My old regulator isn't "octopus" - the buddy breather is on the BC - should I worry?

[cindycycle]

It's a pretty old set I bought used. If I needed to help a buddy, they would have to breathe off the mouthpiece on my BC, which is attached to a short hose. I dive the same shallow spring-fed lake all the time, so there isn't much call for buddy breathing. Should I buy a new octopus-type regulator?

 

[Wayward Son]

you haven't been trained in its use.

You breath off the 2nd on your BC & hand your primary to your buddy.

If that doesn't suit you, then yes, you should add an octo.

 

[knowone]

Enjoy your diving and happy practicing.

 

[Zung]

Next time you dive, try this:

1. Breathe off your 2nd (the BC mouth piece)
2. Use your shoulder dump when you ascend

It takes only a few minutes of practice, and works wonderfully.

 

[Graeme Tolton]

I find these to be a hazard on the most part... usually the primary is on a short hose, so air sharing is quite awkward. If you were to use a long hose 5 or 7 foot on your primary, it would be much easier and safer.

 

[NAUIwowee]

I work with a ScubaPro shop and all of our rental and training rigs use Air2's. All of our students are taught buddy breathing and ascent with the integrated secondary regulators and I haven't seen any of them have any problems with it. It's just a slightly different technique than using a standard octopus set-up and I don't find it awkward. Before coming to this shop, I had always used USD equipment with a standard octopus and at first did find it a little strange using the Air2; but, with a little practice, it became familiar. I don't know that I would like having a 7' hose on my primary. If you are used to a standard octopus, and that's what you feel comfortable with, then you should probably look into adding an octopus to your reg. You can always leave the integrated regulator in place as a third air source (of course, you are now going to be paying for the servicing of three second stages, instead of two), or replace it with a standard inflator. But, with a little practice, you may find using the integrated air source just as easy.

And like Wayward said, you hand your buddy your primary and breath off the inflator. I once saw a buddy team do it the other way and, although it worked, for a while there they looked very intimate.

 

[cindycycle]

Yikes - that makes sense, of course! Thanks!