Diving the long hose on a REC rig

[h2oyak]

The deeper water and deeper wrecks fascinate me and thus I want my diving to start moving deeper and want to begin taking Tech courses (TDI is the only option in Colorado I do not have a GUE instructor any where close). I like the idea of the long primary (7'/5') and the short secondary on the "necklace".
My question is this:
Being so land locked most of my diving is on vacation and thus much of it is on rental tanks. I would be suprised if many places offer H valves. I would like to convert my normal rig (single first stage on a yoke) to the long hose set up to get used to it (as well as my dive partner/girlfriend) ? Is there a down side to doing this ? Do you switch your regs back and forth from single 1st stages for non-technical vacations to independant valves (H or manifold) or do you ultimately wind up with your travel rig and a Tec rig ?
Thank you for all your experience.
Michael

 

[novadiver]

The deeper water and deeper wrecks fascinate me and thus I want my diving to start moving deeper and want to begin taking Tech courses (TDI is the only option in Colorado I do not have a GUE instructor any where close). I like the idea of the long primary (7'/5') and the short secondary on the "necklace".
My question is this:
Being so land locked most of my diving is on vacation and thus much of it is on rental tanks. I would be suprised if many places offer H valves. I would like to convert my normal rig (single first stage on a yoke) to the long hose set up to get used to it (as well as my dive partner/girlfriend) ? Is there a down side to doing this ? Do you switch your regs back and forth from single 1st stages for non-technical vacations to independant valves (H or manifold) or do you ultimately wind up with your travel rig and a Tec rig ?
Thank you for all your experience.
Michael

Hey Michael , If you could fill out your diver profile, We would feel more comfortable answering your question about the use of the long hose. Thanks in advance Nova>

 

[Wendy]

Hey Michael , If you could fill out your diver profile, We would feel more comfortable answering your question about the use of the long hose. Thanks in advance Nova>

Why? Even a newbie ow diver with 1 dive can use a long hose.

Yes, I switch my regs from single set up and doubles set up. Not hard to do. Just make sure you are routing the hose correctly and know how to deploy it.

Since you travel to dive often, then why not travel to take a GUE course if that is what you interested in. Also some GUE instructors travel to do courses.

 

[MechDiver]

Do you switch your regs back and forth from single 1st stages for non-technical vacations to independant valves (H or manifold) or do you ultimately wind up with your travel rig and a Tec rig ?
Thank you for all your experience.
Michael

I have doubles regs and a singles reg that remain setup that way. As long as you're just diving single tanks, you won't have to change anything.
If I thought I'd need an H-valve, I'd be diving doubles.

Good choice of system configuration. You also may want to consider something shorter than 7' for singles use. Some like a 5' that goes under the right arm instead of down under a light can or whatever like the longer version.

TDI has good classes, just watch for a good instructor.

MD

 

[novadiver]

Why? Even a newbie ow diver with 1 dive can use a long hose.

Yes, I switch my regs from single set up and doubles set up. Not hard to do. Just make sure you are routing the hose correctly and know how to deploy it.

Since you travel to dive often, then why not travel to take a GUE course if that is what you interested in. Also some GUE instructors travel to do courses.

A newbie with one ow dive has more to think about than the routing of a long hose. he or she would get tangled in the long hose. and gue is the worst advice this guy needs right now.

 

[archman]

he or she would get tangled in the long hose. and gue is the worst advice this guy needs right now.

Is this really valid? Once it's routed, how do you get tangled in it? My long hose actually makes me LESS of an entanglement risk, as I don't have that annoying "loop" caused by the standard 36' hose above/behind my right head anymore. I've caught that loop on submerged tree trunks before, which is one of the reasons I switched to a 6-footer.

 

[Wendy]

A newbie with one ow dive has more to think about than the routing of a long hose. he or she would get tangled in the long hose. and gue is the worst advice this guy needs right now.

obviously we have a difference of opinion here. a HUGE difference of opinion. Not worth getting into it over.

 

[Quarrior]

I fully support the use of the long hose. However, I would suggest you find yourself a real person (read as real life) you can talk to face to face that knows and dives with this kind of setup. They can help you figure out the best way to route and use the hose based on your other equipment.

The deeper water and deeper wrecks fascinate me and thus I want my diving to start moving deeper and want to begin taking Tech courses (TDI is the only option in Colorado I do not have a GUE instructor any where close). I like the idea of the long primary (7'/5') and the short secondary on the "necklace".
My question is this:
Being so land locked most of my diving is on vacation and thus much of it is on rental tanks. I would be suprised if many places offer H valves. I would like to convert my normal rig (single first stage on a yoke) to the long hose set up to get used to it (as well as my dive partner/girlfriend) ? Is there a down side to doing this ? Do you switch your regs back and forth from single 1st stages for non-technical vacations to independant valves (H or manifold) or do you ultimately wind up with your travel rig and a Tec rig ?
Thank you for all your experience.
Michael

 

[northcoast_diver]

The deeper water and deeper wrecks fascinate me and thus I want my diving to start moving deeper and want to begin taking Tech courses (TDI is the only option in Colorado I do not have a GUE instructor any where close). I like the idea of the long primary (7'/5') and the short secondary on the "necklace".
My question is this:
Being so land locked most of my diving is on vacation and thus much of it is on rental tanks. I would be suprised if many places offer H valves. I would like to convert my normal rig (single first stage on a yoke) to the long hose set up to get used to it (as well as my dive partner/girlfriend) ? Is there a down side to doing this ? Do you switch your regs back and forth from single 1st stages for non-technical vacations to independant valves (H or manifold) or do you ultimately wind up with your travel rig and a Tec rig ?
Thank you for all your experience.
Michael

TDI has about 100,000 certified tech divers. IANTD probably has about 500,000. GUE may have about 5,000.

Thus, there are probably, 600,001 different ways to do everything.

Your TDI and IANTD instructors will normally show you several choices and let you take your pick.

Having said that, here are my thoughs on some of your questions.

You should meet your tech instructor first, before you start buying any new gear. He/she will normally inspect your current gear first, to see if it needs to be replaced.

If your reg (1st and 2nd stage) are low performance economy models, that is the first thing you will need to replace. Your 1st stage will need to be DIN. If your current reg is unsat or cannot be converted to DIN, you need a new one.

Your B/C needs to be back inflation. If it is not, you need to get a new one. If youre getting a new one, you need to get one that will mount double tanks, eventually.

Most tech diving is cold water. So you will need a drysuit and thermals. Some wrecks and some caves are warm water, but not many. I would guess that in Colorado you will be diving deep reservoirs, which are very cold.

H valves and Y valves are outdated ice diving gear. I doubt any instructor will sanction those. Maybe for awhile, until you graduate to twin tanks.

Some tech instructors will want you to mount a 7 ft hose as soon as possible, even during the advanced EANx phase. Don't buy one until you talk to your instructor. Be wary of any instructor suggesting a 5 ft or 6 ft hose, because those are dinosaurish. I think you will be safe, because I have never heard of a TDI or IANTD instructor making that mistake.

Many instructors suggest that you have a separate travel rig versus a tech rig. Note however that ScubaPro back-inflation B/Cs and Zeagle back-inflation B/Cs can be used for both. A backplate and wing can be used for both as well.

 

[northcoast_diver]

..and gue is the worst advice this guy needs right now.

Truer words have never been spoken, however you are going to attract a swarm of GUEs now, like flies on ... if you know what I am thinking.