Combined octo/BC inflator?

[Calinectes]

My Aeris has a little ball on the inflator hose that I can pull on and trigger the quick dump on the shoulder. It works great with the octo in my mouth.

 

[Jarrett]

I love reading these threads now. I'm a warm water rec newbie and for that type of diving I really like using the octo inflator. (Which means if I decide to push beyond the limits of recreational diving, I would go with a DIR-like setup) Since I have only used the Atomic SS1, its the only one I can comment on. Here is some info to dispell a few of myths floating in the thread already:

• An Atomic SS1 octo inflator breathes better than a lot of the primary regs out there.
  
• When using the SS1, Air can be dumped from the wing with the mouthpiece in your mouth using a few different methods.
  
• If you are using the Atomic SS1, you can easily move it from BCD to BCD, wing to wing, also remove it from you BCD for storage. They use an adapter that allows the SS1 be unscrewed from it. If you have multiple wings/BCDs, buy multiple adapters and move the SS1 with you. These adapters are inexpensive.

Some other thoughts. I usually dive with people I really care about, ie. my GF or daughter. In an OOA situation for them, I don't want to hand them the cheapest yellow reg the LDS threw in on the reg sale that I haven't even breathed on in the last 10 dives. I would rather give them the current known good, best performing regulator I have to offer at the time. And that would be the Atomic B2 in my mouth.

I'm a new diver, but I have been in the water long enough to see how most divers treat their octos. Most don't secure them well and just drag them around behind them. Sometimes through the mud, sometimes catching it on a rock, and never do I see them test it themselves. I personally don't want that to be my life saving device, nor would I want it to be the life saving device of someone I care about either.

Based on what I have read about the DIR 7 foot/bungie backup system, on paper this sounds like a much safer setup than any recreational octo arrangement. If you are truly concerned about your potential OOA problems, don't use an octo/inflator but don't use a standard octo either. If you are really concerned about this problem, go the distance and get the DIR config for maximum safety. If you aren't willing to go that far then an octo inflator is arguably just as safe as using the standard octo, imo. But then again, take my advice with a grain of salt as I am just a newbie

 

[Dan Gibson]

Been there, done that with adapters when I first started diving. I say stick with one or the other and leave the adapters behind. As far as flow, under ideal conditions, it may work fine. Under heavy breathing, who knows. Someone surely has numbers indicating whether or not it's a good idea. I personally wouldn't waste my time.

Sort of a moot point as the Air-2 comes with a custom hose & fitting.
However... I have an adapter so that I can use a regular hose, have tried it and the reg breathes just fine at 110' - on an Air Source, but as the hose would deliver the same to an Air-2 I reckon that'd work fine too.
If this is still a concern, there are also adapters that convert the Air Source or Air-2 hoses to a regular LP inflator fitting.
Rick

 

[prthd9]

I am in the midst of this decision on my set-up too. What really comes down to is the comfort level you have and your buddy has with the combo. Almost everyone I dive with has the combo, so training is not as big of a factor. It still is though because the styles vary. I think I am going to use my SS1 to eliminate a hose, but again it is all personal preference. I also carry a pony bottle at times, which serves as my redundency. I would never consider the combo my redundent component really.

By the way what is the length of the average corrugated hose on a rec. BC?

 

[scubapig52]

Most stores sell both air 2 types and Octo inflators combos , in all diving ,more simple is safer, a octo and inflator is more simple and safer, but less hoses is also nice ,go to your store and try both see how you like it in the pool before you buy, Scuba Pro makes I think the best unit it runs about $240.00 or so Safe :14:

 

[bperrybap]

You can both inflate and deflate the BC with the reg in your mouth. When you vent the BC, since the mouthpiece is in your mouth the vented gas just goes out the exhaust port.
Rick

One thing to note is that most of the combo octo/inflators
allow oral inflation through the regulator mouth piece,
(Zeagle being an exception- it has an additional mouthpiece).
The way you do oral inflation is by mashing on the deflate
button hard enough so that it bottoms out. At this point
the bladder is directly connected to your mouthpiece.

This is important to know because if you get stressed due to all
of the comotion going on during the OOA or start to
rise too quickly, you can inadvertanly press the deflate button too
hard which will connect the bladder to your mouthpiece.
At this point no venting will happen and you will breath
air from the bladder or worse have air forced into your mouth.

It can easily be avoided with a bit of practice or
by venting with the mouthpiece out of your mouth.

--- bill

 

[victor]

Been there, done that with adapters when I first started diving. I say stick with one or the other and leave the adapters behind. As far as flow, under ideal conditions, it may work fine. Under heavy breathing, who knows. Someone surely has numbers indicating whether or not it's a good idea. I personally wouldn't waste my time.

Dan
What's the difference between the LP hose that connects to your primary reg and the LP hose that connects to your BC?

Nothing they are identical.

If you can get enough air through your standard hose then I do not see why you cannot get enough air through an identical hose that runs to your combined BC inflator and backup reg. The amount of air it takes to inflate a BC is minimal (1 or 2 seconds). I am sure the special hoses were a marketing gimick to increase the profit margins.

 

[Gradual Ascent]

My SeaQuest inflater hose is smaller than Regs. The adapter is undersize too. Not sure this size difference will impact breathing however. What's interesting to me is how Mares got 101 divers breathing off a single MR22 1st stage for 40 minutes (1.4m deep), and we are worring about the minute differences between the internal diameter of a hose, one person is going to breath from. Does anyone have data to support either position? :huh:

Dan
What's the difference between the LP hose that connects to your primary reg and the LP hose that connects to your BC?

Nothing they are identical.

 

[james croft]

The larger fitting on the Air 2 and other s like the Zeagle Octoplus allows more air flow in an emergency at depth when a diver may try to overbreath the reg. Maybe it is overkill but I don't think that it is a marketing ploy as the hoses don't differ much in price. The last hose I bought for an Air 2 cost me about 25 bucks. The smaller diameter fitting on a bc inflator works fine for inflating bc's. I believe that allows for a slower fill rate which helps to maintain trim as the air comes in at a slow, steady rate and not at a high volume. If I was the manufacturer of the Air 2 or others I would tweak the design to give more performance. I think the larger fitting does that. I would get a spare hose off ebay and throw it in your save-a-dive kit if you are worried about it messing up on a trip.

 

[Dan Gibson]

The fitting at the second stage end, hence the non standard hose.

Dan
What's the difference between the LP hose that connects to your primary reg and the LP hose that connects to your BC?

Nothing they are identical.

If you can get enough air through your standard hose then I do not see why you cannot get enough air through an identical hose that runs to your combined BC inflator and backup reg. The amount of air it takes to inflate a BC is minimal (1 or 2 seconds). I am sure the special hoses were a marketing gimick to increase the profit margins.