DIR primary hose length for open water, no overhead

[amascuba]

Here's my experience:

40'' hose works, but running it under your right arm and to your mouth creates a situation where the second stage doesn't sit in your mouth correctly. The hose pulls down and to the right, making it awkward.

A 5' hose works as well, but it's too short to tuck the excess hose in your waist strap, or loop under your canister light when it's routed like a 7' hose. Therefore it floats around and is generally an annoyance/distraction.

A 7' hose works perfectly. I can tuck the excess in my waist strap, loop under my canister light, and generally just make it more streamlined and out of the way. Therefore I use a 7' hose for ALL my diving regardless of the type of diving I'm doing. Hell, I even use it when I'm working classes in confined water and open water. The instructors that I DM for realize that students get more out of class if they are shown many different configurations and types of gear. I usually take about 10 - 15 minutes of a confined water session to show the students the differences and similarities of our gear. It works out well.

That's my experience with the varying hose lengths.

 

[Gombessa]

Also, if you do eventually decide to go tech (it happens) or get a can light, already having a 7ft hose means you don't need to go out and buy another one.

 

[johnkendall]

I do understand the issue with switching 5ft to 7 ft and back but this is not a big deal for me. I dive more open than overhead anyway. This works for me fine. If I was to dive with a strict dir or gue guy the set up I have is no different but for the fact they would be 2ft closer. Really not a big deal at least not for me.

If you are using a canister light then there really is no excuse for not using a 7' hose. If you are using a canister and a 5' hose then the routing is different to any other DIR divers that you are going to come across, and the S-drill (and so gas donate) are different too. The 5' hose might work for you. However the OP asked for a DIR answer to hose length. That answer is 7'.

HTH

John

 

[firstdive2005]

[However the OP asked for a DIR answer to hose length. That answer is 7'.

HTH

John[/quote]

Your right he did I appologize, I was not trying to say the dir 7ft was in any way wrong.
kev

 

[jeckyll]

Didn't we just go over this less than a month ago?

Don't we go over this about once a month?

 

[mark00020]

Thank you for all the advice, I'll go with a 7' hose.
BTW, I did search for this topic before I posted it. I read something on GUE and couldn't find any specifics on that respect (open water diving w/ shorter hose) and so I asked the question.

 

[firstdive2005]

Thank you for all the advice, I'll go with a 7' hose.
BTW, I did search for this topic before I posted it. I read something on GUE and couldn't find any specifics on that respect (open water diving w/ shorter hose) and so I asked the question.

I'm glad you did also. I reread all these post plus the 'other ones'. I am going to switch out my five for the seven. Like 'they' say, might as well get used to it. It's a comin'!

 

[lamont]

Well, this is the DIR forum, and you have an answer from a GUE instructor. Although, in the past, various hose lengths have been acceptable, the 7' hose has been settled upon as working in all settings.

somewhere JJ also posted that advice which showed up on one of these threads in the past.

 

[JeffG]

somewhere JJ also posted that advice which showed up on one of these threads in the past.

Which is good advice, except when a 7' hose is a PITA. Which is why I have settled on a 5' hose for my warm water wimp trips. (no canister light)

 

[RTodd]

Which is good advice, except when a 7' hose is a PITA. Which is why I have settled on a 5' hose for my warm water wimp trips. (no canister light)

This kind of advice makes it even harder to tell the strokes apart from the Canadians.