elmer fudd
Contributor
I like to dive a double hose sometimes, but only in a wetsuit and without a BC. For me that's half the appeal of vintage diving. It's just so light and streamlined and simple in comparison to diving with modern gear. I still prefer to use an SPG though. I've dove with just a J-valve and knowing how much air you have is just better period.
The regulators themselves are just different. In some ways they're better, (you can get closer to fish), and some ways they aren't. In general they do breathe harder. I tune my DH's down to about 1/2" cracking pressure, but once you get underwater that regulator is now well above the level of your lungs, so you have to suck harder to get air. On the other hand, exhalation is very easy and if you roll on your back things will be reversed. At that point the reg will want to free flow into your mouth and exhaling will require some real effort. You can even kind of rock side to side as you swim to ease the work of breathing.
The regulators themselves are just different. In some ways they're better, (you can get closer to fish), and some ways they aren't. In general they do breathe harder. I tune my DH's down to about 1/2" cracking pressure, but once you get underwater that regulator is now well above the level of your lungs, so you have to suck harder to get air. On the other hand, exhalation is very easy and if you roll on your back things will be reversed. At that point the reg will want to free flow into your mouth and exhaling will require some real effort. You can even kind of rock side to side as you swim to ease the work of breathing.
