Not your typical "How to secure octo" thread

[Diver0001]

I am seeking options and opinions on the best way for me to secure my octo on my rig. I know there are a ton of these threads on this site and many others on the internet however my setup has a caveat. I typically use a FFM and therefor in the case of an OOA scenario I would hand off my octo to the diver in need. Considering this, I have attached a long hose to my octo as opposed to my primary reg. Here are the areas I need help with:

- How should I secure the octo to my BP&W with enough strength to stay put in the sometimes chaotic environments of diving but also so that it can be pulled away by a diver in need of air?

- How should I handle all of the extra hose length? Bungee seemed like a good idea but again if a diver pulls the octo away from me the bungee would keep the hose coiled defeating the purpose.

- How important is it to keep the mouthpiece covered? I would like to keep sand and other particles out but all of the mouthpiece holders I've seen have bad reviews and ratings.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

I think you need to tell us more about your configuration. I'm not getting a good visual of how you have it set up by what you wrote. It sounds to me like you might be using an octopus with a long hose that is "stuffed" until you need it. Is that right?

As for myself, I dive two rigs. One of them is straight Hogarthian right down to the single piece webbing and one of them is a standard REC configuration with 1 regulator and a jacket.

On the Hogarthian rig I use it the way you see if you look at pictures of DIR divers (that is not to say I am a DIR diver even though my gear is nearly identical).

On the jacket, I route the octopus under the right arm and clip it off on the left side of the jacket. There are a variety of doodads you can use for that but what I use are hair bands. Hair bands are cut standard to exactly the length you need and since I give lessons in the pool every week I have a endless supply of them for free.

 

[ScubaDoo83]

tbzep - That is exactly what I was looking for as far as a way to handle the extra hose, thanks! I went with the full 48" hose so this is going to help big time.

It sounds to me like you might be using an octopus with a long hose that is "stuffed" until you need it. Is that right?

Yes, that is correct.

 

[TMHeimer]

I secure it the normal way--breakaway holder attached to a D ring. Then I tuck the octo mouthpiece under a strap you it won't dangle in sand or silt. I always gear up from the car, so sand while walking to the water is not a factor (Sand in the reg--you make that mistake only once--too costly to get it fixed).

 

[ScubaDoo83]

breakaway holder attached to a D ring

You mean something like this?

On the Hogarthian rig I use it the way you see if you look at pictures of DIR divers

All the DIR setups I've seen use a bungee to keep the secondary reg hung as a necklace. In my situation I cannot do that as I need to have my secondary ready to be torn away by a diver desperate for breath.

On the jacket, I route the octopus under the right arm and clip it off on the left side of the jacket.

I am curious as to why you clip it off on the left side? I would imagine with the inflator also being over there that would get crowded.

 

[AJ]

All the DIR setups I've seen use a bungee to keep the secondary reg hung as a necklace. In my situation I cannot do that as I need to have my secondary ready to be torn away by a diver desperate for breath.

DIR assumes you give away your primary. It's a different way of thinking.

 

[Edward3c]

I am seeking options and opinions on the best way for me to secure my octo on my rig. I know there are a ton of these threads on this site and many others on the internet however my setup has a caveat. I typically use a FFM and therefor in the case of an OOA scenario I would hand off my octo to the diver in need. Considering this, I have attached a long hose to my octo as opposed to my primary reg. Here are the areas I need help with:

- How should I secure the octo to my BP&W with enough strength to stay put in the sometimes chaotic environments of diving but also so that it can be pulled away by a diver in need of air?

- How should I handle all of the extra hose length? Bungee seemed like a good idea but again if a diver pulls the octo away from me the bungee would keep the hose coiled defeating the purpose.

- How important is it to keep the mouthpiece covered? I would like to keep sand and other particles out but all of the mouthpiece holders I've seen have bad reviews and ratings.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

Question: why do you want such a long hose on your oct rig?

I have a 1m hose coming from my left, therefore no sharp bends for the OOG diver. It's held in place by a magnetic clip so can be deployed easily.

I want the OOG diver where I can control the situation, not charging for the surface out of my reach – and then dragging me up with them.

I don't have the reg covered as it sits high up on my chest.

 

[ScubaDoo83]

DIR assumes you give away your primary. It's a different way of thinking.

I'm aware, hence this thread

I have a 1m hose coming from my left, therefore no sharp bends for the OOG diver. It's held in place by a magnetic clip so can be deployed easily.

Might you provide a picture? All of the options I've seen online look cheap and have mixed reviews.

I want the OOG diver where I can control the situation, not charging for the surface out of my reach – and then dragging me up with them.

Fair point. I went ahead with the long hose because I also want the ability to distance myself from a potential panicked diver. For a majority of my dives though I know my buddy and his/her skills personally so a mad dash to the surface is not likely with these folks (though not impossible).
I also want to eventually make my rig true DIR and thus want to have experience working with a long hose for sharing.

 

[AJ]

It's funny as I had this same discussion last weekend with some CMAS divers as I'am a GUE follower. It struck me all at once that diving philosophies are not good or bad, or even better or worse, they are just different. The thing that struck me most is that you better choose one philosophy and stick to it. Combining parts of different philosophies means at least an sub optimal solution, and maybe even a dangerous solution.

My advise is: choose a system and learn to use what you have. Only then you will be able to dive save with your rig. What you choose does not matter much, as all philosophies have their specific drawbacks. Knowing these drawbacks and anticipating problems is important however.

 

[Edward3c]

Might you provide a picture? All of the options I've seen online look cheap and have mixed reviews.

This is like the one I have.

 

[tbone1004]

ok, obviously those pointing to primary donate didn't fully read the start of the thread since this is about using an FFM where primary donate is possible, but really stupid. The best way that I have found to run a FFM while trying to stay somewhat normal is the following.
FFM ideally run from the left side with a 90* elbow and a hose going under your left arm and up.
7' hose on the right post that is hog looped and clipped off to the right shoulder using this method below. It allows you to keep it clipped off since you don't have great real estate under your FFM for a neck mounted secondary, but allows you to grab it real easily for you to use or a buddy to use without having to unclip it in a real emergency since the loop will slide down the hose. It also keeps it tucked in much closer than normally placed bolt snaps, and is much easier to restow than the other octo holders.