Heavy Breather/Light Breather -7 ft. Alternate Hose

[Mojostone]

My dive buddy is a very heavy breather. I am the very opposite. Typically when the dive guide has about 500 psi, my dive buddy will have less then 100 psi. I will have between 1000 to 1500 psi. I do not hold my breath at all. I only dive in the Philippines. Where I have a second home. I had to give up California diving due to a back injury. My dive buddy and I get in near out of air scenarios routinely. Although I have absolutely no interest in DIR diving. I do see a benefit in a 7ft. hose. Anybody have any experience on routing a 7 ft. hose?

 

[eelnoraa]

Anybody have any experience on routing a 7 ft. hose?

Every dive for me

There are a few catches. One is 7ft routing is a lot easier with bp/w setup. I guess back inflate BCD can be easily adopt too. If you have a jacket BCD, you need a plan for it. 2nd is you will want to lose your snorkel. It will get in the way of deploying. 3rd, you will need some dives and practice to get used to it, such as how to deploy, how youself will go to necklace, and after sharing air, how to reset. Once you get used to it, it just make so much more sense than the conventional way. I personally will not go back. I am willing to dive jacket BCD and split fins, but not really conventional hose regulator.

 

[RainPilot]

There are a lot of threads on routing a long hose, a search up at the top right of the screen should help you out.

I often use my long hose to extend a heavy user's dive a bit, just remember that you DON"T let them get empty and then give them gas, if you have a failure then you have a big problem. Rather, you use it to equalise ie when they get to 1500 psi you give them gas until you reach 1500 or 1250 then they go back on their setup.

All dives should be limited by the most conservative aspect. If you have a big breather and a little breather, you should not end up with one empty and one on 1000, you should end up with one on 500 and the other on 1500.

 

[Storker]

What @eelnoraa and @RainPilot said.

Another thing: If you're considering a long hose, you should at least look into a 150cm/5' hose as an alternative to a 210cm/7'. It routes around your torso like the 210cm hose, but since it's shorter you don't need to stow the loop under a canister or tucked inside your waist strap. IME the 150cm hose works just as well as the 210cm unless you need to swim single file while sharing gas. Unless you've got a large chest/torso, then it may be a little short to route properly.

 

[Scared Silly]

For open water diving look into a 5' hose. As noted above it is easier to stow.

Also for your dive buddy, have them look into slinging a 40cuft bottle. So they are carrying a bit of extra gas.

 

[PfcAJ]

My dive buddy is a very heavy breather. I am the very opposite. Typically when the dive guide has about 500 psi, my dive buddy will have less then 100 psi. I will have between 1000 to 1500 psi. I do not hold my breath at all. I only dive in the Philippines. Where I have a second home. I had to give up California diving due to a back injury. My dive buddy and I get in near out of air scenarios routinely. Although I have absolutely no interest in DIR diving. I do see a benefit in a 7ft. hose. Anybody have any experience on routing a 7 ft. hose?

It might help you not get into near out of air scenarios routinely and might reduce your buddy's breathing rate quite a bit.

 

[Ryan Mcshane]

I think whole "routinely get into near out of air scenarios" needs to be addressed before you worry about a 7ft hose. This isn't a problem you fix with buying a bit of kit. Learn to plan your dives properly so you both end the dive with a sensible amount of gas left.

 

[northernone]

My dive buddy is a very heavy breather. I am the very opposite. Typically when the dive guide has about 500 psi, my dive buddy will have less then 100 psi. I will have between 1000 to 1500 psi. I do not hold my breath at all. I only dive in the Philippines. Where I have a second home. I had to give up California diving due to a back injury. My dive buddy and I get in near out of air scenarios routinely. Although I have absolutely no interest in DIR diving. I do see a benefit in a 7ft. hose. Anybody have any experience on routing a 7 ft. hose?

I've used a long hose stowed "properly" in the caves and occasionally in conditions where it isn't needed but is convenient. An air source for underwater models particularly.

Here is what worked for me with any gear configuration:


Ugly solution if entanglement isn't an issue is fold it in half and stuff the loop into your waistband. Reg attached near your chest.

A little suggestion if you're going to tank equalize with your buddy you probably have thought of already:

It's nice to share the 500 psi early in the dive, in worst case you lose your buddy they aren't left with 100psi ever. Safe margins at all times.

Cameron

 

[DogDiver]

Have the air hog use a larger cylinder and solve the problem.

 

[Landlocked123]

I dive a 5 foot hose . Works very well. Under the arm up the chest and around the neck. I think its a great compromise vs a 7 foot hose. I think a 7 foot hose is more ideal for cAve diving