Inflator style Alt Air...do you love yours?

[DevonDiver]

Like many others, I bought one (An APValves AAS to go on my Buddy Commado), but it ended up in a crate under the stairs with my other unused dive gadgets after a dozen or so dives.

Nowadays, I dive with a bungeed octo, which is consider to be the most optimal and efficient solution.

 

[Diver0001]

Nowadays, I dive with a bungeed octo, which is currently consider to be the most optimal and efficient solution.

Fixed that for you. Never close your mind.

R..

 

[redacted]

I participated in a real life rescue one time. Victim had an Air 2 type secondary... he could not establish buoyancy at the surface and was beginning to panic. He was unable to inflate the BC.... and when we went over to assist we had a hard time as well figuring out what buttons did what much less try to orally inflate the thing... from a rescuers stand point it makes my job easier if a simple regular BC inflater is used.

The problem you encountered is not unique to an octo/inflator. The Scubapro standard inflator has buttons similar to their Air2. (Big button is manual and little button is power.) There are a few variation in inflator design. I would hope that is addressed in a rescue class.

 

[Diver0001]

I would hope that is addressed in a rescue class.

It isn't normally. Differences in gear are highlighted as a potential source of problems during a rescue but there is no "special" attention given to the air-2

Incidentally, I (and my team) have also been involved in a real-world rescue (a very serious one) and I can say with some conviction that even if the gear is all standard that there will be some "fumbling" due purely to the adrenaline.

The issue Ben pointed out is an issue inherent to rescues in general and not to the air-2 specifically.

R..

 

[TSandM]

There are a couple other issues with the octo-inflators -- most of them use a non-standard inflator hose, which means that, if you have problems with your regulator, you'll have to take the hose off it to put on anything you might rent or borrow to replace it. If your BC has an issue, you will similarly have to change out hoses to rent one.

I started life with an Air2. After a couple of practiced airshares, I decided I didn't like it at all and went to the bungied backup. One thing I will say is, if you decide to use one, practice with it. They are not necessarily intuitive in function. The most frightening experience I've had underwater had to do with being in somebody else's gear, losing the primary regulator with no mask, and being unable to sort out the Air2 quickly without being able to see. (This was a drill that almost went very south.)

 

[Lead_carrier]

I used to dive with one, and don't any more. Personally, I think a combo octo/inflator is like one of those little donut-sized spare tires:

They both seem like a really great idea from a "streamlining" point of view...

...right up until the point that you need to actually use one for its intended purpose.

:shocked2:

Great anology. It isn't made to use full time but works well in an emergency.

 

[DevonDiver]

Fixed that for you. Never close your mind.

R..

Thanks

Actually that was a genuine typo (or maybe a Freudian slip exposing my prejudices).

What I meant to say was...

Nowadays, I dive with a bungeed octo, which I consider to be the most optimal and efficient solution for me.

 

[zak1227]

Welp.... the chance of a malfunction with either the BCD or Inflator/ alt Air while at a remote dive location or on a live aboard could derail your dive trip. I think I will forgo the that option for now. Would love if it if some of you have pics of your bungeed/octo set up. Thanks for all the input and doughnuts....

 

[Diver0001]

Thanks

Actually that was a genuine typo (or maybe a Freudian slip exposing my prejudices).

What I meant to say was...

Nice save!

(incidentally, I dive the same config you do.... )

 

[tboxcar]

I think everybody has some good points here, now that I'm instructing I need to have what my students have which if a standard alternative air source, but my Scuba Pro Air 2 is still on my 'set up'.
I do use a long hose on my main air source as well as my octopus, in times when I have had to use it, it's far easier, faster and accessibly, once you are use to it. My biggest concern lately is it's maintenance and it's sensitivity, I have had some issues with that. And being far, far away from my local LDS it can be frustrating:depressed: