Central Fla
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I see regulators all the time listed as primary or octo, is there any true difference in these 2nd stage devices?
Is there any true difference between primary and octo
- Thread starter Central Fla
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On many modern reg sets, the only real difference is that the primary is balanced and the octo is not. I've seen many older sets where both were unbalanced and there was no difference between the two other than the fact that they were on different colored hoses.
There are exceptions to this: better materials used in the primary, etc.
There are exceptions to this: better materials used in the primary, etc.
It depends.
Some companies use octos that are the same as the balanced or unbalanced second stages they sell as primary second stage regulators. In those cases the only difference is that the octo may have red, yellow or orange colored trim pieces or a colored LP hose. In some cases, the inhalation effort is also set a little higher on the octo to make it more freeflow resistant.
Other companies have a designated octo that is almost always a very basic lower performance unbalanced second stage.
It is nice to be able to pick an octo that meets your specfic needs. If all you do is shallow recreational dives, an inexpensive unbalanced octo, may be adequate. However if you do deep diving or dive in more challenging conditions or environments, it is often important that you have an octo or back up regulator that is at least as high quality as your primary. In that case the octo may well be the same high quality, high performance balanced model as the primary and may be set to provide a similarly low work of breathing.
Some companies use octos that are the same as the balanced or unbalanced second stages they sell as primary second stage regulators. In those cases the only difference is that the octo may have red, yellow or orange colored trim pieces or a colored LP hose. In some cases, the inhalation effort is also set a little higher on the octo to make it more freeflow resistant.
Other companies have a designated octo that is almost always a very basic lower performance unbalanced second stage.
It is nice to be able to pick an octo that meets your specfic needs. If all you do is shallow recreational dives, an inexpensive unbalanced octo, may be adequate. However if you do deep diving or dive in more challenging conditions or environments, it is often important that you have an octo or back up regulator that is at least as high quality as your primary. In that case the octo may well be the same high quality, high performance balanced model as the primary and may be set to provide a similarly low work of breathing.
jdvaughn
Contributor
The primary regs are made to be easier breathing so that they are more suceptable to free flow. When you have an octopus in the current where it is very acceptable to be knocked or caused to free flow, than you want it to breath a little stiffer so that it wont free flow as easy. Therefore most octos are very basic and firm breathing, unlike a very dialed in primary.
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IMHO the question should be is there a deference between my 1st and 2nd,
there should not be,because in a OOA situation your buddy is going for the one you are using at that moment so your 1st. Because that one is working and you will have to fall back on your 2nd,that is one reason why the so called tech divers use there okto as a primary (on a long hose)and use there "1st" as a backup.
there should not be,because in a OOA situation your buddy is going for the one you are using at that moment so your 1st. Because that one is working and you will have to fall back on your 2nd,that is one reason why the so called tech divers use there okto as a primary (on a long hose)and use there "1st" as a backup.
OP
Central Fla
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Thanks to all. Now I also know why my integrated inflator/octo is a hard breather.
