Octo-inflators vs. Octos

[ACKDIVER]

Hello everyone!

Quick question: I have been using a Scubapro Air 2 octo/inflator for a while. I am a relative newbee with 23 logged dives so far. Dive buddies lately have told me they prefer to dive with someone who has a standard octo. I'm considering getting an octo lately or having both. Any opinions?

 

[LowVizWiz]

Have you asked why they prefer that?
It should not matter to them at all since they will not be breathing from it.
As a matter of fact, if I'm an OOA diver I'd like to know that the 2nd stage I'm getting is working, as opposed to one that may or may not be working. If you're using it to breath I know it's working and that's the one I'm getting.

I personally don't like the Air 2 type inflators (for me) but I would not hesitate to dive with someone who's using one as my buddy provided they are comfortable using it during an air sharing situation while controlling their ascent.

Do you practice this? Have you done this drill with any of them?

Wys

 

[ronbeau]

Hello everyone!

Quick question: I have been using a ScubaPro Air 2 octo/inflater for a while. I am a relative newbie with 23 logged dives so far. Dive buddies lately have told me they prefer to dive with someone who has a standard octo. I'm considering getting an octo lately or having both. Any opinions?

As LowVizWiz mentioned you should not be making the switch because they want you to switch. As mentioned they won't be breathing from it anyhow. In an OOA you will be donating you primary second stage to the OOA diver and you will be using the Air 2.

As long as you are comfortable using the Air 2 I would keep and explain to your buddy that he.she will be getting your primary second stage in an OOA situation.

My family owns 3 Atomic SS1 units and we are comfortable using them. If I dive with an new buddy buddy part of the pre-dive discussion involves the fact that he/she will be receiving my primary second stage in an OOA situation in addition to weight ditching procedures etc.

Save your hard-earned money and use it for important things like more diving.

 

[HatchetJoe]

Geez I really don't see what the issue really is, I learned to dive during the lost days of real air sharing was taugh and an octopus was not required, focus on the basic skils and decrease the dependency of equipment, the gear is the one between your ears.

 

[floridanewbe]

I agree with ron completely. I have the air 2 and have no complaints as long as you explain during pre dive that your buddy will get your primary

 

[almitywife]

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[MaxBottomtime]

I wouldn't think that the problem your buddies have is which reg to breathe from, but managing an ascent while buddy-breathing. It's difficult to manage your buoyancy while breathing from the inflator. If you had an OOA situation and donated your primary to a paniced diver you would not only have to stay with them, but control your ascent to match theirs. If you had a standard octo you would ascend normally without having to remove the octo from your mouth.

 

[fppf]

If I had to (I dive mainly with my wife) I would not dive with someone with an octo/inflator.

And it has nothing to do with the equipment, its all about training.
All the divers I see on Vacation that have this type of setup I ask, how do you handle OOA? Almost all answer "well I pass this (octo inflator) just like an octo" at that point I kind of roll my eyes. Then I ask how often they practice OOA drills, most of the time the answer is "we did them in training".

So its really more of a comfort issue than anything. If ether party has not done any OOA drills with that type of setup I would not want to try it the first time for real.

 

[LowVizWiz]

And it has nothing to do with the equipment, its all about training.
All the divers I see on Vacation that have this type of setup I ask, how do you handle OOA? Almost all answer "well I pass this (octo inflator) just like an octo" at that point I kind of roll my eyes. Then I ask how often they practice OOA drills, most of the time the answer is "we did them in training".

So its really more of a comfort issue than anything. If ether party has not done any OOA drills with that type of setup I would not want to try it the first time for real.

While you're probably right about people diving on vacations, this doesn't seem to be the case with the OP.
From what I can infer from his post this is a group of people diving together on a somewhat regular basis. You would think they practice these skills or have some other reason to object to the Air2.

I would like to hear from the OP.

 

[RonFrank]

It's all about training. Who gives a dern if I have to breath off an octo/inflator, or an octo. I have a long hose, I will pass that to a diver, and done. Now we need to stay together, and we need to ascend, or in a drill hang out until such time as we decide to go back to using our own equipment.

It really does not matter what I use, as long as I am comfortable using it. I think in an OOA situation, the diver in trouble hardly has the luxury of judging the air he is passed. In fact it is somewhat likely they will just pull my primary out of my mouth in panic.

As for ascending with an octo/inflator, I've done it before while breathing off of it. It's just not all that difficult to manage. I can also dump air out of my lower dump valve, and generally do, but I have to be in a horz position (which I normally am) but that may not work well if I'm doing a buddy ascent with a freaked out diver. In any event, pick what you want, and then practice with it until you are comfortable.

I'm more concerned that a diver might grab my primary, and then attempt to rocket to the surface. I can always pull my primary out of his mouth if that is done, but the major concern there is safety. However if one of us has to get hurt, my first priority is ME! :11: