In search of octo holder that actually works

[redacted]

The scubapro Octo holder does a good job. https://www.amazon.com/ScubaPro-Octopus-Retainer-Plug-Clip/dp/B000L9D12E/ref

 

[sunnyboy]

I just want something cheap that works for the time being.

Marie,

You are asking good questions, which shows you are thinking about your diving.

Allow me to share my own experience. I taught SDI and now PADI. In the pool I use the snorkel keeper (the dumbell shaped bit of rubber) to hold the Octo. *** IT NEVER WORKS ***. I could spend more time puting the thing back than teaching.

For open water, whether teaching (PADI & SDI) or my own bubble diving (I also dive a rebreather, so nevermind that bit), I have a normal regulator set. That is, standard length primary, standard length secondary (i.e. fairly short), drysuit whip, wing LP hose and a brass SPG, which I clip to my harness.

I bungee my secondary ALWAYS. Why? Well, if someone goes OOA on you (Out of Air), they invariably forget all the nice training and just see you breathing from a nice bubbling reg. So they grab that out of your mouth. Outside training, you don't see many OOA signals or air share sequences unless folks are "training". Again, real life they come up and yank the working reg out of your mouth.

With the bungeed secondarly, my alternate air supply is right there under my chin, ready to pop in, clear and breathe. No muss, no fuss. I never have to worry if it's come undone, gone behind me or dragged in the sand (and messed up).

My bungee is a simple length of 1/4in bungee cord and four zip ties. I can make one in about 2 minutes if I lose it.

I have taught with this setup for SDI and PADI, and it is NOT, repeat NOT forbidden for students who are learning. I encourage you to try it out as you may never go back to the dorky keepers that don't work again.

p.s. any instructor who says "you can't use that" should perhaps be avoided.

 

[Centrals]

For me personally the"octo" holder that actually work is "bungee", and the 2nd stage is just below my chin.

 

[Joneill]

Marie,

You are asking good questions, which shows you are thinking about your diving.

Allow me to share my own experience. I taught SDI and now PADI. In the pool I use the snorkel keeper (the dumbell shaped bit of rubber) to hold the Octo. *** IT NEVER WORKS ***. I could spend more time puting the thing back than teaching.

I have a very different experience: I use a rubber snorkel keeper and, in 50 OW dives so far, it has NEVER come undone - not even once. I do make sure the snorkel keeper is seated behind the cut zip tie end on the octo mouthpiece.

 

[tridacna]

On the plus side, this thread has the makings of a new SB "issue" like MOF, Spare Air, BPWs, Long hoses etc etc. The latest one being anything but a Shearwater computer will lead to instant death of course.

 

[Marie13]

Marie,

You are asking good questions, which shows you are thinking about your diving.

Allow me to share my own experience. I taught SDI and now PADI. In the pool I use the snorkel keeper (the dumbell shaped bit of rubber) to hold the Octo. *** IT NEVER WORKS ***. I could spend more time puting the thing back than teaching.

For open water, whether teaching (PADI & SDI) or my own bubble diving (I also dive a rebreather, so nevermind that bit), I have a normal regulator set. That is, standard length primary, standard length secondary (i.e. fairly short), drysuit whip, wing LP hose and a brass SPG, which I clip to my harness.

I bungee my secondary ALWAYS. Why? Well, if someone goes OOA on you (Out of Air), they invariably forget all the nice training and just see you breathing from a nice bubbling reg. So they grab that out of your mouth. Outside training, you don't see many OOA signals or air share sequences unless folks are "training". Again, real life they come up and yank the working reg out of your mouth.

With the bungeed secondarly, my alternate air supply is right there under my chin, ready to pop in, clear and breathe. No muss, no fuss. I never have to worry if it's come undone, gone behind me or dragged in the sand (and messed up).

My bungee is a simple length of 1/4in bungee cord and four zip ties. I can make one in about 2 minutes if I lose it.

I have taught with this setup for SDI and PADI, and it is NOT, repeat NOT forbidden for students who are learning. I encourage you to try it out as you may never go back to the dorky keepers that don't work again.

p.s. any instructor who says "you can't use that" should perhaps be avoided.

Instructor did not specifically say no to necklace, but to keep things as they have been and no changes, to quit fussing with my gear.

I associate necklace with primary donation. Didn't even consider using necklace as simply an octo holder.

 

[Hatul]

I use a bungee necklace for my primary regulator (short hose). This makes sense to me as I've never lost my regulator and it's always close to my mouth.

My octo is on a longer hose (the traditional rec system) and to secure it I use a loop of bungee. One end of the loop attaches to the D ring and the other end has a cord lock, so the loop can be tightened around the mouthpiece of the octo. After deploying the octo to reinsert it I enlarge the loop by sliding the cord lock and reinsert the mouthpiece and tighten the cord lock. If anyone is interested I can post a photo.

At the Long Beach Scuba show I picked up a magnetic holder but have not tried it yet. The magnet is very strong and it should be easier than my bungee system to reattach the octo after deployment.

 

[HantsDiver]

Instructor did not specifically say no to necklace, but to keep things as they have been and no changes, to quit fussing with my gear.

I associate necklace with primary donation. Didn't even consider using necklace as simply an octo holder.

A necklace isn't associated with primary donation - it defines it unless you are planning on snapping off the necklace. But it works. It works ever better if you get a 7foot (twin/doubles) or 5foot(single tank) primary hose. With the 5 foot you won't even need an expensive torch to secure the hose.

There is a reason why every respectable diver uses this configuration - it's because it's better. If you are worried about looking like a techy then simply say "**** off" to those who challenge it.

 

[Hatul]

@Marie13 if your instructor can provide a truly valid reason for why he thinks the secondary donate is a superior method of sharing gas with a buddy, then I have no problem with it. Same with someone that can provide the same information for a jacket bc.
That said, I have yet to see one... Until such a time, he has no grounds to stand on for requiring it.

@tridacna gave a great option for securing the second stage to the BC, and those that have indicated that stuffing a hose into the d-ring is not going to provide any appreciable stress to it are absolutely correct. The braided hoses can kink if tugged too hard, but they shouldn't under that circumstance, and if they do, will release once it comes out of the d-ring.

@Schwaeble in sidemount I use the bungee loops that are shown in the video on an earlier page, but my Jetstreams are routed very differently than most. Many other divers that I know will just not clip off their primary regulator unless they have to and it will be easily donated in that situation.

The long hose primary donate system is necessary in cave diving and in limited space where one diver has to be behind the other. For rec diving the secondary donate offers some advantages. 1. You avoid the issues of wrapping around a long hose 2. The buddy can pull out my octo without asking me and without me swapping regulators 3. For non emergency and for practice you don't had the hygiene issue of pulling a mouthpiece from one mouth and donating to another.

 

[HantsDiver]

The long hose primary donate system is necessary in cave diving and in limited space where one diver has to be behind the other. For rec diving the secondary donate offers some advantages. 1. You avoid the issues of wrapping around a long hose 2. The buddy can pull out my octo without asking me and without me swapping regulators 3. For non emergency and for practice you don't had the hygiene issue of pulling a mouthpiece from one mouth and donating to another.

Have you ever had to donate in a none training situation? I mean seriously or someone would get hurt or die? We are jumping into poluted water to dive. There is no hygiene issue.

I have - after doing so the guy went and brought a long hose straight after stopping crying.