Hose length for Primary when using AirII.

[uglyredshoes]

Hi,

Just curious, i know there isnt any absolute answer, but what is the usual length the primary hose should be when using an airII or DIR styled back up reg?

Its for recreation, so please dont tell me 7ft.

Many thanks!

 

[UWupnorth]

7ft. It even works in warm water! Try it, you'll like it.

 

[merxlin]

Hi,

Just curious, i know there isnt any absolute answer, but what is the usual length the primary hose should be when using an airII or DIR styled back up reg?

Its for recreation, so please dont tell me 7ft.

Many thanks!

I have a standard length hose and had to share air on my last local dive. No problems. In fact, when OOA guy started to jam to the surface, I was close enough to him to grab him by the chest strap on his BC and hold him back. I will say I was lucky in that I was able to identify that he was going to be OOA and had already switched to my AirII.

 

[Peter_C]

5 foot, this is will allow you to be comfortable routing the hose how you like and still have plenty of hose for your buddy. The stock regulator hoses are too short, since you donate your primary.

 

[ClayJar]

If you're diving with someone with whom "face-to-face contact" is desirable, you could use a short hose, however, a longer one will make getting to the surface much more pleasant (and once on the surface, that face-to-face contact isn't complicated by a pair of regs... and they may be additionally grateful for your forethought).

 

[sea nmf]

Am I just too old??? (Don't answer that) When I got certified, we learned buddy breathing. This is off your standard primary reg, not the octopus.

With the advent of octopus', they lengthened that hose a bit. I don't know what the that hose length is but is seemed fine.

That being said, I went with the 5' after going with a bungeed octo. It just seems like it would be more comfortable in an air share scenario. Seven foot seems a bit long for rec diving.

 

[TSandM]

The reason for having more length on the primary hose is so that you are not compelled to do an air-sharing ascent vertically and nose to nose with the OOA diver. You CAN accomplish an air-sharing exit on a shared 24" hose -- It just isn't pleasant.

You can use an octo hose (36 or 40 inches) and route it under your armpit and up to your mouth, but the angle on the reg can be uncomfortable that way and need a swivel to make it sit better. You can also use a 5' hose and route it under your armpit, across your chest, and around behind your neck to your mouth. This is actually a very nice routing if you don't want to do the 7' hose, because it keeps everything close to your body, but gives you enough slack to have options while sharing air. This is what my husband dives.

 

[grumpymedic]

AM I the only one here that would not be too worried about being face to face with another diver,using what ever secondary airsource he/she has, so long as it is giving me air. I understand the whole concept of the longer hose being more comfortable,but dang if I am out of air I will sit in your lap as long as I can keep breathing. :11:

 

[halocline]

The longer primary hose is not so much for the comfort of the OOA diver, it's for your own comfort and safety sharing air. I think TSandM hit on the issue; it's hose routing. You should maybe first try a 36-40" hose, using either a swivel as she said or simply a 90o connecting elbow to attach the hose to the reg. If that doesn't feel comfortable (you could try it on land in a shop geared up to get an approximation) try the 5ft hose wrapped. Even though it's a little more complicated routing (you'll have to practice letting the hose slip over your head when/if someone grabs the reg out of your mouth) it may be more comfortable diving.

 

[Peter Guy]

Grumpy -- I now use a 5' hose on my primary that goes along with my AirSource and NOTHING about donating a longer hose prevents me from being face-to-face with my OOA buddy. HOWEVER, because I do have 3 more feet of hose, we have choices!

From my limited experience of using a longer hose, I wouldn't have one shorter than 40" for the reg I donate. If that means I need to have a swivel on the reg, that's OK by me (and yes, I do have a swivel on my 5 footer).

For what it's worth, I've done airshares with the standard short hose on my primary and it is a real pain -- you are required to be too close for comfort.

BTW, DO not think about using a 5 or 7 foot hose if you are going to have a snorkel. Wrapping the hose around your neck is just asking to get entangled. In that case, use a 40" hose and run it under your arm and directly to your mouth.