Help??

[TSandM]

You might read the "What did you buy that you regret?" thread for some input.

I agree with the idea that using a wireless AI computer without any gauge backup is not a good idea. My husband uses a Vytec with a transmitter, and he not infrequently has trouble getting it to sync. Worse, if you turn the tank off for any reason (as you might to control a freeze free flow) when you turn it back on, it won't resync. So precisely at the time when you want the information the most, you can't know how much gas you have left.

I don't have any problems with the wireless AI computers, if people want to spend that much money, but I don't think having them as your ONLY gas gauge is a good idea.

It is not a bad thought, to streamline your gear. But there are other ways to ensure that hoses aren't causing drag or forming entanglement hazards.

 

[BDCollins]

TSandM,

Great point...I'm think i'm starting to lean toward the Cobra 3.

 

[Downing]

Unless you're in a hurry, you might want to wait to check out Atomic's new Cobalt computer--so new it's not even on the market yet but should be soon.

I currently use a Cobra2, but I'm a big fan of all things Atomic so I'm planning to scoop one up as soon as it's available and pass the Cobra2 off to either my wife or son. Knowing Atomic the way I do, the Cobalt will be expensive but so is the Cobra3. If you do get the Cobra, I strongly recommend spending the extra $$ for the quick disconnect.

As far as streamlining goes, if you're thinking about this in the context of moving more gracefully through the water as opposed to just having fewer pieces of gear to deal with, what with all the gear we have to put on we're already pretty much like buffalos under water so I don't think hoses make that much difference.

 

[OldNSalty]

The good and the bad about posting on this forum is that you will get posters of all skill levels and varied diving backgrounds. Sometimes you have to take into consideration, if they do not, their perspective when they answer your question.

For me, I dive warm and typically not over 100’-probably average about 85’. I find an AIR2 works fine as I do not need to make a lot of adjustments during a dive. If I were diving somewhere cold, where a lot of weight was required, I would not use my AIR2.

I do not have a hose-less AI computer (yet) but I think it would be fine for the diving I do. After all, my plan for an equipment failure is to basically end the dive and surface-either at my planned exit point (an anchor line) or head up from where I am. This plan would not work for all divers in all situations. Because you should have an idea of how much air you have without looking at your SPG, if it should fail, you should be able to comfortably return to your exit point and end the dive. For some people, the rarity or expense of a dive may make this an unpalatable option so they may use 2 SPG’s or stay away from wireless altogether.

In the end, try before you buy and decide what YOU like and what works for YOUR diving.

 

[halocline]

The only thing keeping me alive underwater is the air in my tank. I want to know how much there is and I certainly don't intend to trust my life to a silicon diode.

I'm not sure reducing hose count makes ANY difference. The new Miflex hoses are pretty light and quite flexible. The diameter of their HP hose is less than a pencil.

With the long hose primary and necklaced octo, all hoses wind up being routed very close to the body. There are no hoses flying free like you see in the advertisements. As a result, the hoses are not creating much additional drag. So, the only possible gain is reducing flying weight and that's just foolishness. How much could possibly be saved? And really, how much drag could they create anyway?

I like the idea of the necklaced octo. Of all the changes over the last 20 years, I think this is the one that makes the most sense. The regulator is dangling just inches below your chin, right where you can find it when you need it. It certainly won't be dragging in the sand. Donating the primary also makes a lot of sense. For one thing, the 'victim' knows that it was working a few seconds ago.

Another thing to consider with the AIR II type device is the way it dangles from a hose that, by definition, can't be tied down. If you tend to get close to the bottom, there is a possibility that the reg will get filled with debris.

Richard

Other than the bit about "the only thing keeping me alive..." I agree wholeheartedly with this post. If the air in the tank was truly the only thing keeping divers alive, then many more would be dead. This is why we have the buddy system. For a solo diver who is too deep to do a CESA and who has no redundant air source, your statement is true. For the rest of us, which I'm sure includes you, it is not.

You have otherwise described the situation with the hose routing and the false premise of greater streamlining very well IMO. In addition to your comments, I would add that the octo/inflator requires that you have a longer-than-ideal corrugated inflator hose, and a larger-than-ideal inflator mechanism. Both of these conditions result in more clutter and inconvenience than the removal of a hose reduces. While it's convenient to be able to see your remaining gas on your wrist with the AI wireless, once you get some dive experience you'll realize, like most experienced divers, that you only need to look at your SPG occasionally. Keeping it clipped off neatly on a D ring makes this very easy to do with a minimum of clutter.

The "OW long hose" set up of a primary reg on a 5 ft hose with a bungied octo is very comfortable, great for air sharing, and about as streamlined in the water as you can get. If you do decide to go with the octo/inflator, consider still putting your primary on a 5 ft hose. If you ever have to share air you'll really appreciate it. You'll also be halfway there once you decide you've had enough of the octo/inflator, which coincidentally might happen once you've had to adjust buoyancy and breathe off the thing during the same air-sharing experience. It's not that you can't do it, it's just that it's much easier when you have a separate regulator and inflator. Especially considering that's how you do it the remaining 99.99% of the time when you're not in a dive emergency situation.

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

My new setup has a necklaced octo and a 5' primary hose.

I'm not sure I like the long hose because I still have a snorkel on my mask strap. I don't think I am willing to give up the snorkel so I may revert to a shorter hose.

Richard

Richard,

I'm going through exactly the same thing. I'm still experimenting (for over a year ) with hose length for the primary, but am very happy with the necklaced backup.

I am going back and forth between a 5' Miflex routed under right arm and across the chest and behind the neck (but this does potentially cause a conflict with a snorkel if the snorkel is not worn properly); 48" hose routed under right arm with a 90 degree elbow fitting on 2nd stage, and 5' routed under right arm, no elbow fitting.

The 48" under the arm with the elbow fitting is winning so far

Best wishes.

 

[claymore]

When I started getting equipment Some of the instructors & DM's recommended the SS1 for an alternate air source instead of the standard octo. I followed their recommendations and picked up an SS1. When I started to dive with it I found that it had one nasty quirk that I had not thought or head about, when breathing off of the SS1 the movement of my head was severely limited by the shortness and stiffness of the corrugated hose when I tried to look to the right. Between that and The issue of controlling buoyancy if sharing air has moved me towards a 5' Mifflin primary hose and a bungied second on a Mifflin hose. I know that that is the setup I will use if I have to travel and rent a bcd and maybe the one that I settle on permanently.