Issue: SS1 on a QD pro

[mrtremere]

Question #1
I have a Sea Quest Pro QD vest and just got a SS1 alternet air source. Its great, but I cant really look around when its in use. Will this be a safety risk. Should I get the lesser quality Aqua Lung Alternet Air. I don't want to go back to my Scuba Pro R190 octo.

Question #2
Keep the R190 or sell it???

 

[RobbieTheHun]

The SS1 is not designed to be used with the Pro QD in fact you have to shave off some rubber where you tie wrap the unit to the hose in order for it to even fit properly. In addition the Atomic hose that comes with the SS1 is thicker than the standard inflator hose and this can cause the unit to splay to the left, that's why you are having trouble looking around. If you must have an integrated octo/inflator then the air source is designed to work with this BC. Remember this is part of your emergency gear and as such should be absolutely problem free. I will allow others to elaborate.

 

[Pickled]

Atomic makes a slick adapter kit that works with almost any hose including the Seaquest line. Allows the SS1 to swivel on the hose as well as be unscrewed from the hose for rinsing. If you don't have one of these adapters it might be worth checking out.

 

[rakkis]

SS1s come with 3 different corrugated hose attachment kits out of the box.

Remember, its meant for using when sharing your primary with your buddy. Once that happens, you shouldn't be looking around; you should be ending the dive.

 

[BigWhiteSquare]

You might try getting a longer corrugated hose for your BC. That's what I did when I put my SS1 on my BP/W.

 

[*Floater*]

Question #2
Keep the R190 or sell it???

A standard second stage with a short (22" or 24") hose stowed on a bungee necklace around the neck seems to be prefered by many tech and cave divers. If you think you might get into that type of diving one day then you might want to hang on tothe R190. And even if you don't, you might want to hang onto it a little longer (since you are a new diver) just in case you end up changing your mind about the SS1. I'll let people with R190 experience expand on whether or not it would be a good backup choice were you to decide later on to go with that type of setup.