In search of octo holder that actually works

[tridacna]

Make your own with a snap bolt, a piece of bungee and two zip ties.. Really simple. I've been using this for years.

A firm tug and the reg is available. You can tighten the loop until it's just right for you. I prefer a bolt-snap to a suicide clip especially up here in NJ.

You can clip it off wherever you please.

 

[boulderjohn]

Funny, how the "Golden Triangle" vanishes when you are actually in a trim diving position.

It's great when you are kneeling face to face in a pool, though.

 

[stuartv]

I use one of these to hold my deco reg up next to the 1st stage/valve. I think it cost something like $1.50 at my LDS. I bought it when I very first started diving. My g/f used the same thing to hold her octo. I went long hose/bungee necklace literally between finishing OW and my first "real" dive, so I never used mine until I went tech.

This type has been completely reliable for me, for what I've used it for and seen it used for.

It seems to me that a diver for whom this octo holder does not work reliably may need to consider why that is. Imagine a diver in horizontal trim, hands together in front of them, only using their fins for propulsion. What possible reasons could cause an octo to become dislodged from that holder? I simply do not believe that the octo would ever just fall out on its own. Something must be hitting the reg or pulling the octo's hose. Instead of looking for a "better" holder, maybe the solution is to "fix" whatever is knocking the reg out or pulling the hose. It might be as simple as rotating the holder around the mouthpiece, so it is coming off the reg in a different direction. Or attaching the octo holder to a different spot on the harness.

 

[RayfromTX]

snip Similarly, the "stress" put on the (consumable) hose is so insignificant large companies produce equipment encouraging this very practice...

Miflex extreme has one of the tightest bend radius specs in the market. Here's what they have to say.


Inspection and Use of Miflex Xtreme LP diving hoses

• Never secure your hose in a manner which could constantly flex or bend in the same location (i.e. create a “hinge effect”). Continuous bending at the same pivot point will shorten the life of your hose.
  
• Never over-flex your hose. Never fold the hose back onto itself. If your hose is too long, you may loop it and secure it in place with a section of rubber tubing (such as the inner tube of a bicycle tire). However, the minimum bending radius must be at least 3.5 times the outer diameter of the hose. For example, if the outer diameter of your hose is 12mm, then the minimum bending radius (as measured to the inside of the hose) is 42 mm.

This means that the outside measurement of the hose when looped back on itself should not be less than 4.5 inches. If you wish to follow the manufacturer's spec, do not bend it back on itself and secure it in a d-ring or other retainer that is smaller than 4.5 inches. If you wish to do otherwise, then go for it because you are your own scuba gear police. Carry a spare in you gear bag.

 

[boulderjohn]

Inspection and Use of Miflex Xtreme LP diving hoses

• Never secure your hose in a manner which could constantly flex or bend in the same location (i.e. create a “hinge effect”). Continuous bending at the same pivot point will shorten the life of your hose.
  
• Never over-flex your hose. Never fold the hose back onto itself. If your hose is too long, you may loop it and secure it in place with a section of rubber tubing (such as the inner tube of a bicycle tire). However, the minimum bending radius must be at least 3.5 times the outer diameter of the hose. For example, if the outer diameter of your hose is 12mm, then the minimum bending radius (as measured to the inside of the hose) is 42 mm.

Hmmm. Think about the 6" HP hoses used for the SPG on deco bottles.

 

[The Chairman]

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[boulderjohn]

I use one of these to hold my deco reg up next to the 1st stage/valve. I think it cost something like $1.50 at my LDS. I bought it when I very first started diving. My g/f used the same thing to hold her octo. I went long hose/bungee necklace literally between finishing OW and my first "real" dive, so I never used mine until I went tech.

This type has been completely reliable for me, for what I've used it for and seen it used for.

It seems to me that a diver for whom this octo holder does not work reliably may need to consider why that is. Imagine a diver in horizontal trim, hands together in front of them, only using their fins for propulsion. What possible reasons could cause an octo to become dislodged from that holder? I simply do not believe that the octo would ever just fall out on its own. Something must be hitting the reg or pulling the octo's hose. Instead of looking for a "better" holder, maybe the solution is to "fix" whatever is knocking the reg out or pulling the hose. It might be as simple as rotating the holder around the mouthpiece, so it is coming off the reg in a different direction. Or attaching the octo holder to a different spot on the harness.

View attachment 408871

That is the type used for the rental BCDs in both shops for which I worked. I still found octos fell out with some frequency. We also always kept a supply on hand during classes to replace them when they broke.

 

[HantsDiver]

Miflex extreme has one of the tightest bend radius specs in the market. Here's what they have to say.


Inspection and Use of Miflex Xtreme LP diving hoses

• Never secure your hose in a manner which could constantly flex or bend in the same location (i.e. create a “hinge effect”). Continuous bending at the same pivot point will shorten the life of your hose.
  
• Never over-flex your hose. Never fold the hose back onto itself. If your hose is too long, you may loop it and secure it in place with a section of rubber tubing (such as the inner tube of a bicycle tire). However, the minimum bending radius must be at least 3.5 times the outer diameter of the hose. For example, if the outer diameter of your hose is 12mm, then the minimum bending radius (as measured to the inside of the hose) is 42 mm.

This means that the outside measurement of the hose when looped back on itself should not be less than 4.5 inches. If you wish to follow the manufacturer's spec, do not bend it back on itself and secure it in a d-ring or other retainer that is smaller than 4.5 inches. If you wish to do otherwise, then go for it because you are your own scuba gear police. Carry a spare in you gear bag.

I am sure what you are saying is right. But...

Plenty of first stages have terrible hose routing. And you have to really manipulate hoses for twinset/doubles. Including mine. I have yet to have a serious problem. I might replace my medium pressure hoses every couple of years if I can be bothered - but it's nothing to lose sleep over.

However - I do have spares as i seem to collect rubbish. Most of my spares are miflex hoses that come with regs as I do not like them and replace them for rubber.

 

[Schwob]

Since day one have an octo holder with clip and a bungee around the mouthpiece. It used to fail when I did not cinch it hard enough. Ever since I changed the mouthpiece (apparently I bite through it in tome) to a different one, it fails way more.
Time to finally overcome inertia and use the necklace.

A question to those who have a reason to breathe two tanks empty in eg. 500 PSI steps each (sidemount, maybe independent doubles) and dive with rec divers:
Do you rig breakaway boltsnaps (o-ring) or do you just tie the boltsnap and count on (when breathing out of the necklace reg) whoever may desperately trying to tug that (to them) "octo on a boltsnap" loose to go for the reg in your mouth eventually?

 

[boulderjohn]

Plenty of first stages have terrible hose routing. And you have to really manipulate hoses for twinset/doubles. Including mine. I have yet to have a serious problem.

I had a problem. When Apex produced a set of regulator specifically designed for doubles, I bout a pair sight unseen. I discovered they were a terrible design for doubles, and the hoses had to make a right angle turn immediately after leaving the regulator. I had bubbles form at that bend almost immediately. I eventually got rid of them and went with one of a number of regulators that have a beautiful design for doubles without that ever being their original intent.