How do you setup your primary and secondary regulators/hoses for recreational?

[tbone1004]

@jseyfert3 the "streamlined" setup is something that many of us have been doing for a long time and Dive Rite thankfully capitalized on it and markets it along with DGX.

basically it is set up exactly like the long hose setup, but instead of a 60" or 84" hose, it is on a 36-40" hose with an angle adapter or ball swivel.


regarding gear. If you are going to buy gear, and if you are going to travel, make sure to take it if it is something other than a jacket BC with the "normal" recreational reg setup because it will be different. I tell all of my students and anyone who asks, to look at the end and buy the gear for that. Some of it may be a bit overkill for what you are doing, but it prevents buying twice, which is the only thing more annoying to me than having to do rework.
If you have interest in wreck, cave, or any technical diving, then buy a BP/W now, and buy a reg set with hoses configured for either long hose or streamlined OW. Only difference here is going to be your primary regulator hose length at either 40" with a swivel, 60", or 84". Everything else is the same. At the same time, I recommend buying a doubles regulator set because the cost of the extra first stage now may save you an emergency trip to the technician as well as a potentially lost dive. Doubles reg sets are typically only $150 or so more than the singles regs, but a spare first stage is usually well over $200.

Call Tobin, buy a BP/W, you'll want the extra weight diving up where you are. It is also likely the only rig that will fit you properly at a skinny 6'5" since he makes long and extra long backplates. I can all but guarantee that no one makes a jacket BC that will fit you properly, and know for a fact that no one else makes a backplate that will fit you properly. Wing will likely be a Torus 26 or LCD30 if you go with a drysuit, but if you go with a 7mm farmer john, will have to be bigger which isn't ideal for travel.

For regulators there are a myriad of options, but buying used is a great option as long as you weigh the cost of service into it. Unfortunately you're about a month late for some incredible black friday and Xmas sales from the manufacturers, but there are still good deals out there. I would buy a doubles regulator set which will have all of the right hose lengths and that gives you a spare first stage to either hold onto in your save a dive kit in case something fails, or for in the future if you decide to dive with a pony/doubles/h-valve/sidemount

 

[Storker]

the vast majority of divers I certified then went out and rented equipment when they dived, and when you rent, that is NOT what you get.

This is a major difference between American/warm climate divers and North Europe divers: around here, it's the norm that people have their own gear.

 

[Freewillow]

This is a major difference between American/warm climate divers and North Europe divers: around here, it's the norm that people have their own gear.

Of Course, I would never want to dive in the insanely cold waters of Norway without my own gear ...................
.....................................................................................................Wait a minute......................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................................
You must be out of your mind to dive there.............................................................................................................
Forget about Norway......................I am too old or too savvy for this ..........................................

 

[jseyfert3]

regarding gear. If you are going to buy gear, and if you are going to travel, make sure to take it if it is something other than a jacket BC with the "normal" recreational reg setup because it will be different. I tell all of my students and anyone who asks, to look at the end and buy the gear for that. Some of it may be a bit overkill for what you are doing, but it prevents buying twice, which is the only thing more annoying to me than having to do rework.
If you have interest in wreck, cave, or any technical diving, then buy a BP/W now, and buy a reg set with hoses configured for either long hose or streamlined OW. Only difference here is going to be your primary regulator hose length at either 40" with a swivel, 60", or 84". Everything else is the same. At the same time, I recommend buying a doubles regulator set because the cost of the extra first stage now may save you an emergency trip to the technician as well as a potentially lost dive. Doubles reg sets are typically only $150 or so more than the singles regs, but a spare first stage is usually well over $200.

Call Tobin, buy a BP/W, you'll want the extra weight diving up where you are. It is also likely the only rig that will fit you properly at a skinny 6'5" since he makes long and extra long backplates. I can all but guarantee that no one makes a jacket BC that will fit you properly, and know for a fact that no one else makes a backplate that will fit you properly. Wing will likely be a Torus 26 or LCD30 if you go with a drysuit, but if you go with a 7mm farmer john, will have to be bigger which isn't ideal for travel.

For regulators there are a myriad of options, but buying used is a great option as long as you weigh the cost of service into it. Unfortunately you're about a month late for some incredible black friday and Xmas sales from the manufacturers, but there are still good deals out there. I would buy a doubles regulator set which will have all of the right hose lengths and that gives you a spare first stage to either hold onto in your save a dive kit in case something fails, or for in the future if you decide to dive with a pony/doubles/h-valve/sidemount

Thanks. As I mentioned in the other thread, I haven't called Tobin yet cause I needed to give him suit buoyancy, though if I go dry as everyone suggests on my thread asking about that I guess that's no longer a sticking point.

Good idea on the regs. I think I would eventually like to try wreck and/or cave diving, though I know my wife will not be joining me on those dives.

I'm likely to jump right into servicing my own regs, after buying and reading a book about them. I've been taking stuff apart and putting (most of) it back together since I was a kid. I was ever curious how things worked. When I bought a netbook at the hight of the netbook crazy, before tablets took over, I took it apart just too see how they shoved everything in such a small package. So for no reason, the first day I got it. Voiding the warranty, of course.

I didn't miss those sales as much as just not have spare cash, having to shell out of pocket for one last class I needed for my degree as well as Christmas presents.

 

[AdivingBel]

So does that mean I should buy a jacket BCD as my first BCD, even though after reading here I'm pretty sure I want a BP/W?

No, I'm saying you should go dive a bit first as you were trained so you'll have some of your own experience to help with your decision. Meet some other divers and most importantly just dive. Don't start out caught up in the gear and training kerfuffle right off the bat and certainly don't use JUST SB as a reason to do something before you get some experience of your own. This is a wonderful resource, but it's not the be all end all of the diving universe. There is a huge gap between the discussions that go on on this board and the real world and if you get out dive it will help with the perspective. That's all.

What very good reason is there not to use primary donate from a long hose all the time?

Because IMHO (and just my opinion) it's a huge, unnecessary bother for a warm water, rec diver. I'm not diving in an overhead environment or having to share air with a buddy through constricted confines. If I'm assisting someone in an OOG situation I want to look them in the eye so I have some hope of controlling the situation as we make our way directly & safely to the surface. Why would I want to pack around/wrestle a 7' piece of hose when I can accomplish the same thing with a 40 inch hose. My wife and I share air all the time when diving and it's not a problem. Granted we're holding hands, but I like that. If the length is good enough for an extended time it would certainly be good enough to directly surface. More than that it would just be a hazard if it's not necessary. I'm sure there are other types of diving were it's customary and necessary. Then it's the right choice, but not for me and the type of diving that I do. If it works for you great, but for me it's a very good reason. That's the whole point. It's a big ocean out there.

 

[CAPTAIN SINBAD]

I am set up to donate my primary which will be on a 7 foot long hose. My secondary is for me and I wear that in an "octo" necklace.

I feel that in an air-share situation, you need to have enough hose length to swim horizontally. This recreational 39 inch short hose is a huge compromise. Try swimming a length of the pool while air sharing and it wont be the most comfortable experience. When you give the "octo" to your buddy, you will be chest to chest so assuming a horizontal trim position is not possible now for either of the two divers. Since you are stuck in a vertical position the only direction you can go is UP! This may be a bad idea even in open water. I do most of my diving in NC where current near the surface is brutal. We always swim back to the anchor/ascent line and go up. By the time we are at safety stop, we would be hanging to the ascent line like flags while the current will try to rip us away. Imagine doing a free ascent from 100 feet into stronger and stronger current while doing air share. It would be a very very bad idea! Both divers will surface a mile away from the boat and in order to save one diver from going out of air we are subjecting two divers to a "diver swept away scenario."

I have asked three different instructors how will they do a safety stop while donating with a short hose? Two have said that they can not. It is not necessary so they will skip it. One says they he will do a safety stop vertically while holding his our of air student in a vertical "dance like position." Imagine that! Keep in mind that air share situations rarely happen in 30 feet depth. These situations almost always happen at the depth limits of recreational diving so think 115 - 130 feet. Going straight up without a stop means that in order to save one guy from out of air we are now subjecting two to DCS.

People think that long hose is for overheads but short hose appears to be a major safety compromise in open water.

 

[Storker]

You must be out of your mind to dive there

Rather, out of funds to travel to dive all the time.

Cold water diving isn't that crazy. Just get the right gear and learn to use it properly. It ain't rocket science, and it costs less than one warm water trip.

 

[Doby45]

I am set up to donate my primary which will be on a 7 foot long hose. My secondary is for me and I wear that in an "octo" necklace.

I feel that in an air-share situation, you need to have enough hose length to swim horizontally. This recreational 39 inch short hose is a huge compromise. Try swimming a length of the pool while air sharing and it wont be the most comfortable experience. When you give the "octo" to your buddy, you will be chest to chest so assuming a horizontal trim position is not possible now for either of the two divers. Since you are stuck in a vertical position the only direction you can go is UP! This may be a bad idea even in open water. I do most of my diving in NC where current near the surface is brutal. We always swim back to the anchor/ascent line and go up. By the time we are at safety stop, we would be hanging to the ascent line like flags while the current will try to rip us away. Imagine doing a free ascent from 100 feet into stronger and stronger current while doing air share. It would be a very very bad idea! Both divers will surface a mile away from the boat and in order to save one diver from going out of air we are subjecting two divers to a "diver swept away scenario."

I have asked three different instructors how will they do a safety stop while donating with a short hose? Two have said that they can not. It is not necessary so they will skip it. One says they he will do a safety stop vertically while holding his our of air student in a vertical "dance like position." Imagine that! Keep in mind that air share situations rarely happen in 30 feet depth. These situations almost always happen at the depth limits of recreational diving so think 115 - 130 feet. Going straight up without a stop means that in order to save one guy from out of air we are now subjecting two to DCS.

People think that long hose is for overheads but short hose appears to be a major safety compromise in open water.

You scenario is flawed the fact that a "safety stop" is not required. If you are in open water and lose air and your buddy has a 40" hose to share you simply go to the surface. You will not be doing "safety stops" when you are dealing with an OOA diver.

 

[jseyfert3]

No, I'm saying you should go dive a bit first as you were trained so you'll have some of your own experience to help with your decision. Meet some of other divers and most importantly just dive. Don't start out caught up in the gear and training kerfuffle right off the bat and certainly don't use JUST SB as a reason to do something before you get some experience of your own. This is a wonderful resource, but it's not the be all end all of the diving universe. There is a huge gap between the discussions that go on on this board and the real world and if you get out dive it will help with the perspective. That's all.

My viewpoint is that if I go dive, say 6 weekends, just to dive, I'll have spent $270 on regs and BCD in rental, or basically 1/4 of the cost of brand new gear! So for me it seems to makes sense to learn what I can, then make the best choice with the knowledge I have and buy my own gear from the get-go.

 

[tbone1004]

Thanks. As I mentioned in the other thread, I haven't called Tobin yet cause I needed to give him suit buoyancy, though if I go dry as everyone suggests on my thread asking about that I guess that's no longer a sticking point.

Good idea on the regs. I think I would eventually like to try wreck and/or cave diving, though I know my wife will not be joining me on those dives.

I'm likely to jump right into servicing my own regs, after buying and reading a book about them. I've been taking stuff apart and putting (most of) it back together since I was a kid. I was ever curious how things worked. When I bought a netbook at the hight of the netbook crazy, before tablets took over, I took it apart just too see how they shoved everything in such a small package. So for no reason, the first day I got it. Voiding the warranty, of course.

I didn't miss those sales as much as just not have spare cash, having to shell out of pocket for one last class I needed for my degree as well as Christmas presents.

if that is the case, call Deep6 and talk to Chris Richardson. Tell him I sent you over to him and pick his brain about regs for a bit. You won't be sorry

@CAPTAIN SINBAD sharing air and swimming around in OW with a 40" hose on an adapter is a non-issue. Not necessarily as comfortable as a long hose, but you can kick freely. On a safety stop it has the advantage of the angle adapter allowing you to stay face to face, but at a decent distance apart. It's plenty long enough