Could/Would/Should Ya....Octopus(es)

[adm3745]

doubles
long hose
bungied backup

skip the H valves and ponies - at least for any real tech diving or to even move in this direction

The ONLY reason that I havn't skipped H valves, is that I felt double 108's would allow me to push myself to far to fast. An H valve 108/130 has allowed me to start dabbling in "tec" regimes without overextending myself. When I upgrade permanantly to double 108's I'll have the skills mastered to start increasing my bottom times. Thats just my thought as someone who is going through all this currently though..

 

[adamtodd]

doubles
long hose
bungied backup

skip the H valves and ponies - at least for any real tech diving or to even move in this direction

This is it.

 

[Dr Wu]

This is it.

Correct. Ponies and Air-2 things have no place in technical diving.

 

[Blackwood]

skip the H valves

I second that.

I bought one not for redundancy, but out of some pipe dream that I wouldn't have to re-configure my reg set to dive singles.

hah.

 

[IDS_Bill]

Correct. Ponies and Air-2 things have no place in technical diving.

x2

This is me and my pony

 

[turbine]

The ONLY reason that I havn't skipped H valves, is that I felt double 108's would allow me to push myself to far to fast. An H valve 108/130 has allowed me to start dabbling in "tec" regimes without overextending myself. When I upgrade permanantly to double 108's I'll have the skills mastered to start increasing my bottom times. Thats just my thought as someone who is going through all this currently though..

Please don't takes this the wrong way but how is using a H valve dabbling in "tec"
An H valve doesn't function much like an isolation manifold and its not seen as a stepping stone to one. I really don't think that a H valve will start to prepare you for doubles and it will not help you master an isolation valve. The only way to do that is with an iso valve and practice.

Why not take an intro to tec class, or even an advanced nitrox/deco class. The instructor will take the time to explain and show you want is needed to begin tec diving.

 

[adm3745]

What I mean is it got me into the mindset of paying attention to multiple valves. Ya it doesnt help with the manifold, but I learned how to shut down a dead reg. By dabbling- I was reffering more to the bottom times than anything else. It's not a strong point at all, just an opinion I have. The dive objectives I have are putting me a touch into deco, and I have no real need for 300 cft of gas on my back at this time. I may use the H valves for my cave 1 class this month too. Still struggling with opinions on that.
I used my H valves for Advanced Nitrox/Intro class.

 

[IDS_Bill]

What I mean is it got me into the mindset of paying attention to multiple valves. Ya it doesnt help with the manifold, but I learned how to shut down a dead reg. By dabbling- I was reffering more to the bottom times than anything else. It's not a strong point at all, just an opinion I have. The dive objectives I have are putting me a touch into deco, and I have no real need for 300 cft of gas on my back at this time. I may use the H valves for my cave 1 class this month too. Still struggling with opinions on that.
I used my H valves for Advanced Nitrox/Intro class.

I am confused here. Are you inferring that you are self-educating yourself in decompression diving through use of an H-Valve? This does not make any sense.....

 

[muddiver]

Here is a non-DIR/non-GUE answer:

If you are going to use an H vale it does not make since to cary a pony. Too many regulators to confuse the issue.

Second, if you want true redundancy cary a pony, or go to double cylinders with an isolated manafold. Either way you end up with an isolated redundant supply of breathing gas through a completely seporate regulator system.

My advice is under the asumption that you are not diving multiple gas mixes, you are not doing decompression dives and you are not going redundant because you are concerned that your regulator might freez-up.

Personally I don't see the point of either an H or a Y valve. I think that like the J valve they are antiques that no longer serve a practicle purpose. Where is the redundancy in switch from your main cylinder to your main cylinder if you happen to run out of breathing gas (this is assuming also that you don't have a buddy handy)?

Oh, also I agree that you should loose the Air2. I see too many divers getting confused over the extra button when trying to dump air from their BCD, and most divers don't practice switching to an Air2 which causes issues during air sharing between buddies.

 

[adm3745]

I am confused here. Are you inferring that you are self-educating yourself in decompression diving through use of an H-Valve? This does not make any sense.....

No. I'm saying that I dive H valves.