Integrated 2nd vs. Octo....Any Input?

[KY_BOB]

Hello all,

I am new to diving, and I am looking to purchase a set of equipment, and I have heard good and bad things about having an integrated second vs. an octopus. Does anyone have any input on this?

Because what I buy depends on what I want to get "out" of diving, I want to do wreck dives, deep diving, as well as hunting/bug catching and just "regular" scuba.

Any input is greatly appreciated (and Im sorry if this is a repost, but I searched and didnt see anything...)

-Ryan

Your going to get lots of very strong opinions on this.

Personally, I think I'm going to give you some pretty good advise. Try both. Breath off of both. See if your comfortable inflating and deflating your BC while breathing off of the air2.

My LDS is more than glad to let you try something like that so that you can make an informed decision.

Then ignore all of the people that have the attitude "it's my way or the highway" and decide for yourself.


Personally, I'm comfortable with my air2. I just did a rescue class with it. We did several OOA drills and I found that I prefer to donate my primary and have my secondary close by. Mine has a balanced regulator and it breathes nearly as well as my primary and I had no problem breathing off of it while inflating or deflating my BC.

Some people aren't comfortable doing some of those tasks with an air2.

Figure out what you like and go for it.

 

[BettyRubble]

As a fellow newbie I can understand the frustration of figuring out the best configuration. I've had the fortune (or misfortune) of having dove both. Trained on the octu setup, but my OW cert was with the Air2. Definietely preferred the octu and when I bought my reg that is the setup I went with. I suggest you try both. See what you are comfortable with. Ask your LDS. They are usually great about letting you try different configurations.

Oh and like the previous poster I do prefer handing off my primary and breathing from my backup. But that is accomplished with the octu setup too.

 

[elan]

Hello all,

I am new to diving, and I am looking to purchase a set of equipment, and I have heard good and bad things about having an integrated second vs. an octopus. Does anyone have any input on this?

Because what I buy depends on what I want to get "out" of diving, I want to do wreck dives, deep diving, as well as hunting/bug catching and just "regular" scuba.

Any input is greatly appreciated (and Im sorry if this is a repost, but I searched and didnt see anything...)

-Ryan

Just get your primary on a long (5') hose and your secondary on the neckless You will get used to this configuration and if you go further you will use it later when you dive doubles. That the option I have found most suitable for me. The secondary will always be there for you and the long hose is very comfortable when you donate it and nothing hangs around

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Good lord, that was a lot to weed through to establish that you're a tech and an AirII is not the correct choice for the OP.

Cave diver and a Tech - lets get it all straight if you are gonna bring it up. But that has nothing to do with it.

People tend to answer this specific question from a personal point of view based on personal bias with no real consideration that not everyone needs the same thing and that what may be optimum for one diver may not be optimum for another.

A little balance and or some reasoning why something is a good or bad choice, rather than just a statement that it is or is not a good or bad choice often helps.

 

[ONESPEED]

Pros:
It's easier to find if a primary is ripped out of you mouth.
Less posibility of being knocked loose and getting caught up or being destructive to sensitve environments.
1 less hose to deal with.
Actually less points of failure than a standard octo(extra connection points and hose is used with a standard octo)
Re address of cons:
Some models breath as well as many mainstream regulators(don't unfairly consider them as a group)
A longer inflator hose is available and addresses the head movement plus some user don't even need this modification.
Practicing buoyancy control while breathing on it will make it second nature. (Learn to use release valves)
Maintainence should be performed by qualified personel.

My secondary is bunjeed around my neck, both easy to find and makes it impossible to "be destructive to sensitve environments." That longer hose you suggest to make it moderately functional could sure do some reef dragging though. You're really reaching to justify this P.O.S., which is always the case with alternate air source/inflator users.

 

[ONESPEED]

People tend to answer this specific question from a personal point of view based on personal bias with no real consideration that not everyone needs the same thing and that what may be optimum for one diver may not be optimum for another.

Well my personal point of view is I have owned not one but two of these ridiculous pieces of equipment, yeah, I admit it, they fooled me twice. Luckily for me I was able to admit I made a mistake and move on. There is no good or valid reason to use a combo octo/inflator over a simple and reliable dedicated octo.

 

[promocop]

..." no valid reason..."? DUH how about simplicty and less drag? My SS1 Titanium breathes as easy as any OCTO I ever had...and sold. Less hoses, less things to go wrong.

 

[The Kraken]

"DUH how about simplicty and less drag?"

I would follow that argument if you could give me some empirical data as to how much gas one saves during a dive because of the deletion of one LP hose.

Could you provide me that information?

the K

 

[elan]

When I swapped my Mares Icon BCD for a simple back plate w/o wing and made the first dive that was a damn improvement in "less drag" Even in a dry suit

 

[RJP]

..." no valid reason..."? DUH how about simplicity and less drag?

I'd buy into that reason if not for the fact that whenever I hear it, it's coming from someone who's bicycle kicking like mad, swimming with their hands, at a 45deg angle, over-weighted to the hilt, wearing a 10" bowie knife strapped to their calf and an ill-fitting BCD adorned with all manner of folding pockets, retractors, doo-dads, and gadgets.

Good thing they've eliminated that one hose, huh?