Combined octo/BC inflator?

[Hemlon]

Are there any drawbacks to using a combo octo/BC inflator?

 

[Vicente]

If it's a low-performance unit the problem should be obvious. Upon emergency you switch to breathing from a regulator that might not keep up with perhaps elevated breathing........

Aside from that, and the complications of not being able to swap equipment easily in the field, it's not the greatest evil in the SCUBA world.

 

[dhampton82]

oh no, not again...............

 

[scubapro50]

Are there any drawbacks to using a combo octo/BC inflator?

The biggest drawback is diving with a buddy who has not been trained in the use of a combo system. There could be problems if your buddy doesn't know what to do in an emergency.

 

[Hemlon]

The biggest drawback is diving with a buddy who has not been trained in the use of a combo system. There could be problems if your buddy doesn't know what to do in an emergency.

That's true for any piece of equipment!

 

[CoalBoy]

Are there any drawbacks to using a combo octo/BC inflator?

I actually liked the concept of being able to simplify the setup. My main concern was that octo/inflator combos use a custom hose fitting which mates with the corrugated hose of the bladder.

So I had a problem when I would change bladders. I have to change the inflator hose on the reg also. Too much hassle.

 

[victor]

For recreational diving they work perfectly well, I have had mine (AIR 2) for over 14 years. I have used it below 100ft, breathes fine. By choice I would have a slightly longer corrugarted hose, 2 inches or so, to allow more movement.
As the AIR 2 uses a special LP hose if it fails on vacation then you need to rent, or have, a spare lp hose, an octo and a BC. I carry a spare LP hose with me. The only time this happened to me I just manually inflated my BC rather than rent one.
I am considering switching to a backpack and wing but will, probably stick with a combo octo/inflator, preferably one with a standard LP hose.

 

[lifeisfullofgooddives]

for Rec use I love mine it eliminated a hose and makes gearing up for me even easier...

of course the genisis model I bought was discontinued, so I might have problems finding parts in a few years....so I might have to buy a different brand one day.

If I ever get into tec diving, I won't be using that type of setup. I learned long ago to set gear up for diving the conditions. so far my shallow reef dives...I use my rec gear. Once I start hitting 130 + I would like to have a more redundant set-up.

 

[terrasmak]

Its an bad fix to something there was never a problem with. BTW there also hard to manuelly inflate with cause of the mouthpiece.

 

[victor]

terrasmak
Having read your post a number of times I assume that English is not your first language.
Could you try again and rephrase your sentence so we can understand the point you are trying to make.