Octo holder

[jokeborn]

Suggestion for other new divers. An inexpensive way to keep your octo from dragging and available. I was taught the pretty way of out of air or low air techniques like everyone is, but was told that in reality the person is probably going to take the reg from your mouth (they know it works, they see the bubbles!). So, using thing bungie cords and zip ties (I learned this trick from my instructor) I make a necklace. Make the main part large enough to fit over your head without choking or causing entanglement issues. I did this by cutting the bungie and zip tieing another part to it. Then, at the bottom, take a 2-3 inch bungie portion and zip tie it on. This creates an elastic pocket that the octo mouthpiece fits in. The best part is, it is easy to remove if someone does the "proper" way of signaling. But if they don't, the octo is just below your mouth so you can use it prior to grabbing the culprit and beginning your ascent.

 

[macgyver2258]

Hey jokeborn,
I'm a new diver myself, but that doesn't sound that safe unless you have a 5 or 7 foot hose on your primary second stage. If you are set-up for single tank diving and you donate your primary reg, which is shorter than your octo, you and your partner are going to be to close for hand signals and direct eye contact. When using a pony bottle wiht three regs on me, I use my pony reg on a nuse.
I just did my PADI Rescue training, and I learned something of great importance. My buddy took the class with me and he has an Air2. Well one of the skills in the class was the out-of-air accent. I learned how short his primary hose is. We are both over 6 feet tall, kicking each other, and had a tuff time keeping direct eye contact. (With a shorter hose you need to manuver arond to the donors right side) When it was my turn to donate, it was much easier because I have an octo with a yellow longer hose. Having a yellow hose or yellow octo greatly improves the chances of the distressed diver getting the right reg the first time. Also, I can't figure out for the life of me why people feel it cool to use their yellow hose or octo as the primary reg. THATS LIKE THE GOVERNMENT SAYING RED MEANS GO on Mondays, Wenesdays, and Fridays. I've had this debate for a while now at the LDS.
Always practice with a new buddy on the surface, in the water, or both. Make a mental note of the length, location, and color. It only takes a few minutes.
Take care and dive safe,
Clint

 

[Sideband]

Reread the first part about, "...but was told that in reality the person is probably going to take the reg from your mouth...". He doesn't sound like he intends to donate his primary. He is prepairing for the more likely event that it is taken. Besides, what's the difference if it is attached to your neck or to your BC? That still puts it in the "triangle". I'd rather it be there than dragging in the silt.

Joe

 

[OE2X]

Pardon me for being so bold as to point out how I do it.

I have a short hose bungied around my neck as my backup. My primary regulator is on a 7' hose. This is what I donate in an OOA (out of air) situation. It's the working regulator. I keep my secondary tucked under my chin on its short hose and this is what I use for MY backup.

A reason why I don't donate the secondary is because I don't want the bungie pulling off the mouthpiece. This is something I would advise against doing.

Clint pointed out another very good reason of avoiding using a short hose for donating. You are right on top of one another. Using a 5' or 7' hose allows you to have much more flexibility and control over the situation. Should you need to swim against current to get to your anchor line, you can do so side by side, the OOA diver can be on either side or behind the donor etc...

This sort of hose routing is very streamline and is less prone to being caught on things. Your backup hose is long enough to tuck under your chin and allow side to side head movement. Your long hose is tucked into your waistbelt until you need to deploy it. All the hoses come off your 1st stage and conform to your body without a whole lot of excess.

 

[kenlt]

Ok, let me hit you with this.

I have an Air2, and had a 36" hose on my primary. It was a little short for me, so I went in to get a longer one. I'd read here several times that people had 5 and 6 foot hoses on their primary, especially (only?) when they have an Air2 or other integrated secondary air source. So I went in to my LDS and told them I wanted a longer hose. He asked me how long, and I said 5 or 6 feet. He looked at me like I was nuts, and asked why in the world I needed something that long, and I explained that I had an Air2 and had heard that a long primary is good since you may have to donate it.

Well, he talked me out of it - I'm still very new at diving,and went with what the experienced (I assume) person in front of me said rather than what I thought I'd understood from reading it on the net - but I still see this sort of thread a lot. My primary is now 40", which is more comfortable for me, but after reading this thread where two guys 6' tall were in each other's way on the way up, I'm wondering if I should go back and get a longer hose and stick to my guns.

 

[macgyver2258]

Ok, let me hit you with this.

I have an Air2, and had a 36" hose on my primary. It was a little short for me, so I went in to get a longer one. I'd read here several times that people had 5 and 6 foot hoses on their primary, especially (only?) when they have an Air2 or other integrated secondary air source. So I went in to my LDS and told them I wanted a longer hose. He asked me how long, and I said 5 or 6 feet. He looked at me like I was nuts, and asked why in the world I needed something that long, and I explained that I had an Air2 and had heard that a long primary is good since you may have to donate it.

Well, he talked me out of it - I'm still very new at diving,and went with what the experienced (I assume) person in front of me said rather than what I thought I'd understood from reading it on the net - but I still see this sort of thread a lot. My primary is now 40", which is more comfortable for me, but after reading this thread where two guys 6' tall were in each other's way on the way up, I'm wondering if I should go back and get a longer hose and stick to my guns.

Kenlt, I think you did the right thing. When your training gets you to a level where you will need the longer hose get it then. The 40 inch hose would stick out a little much, which has some cons like, easier to get yanked out or catch something. When using the long hose it really stream-lines the diver. I suggested to my dive buddy to get the longer hose. He seems interested in the 7 footer which is the way I'm leaning.

Take care,
Clint

 

[OE2X]

Ok, let me hit you with this.

I have an Air2, and had a 36" hose on my primary. It was a little short for me, so I went in to get a longer one. I'd read here several times that people had 5 and 6 foot hoses on their primary, especially (only?) when they have an Air2 or other integrated secondary air source. So I went in to my LDS and told them I wanted a longer hose. He asked me how long, and I said 5 or 6 feet. He looked at me like I was nuts, and asked why in the world I needed something that long, and I explained that I had an Air2 and had heard that a long primary is good since you may have to donate it.

Well, he talked me out of it - I'm still very new at diving,and went with what the experienced (I assume) person in front of me said rather than what I thought I'd understood from reading it on the net - but I still see this sort of thread a lot. My primary is now 40", which is more comfortable for me, but after reading this thread where two guys 6' tall were in each other's way on the way up, I'm wondering if I should go back and get a longer hose and stick to my guns.

I would, but I'm a convert. There are many LDS's who don't cater to tech divers that don't have a clue as to why you would want a long hose on your primary. There are many principles from tech and cave diving that you can apply to recreational diving, but unless the sales people dive that way then they won't recommend it. If you mention DIR or Hogarthian configuration, expect these folks to look at you like you are insane. I had one person at a local shop tell me goodbye and to have a good life when he found out that I was diving DIR style.

Is it a better and safer way to dive? IMHO - yes. I'm a rec diver that will only dive this way.

 

[OE2X]

Kenlt, I think you did the right thing. When your training gets you to a level where you will need the longer hose get it then. The 40 inch hose would stick out a little much, which has some cons like, easier to get yanked out or catch something. When using the long hose it really stream-lines the diver. I suggested to my dive buddy to get the longer hose. He seems interested in the 7 footer which is the way I'm leaning.

Take care,
Clint

I beg to differ. What level of training do you need to start using a long hose?

I have two buddies that were started out with a long hose and BP wings. Their learning curve wasn't appreciably harder than someone who starts using an octo config.

Sure there is more thought that goes into it if he were to go the whole tech route, but I'm not advising him to go there yet.

 

[idratherbediving]

I beg to differ. What level of training do you need to start using a long hose?

i agree. any beginer can utilize the benefits of the long hose. i dont recommend going to your lds and getting a hose, hooking it up, and hitting the water. you should try to find someone in your area who has a little experience that can dive with you in case you have some problems.

 

[emtdan]

One of my instructors had his primary second stage five feet long, and his octo very short, during the dive, he would breate from his primary with the hose snaked around his neck, and in a OOA, he would give his primary and take his octo for himself. He could then be side by side with his buddy, making it easier on both of them.