us from ourselves."
-Rush

 

[24940]

On cattle boats a 7' hose can be a real PITA. You must be diligent to keep the second stage clipped off or sooner or later someone will knock it to the deck and someone else will walk on it. Ashore, it's also prone to end up in the sand from time to time, no matter how careful you are with it.
I dive a 7' hose & bungeed second for caves & wreck penetration. Sometimes I dive a 7' hose in open water; I dive a standard hose and bungeed second in open water sometimes... and on vacation in the tropics I usually use a standard hose and Air Source. Sometimes... sometimes, when it's warm enough, and with the right buddy, I dive a 72 with a single hose Conshelf, no second, no SPG, no computer & no BC
That's my preference & I'm stickin' with it.
--
I instruct OW with a standard hose & Air Source 'cause that's what the shop owner desires.
Rick

Three different configs and three different air share procedures seems less than ideal to me. No doubt it works for you, but less is more in my book.

I just loop the long hose a few times and clip it off when on deck. Never had a problem with it.

 

[ONESPEED]

"Those who know whats best for us
Must rise and save us from ourselves."
-Rush

SWEET!!!! Dive philosophy from Geddy Lee.

 

[Randy43068]

.
--
I instruct OW with a standard hose & Air Source 'cause that's what the shop owner desires.
Rick

And I too have seen that even if it's a bad idea.

I (almost) always clip mine off before I take the rig off so it's (almost) never been an issue for me.

 

[Byte Me]

Not to be a dick, but with <100 dives, it's not likely you have a clue as to what works best and it's fairly arrogant to think you do. I understand your defensiveness. I'd be defensive too, if I had spent cash on a system that has the issues an AIRII type secondary presents.

AIRII works, but is far less than ideal in execution, when compared to a bungeed secondary and a long hose. Issues I have with the config:

• The inflate/deflate buttons are in less than ideal locations. Some even have the inflate and deflate buttons opposing one another, which can easily result in both buttons being depressed at the same time.
• The hose places a lot of stress on the jaw when used as a reg.
• In horizontal trim, the reg has to be removed to dump air.
• Many require a special lp connector.
• Kits using AIRII are not modular. You are without a secondary should you need to swap out the BCD for one without an AIRII.
• They are a serious PITA to use in an OOA ascent

Yes, they eliminate a hose, but I've never once heard of a diver complaining about that damned extra hose being an issue.

Sorry I bothered, hope the OP gets what he needed out of this.

 

[ONESPEED]

Sorry I bothered, hope the OP gets what he needed out of this.

If he loses the alternate air source/inflator, than he did.

 

[Byte Me]

SWEET!!!! Dive philosophy from Geddy Lee.

You're really that daft?

It's awesome how helpful you guys are! Bludgeon people with your opinions and gang-rape anyone who dare have a thought that doesn't align with yours.

See, Onespeed, that's what the quote was about. Sorry it was totally lost on you.

 

[Rick Murchison]

Three different configs and three different air share procedures seems less than ideal to me. No doubt it works for you, but less is more in my book.

I just loop the long hose a few times and clip it off when on deck. Never had a problem with it.

There is only one air share procedure. All four rigs involve handing off the primary, and that's the end of the "sharing" procedure. After that it's up to me to remember which second I'm using, and I can hack that
In the case of the single hose rig... well, we actually still practice buddy-breathing from time to time, just to recapture our youth, don'tchaknow
Rick