LOVING the Aeris Air link (air2)

[Frosty]

Hey folks. Ive recently ditched the octi off my rig and gone to an aeris airlink unit.
I genuinely dont understand why it isnt standard issue for all OW divers.
No fumbling for the octi No mucking around.
Because the bc inflator is always to hand anyway its easy to grab for it.I dive with an aeris bc so the buttons are the same.
About the ONLY issue is a slight restriction in right hand neck rotation whilst using it as my air supply.
Diving with my regular buddy we found that a "rescue" was a bit quicker than with an octi. I was told that the shorter hose on the primary reg would cause rescue issues but we found none. I'd likely go to a longer hose for penetration wreck dives or cavern dives. But I'd do that anyways.
A side effect I quite like was that using the buttons just right I could use my expelled air to orally inflate my bc.

So far so good.

 

[Primalchrome]

I used an Aqualung Airsource 3 for the first year or so of diving and loved it...still do for a number of reasons. I ended up ditching it for a standard inflator and a short hose secondary on a bungee. Why? Not for any reason regarding quality of hardware or operation...it was because of the people factor.

While down in Nassau I had a few dives with instabuddies. While we were doing our buddy check, I was explaining how the Airsource 3 would inflate/deflate the BC and how that would work if I were using it as a regulator at the same time. The end result? A grin. A "yeah yeah". And off they were onto their own thing. It was obvious that they didn't care and weren't really paying attention. Which means that if they're having to help bring me up from depth, they're probably going to screw it up and send me skyrocketing with an embolism.

So basically I dumbed down my equipment in the hopes of giving me a larger margin of safety when I'm forced to deal with instabuddies. This is also why the next investment for me is a bail out bottle and tertiary regulator.

 

[Frosty]

primal--I hear you. and your point loud n clear. Lucky for me my dive buddies are basicly now people I know.
Funnilly enough thinking exactly what you were thinking I'm carrying my inflator and octi in my gear bag.

 

[CarcharodonCarcharias]

Wouldn't this concern/issue be resolved if you switch to the airlink/air source3 and have the out-of-air buddy use your regulator?

 

[BDSC]

I have used an AIR II since 91 when I was certified. It has worked flawlessly. While I have never had to use it in a true OOA situation that I can remember, I have practiced doing that a number of times and had no problem doing an airshare. I wouldn't dive any other way.

 

[uncfnp]

Wouldn't this concern/issue be resolved if you switch to the airlink/air source3 and have the out-of-air buddy use your regulator?

Agreed, with the in line alternate air sources, the primary is donated and you use the alternate so misuse of the inflator button is not an issue.

 

[Frosty]

Agreed, with the in line alternate air sources, the primary is donated and you use the alternate so misuse of the inflator button is not an issue.

My understanding of his point was that the instabuddy wouldn't know how to inflate my BC if I was OOA or I guess unresponsive with air in my tank.
and the instabuddy if they are the OOA wouldn't understand I will donate my primary and breath the air2 as well as inflate/deflate the bc with the air2 in my mouth.

 

[tdtaylor]

I have been tempted to go with a Air 2/3, but with teaching, especially in the first classes, we always have our hand on our alternate. It's one thing to zip out the alternate to the student while you breath your primary, but another to quickly donate your primary, put in your Air 3, all the while keeping a hand/eye on the student and their issues.

Terry

 

[uncfnp]

My understanding of his point was that the instabuddy wouldn't know how to inflate my BC if I was OOA or I guess unresponsive with air in my tank.
and the instabuddy if they are the OOA wouldn't understand I will donate my primary and breath the air2 as well as inflate/deflate the bc with the air2 in my mouth.

That's an interesting thought. Obviously, even OOA you will still be responsible for inflating your own BC. At the surface, just orally inflate, same as you would with standard inflator. If for some reason you need to inflate at depth and you are OOA (?), again the technique would be pretty much the same as with standard inflator. If you are unconscious and your rescuer needed to inflate, I don't think the inflation button on the in-line air units, like air 2, are significantly different that the diver would be unable to inflate your BC. But I admit I have not been in that situation as victim or rescuer and have not tested the concept.

If the instabuddy signals OOA, just hand him the primary as you take the air 2. If he doesn't signal and just grabs, it's your primary that he would likely be going after anyway!

edit: now that I think about it, on 2 separate occasions on 2 different units, Eric's inflator valve stuck so he disconnected the hose and both times dove and just orally inflated through his air 2, no problems.

 

[Frosty]

That's an interesting thought. Obviously, even OOA you will still be responsible for inflating your own BC. At the surface, just orally inflate, same as you would with standard inflator. If for some reason you need to inflate at depth and you are OOA (?), again the technique would be pretty much the same as with standard inflator. If you are unconscious and your rescuer needed to inflate, I don't think the inflation button on the in-line air units, like air 2, are significantly different that the diver would be unable to inflate your BC. But I admit I have not been in that situation as victim or rescuer and have not tested the concept.

Im hopeing I won't find out "for real" anytime soon. I guess the only maybee issue is oral inflate by a rescuer if im ooa and out to it.but then option two is dump one of my weight pockets