Octo on bungeed necklace?

[mts0628]

Depends on how you were trained.......

I'm thinkin' MMA...

Alright, I give up my regulator to some poor smuck that didn't bother to plan his gas consumption, and I stick my back up in my moth and...get nothing but water! Now what?

Check to make sure your regulator did not fall off the mouthpiece; if it's still attached, um purge button maybe. If not, switch to snorkel if applicable.

Are you supposed to smile and hold up your hands when these people rob you???-----$9 for that???----see in my post a link for under 3 bucks......

Yeah, kinda' steep. Maybe there's little H's on the bungee. That would justify the cost though.

 

[gbf]

the point of it is part of the DIR philosophy

DIR practitioners are actually relative newbies to this. The first person I ever saw with bungeed backup breathing the long hose was Bill Main in about 1978 -and we copied him along with a lot of other stuff he was doing. I'm sure there were others doing it as well.

The argument then was not one of accessibility and streamlining - there was no question about that. The argument was whether breathing a long hose degraded regulator performance vs. breathing the short hose. Long hose routing was a favorite topic of discussion, too - stuff it or loop it.

And we used surgical tubing instead of bungee.

 

[mkutyna]

Alright, I give up my regulator to some poor smuck that didn't bother to plan his gas consumption, and I stick my back up in my moth and...get nothing but water! Now what?

Buddy Breathe. Hopefully that diver has gone with an instructor/agency that still teaches buddy breathing in addition to alternate air source. After you get to the surface, get your gear serviced.

 

[ONESPEED]

It doesn't seem intuitive, but using a very long primary hose and wrapping it the way we do gives you the most streamlined setup as far as hoses go.

Exactly, I switched to this system for the streamlining aspect thinking I'd never need to share air with anyone, the streamlining was my primary reason for going to a 7' hose and bunjeed secondary. About a week after making the switch I had to rescue an OOA panicked diver and I have to say, I wouldn't want to have to rescue someone with any other set up after the experience.

FWIW, anyone who claims the longer hose is not streamlined clearly has not looked at a diver with this setup properly routed. there is no more streamlined rig.

 

[simmonsjr]

So how does this sound? I'm planning on using the Hollis DC1/212 with a spare 212 for a backup. Backup on a 24" routed to bungee, primary on a 5 1/2' (7' being overkill unless you are doing some sort of penetration dive where your buddy would have to follow you single file in order to exit) routed under right arm, across the body, behind the neck from left to right, with the excess hose tucked under the harness waist belt. In the event that I need to donate my primary I uncoil it and hand it off before switching to my backup.

One final point (unless I've missed anything?) do I remove the backup from the necklace to breathe it or do I factor in enough slack to the necklace to get it from my neck to my mouth while still attached?

Thanks so much for all of the outstanding replies.

Jason

 

[halocline]

I want to be close enough to hold on to their BC and they hold on to mine. It's definitly a personal option. 'to each their own'...dive on

What makes you think you can't get close using a longer hose to share air? You're just not forced to do it. When you say "it's a personal option.." that's fine except your arguments against the long hose don't make sense.

There really is zero rational disadvantage for using a longer than typical hose to share air. Since you already have and presumably like your octo/inflator, I would suggest that you try using a longer primary hose for a few dives and practice air sharing. I suspect that you will be pleasantly surprised. Two typical options are to replace the standard 26-30" primary (which inevitably forms a big loop anyway) with a 36-40" hose and a right angle adapter, so that the hose routs under your right arm, or try a 5ft-6ft hose that routs under your right arm, across your chest, over your left shoulder, and behind your head.

One other thing, all it will take is one panicked diver clawing away at you and you'll never ever say again that you prefer an OOA diver hanging on to your BC.

 

[dkktsunami]

So how does this sound? I'm planning on using the Hollis DC1/212 with a spare 212 for a backup. Backup on a 24" routed to bungee, primary on a 5 1/2' (7' being overkill unless you are doing some sort of penetration dive where your buddy would have to follow you single file in order to exit) routed under right arm, across the body, behind the neck from left to right, with the excess hose tucked under the harness waist belt. In the event that I need to donate my primary I uncoil it and hand it off before switching to my backup.

One final point (unless I've missed anything?) do I remove the backup from the necklace to breathe it or do I factor in enough slack to the necklace to get it from my neck to my mouth while still attached?

Thanks so much for all of the outstanding replies.

Jason

Sounds correct. With 5 1/2' hose you will not likely need to "tuck" anything - this will fit fairly snugly under right arm pit and wrap loosely around the back of your neck. Leave backup attached to bungee when in use - 24" hose should allow full mobility of head looking left and right. This is a very comfortable set-up.

 

[willembad]

24" on the secondary works well with doubles as it routs from the left post, but may be a tad long for a singles rig. I think 22" is more common and I use an 18" with a right angle even for the backup.

You can breathe the backup with the necklace in place without any issues. This lets you release it and it returns to where you expect in to be next time you look for it

Willem



It's hard to see, but I (on right) have 18" and elbow and my buddy has 22" hose on backup.

 

[Cave Bum]

The bungied regulator is a core piece of the "donate the primary" strategy. The theory is that the regulator you are breathing is the best one to give to someone else, because you know it is working, and you know precisely where it is (and so does the OOA diver!).

Diddo

 

[scarefaceDM]

This ain't rocket science..but seems to sound complicated when in fact is so simple.
The bungie necklace keeps your back up safe and sound. Keeps it out of the dirt, out of possible hang ups - out of harms way. You are always ready to take that octo in the event you need it.

Forget DIR, cave diving and such. It is the best system and the simplest system out there.

having seen MANY MANY octos dragged in the mud, sand and get hooked up on wrecks...... let alone crash into fragile coral. Use what ever floats your boat...but the best place for your back up is where you can reach it quick. Having it around your neck ensures it is clean and ready to use. As opposed to having it hanging and possibly have some crap in it cause you were negligent, may cause some undo stress in an already stressful situation.

I can bet that not many practice OOA drills with there buddy. Deployment drills, reg switching. If you do not you should. In a panic situation anything can happen, practiced you can control it that much better. regardless of bungied necklace octo or one that is stuffed in a pocket or hanging from a clip...

I would sugest to try the alternatives. See if it is what you prefer...

I speak from experience. I had my reg ripped out of my mouth, Did not see it coming. My instinct was to grab at my neck which took a second to deploy, one exhale breathe and I was breathing..I switched to a long hose after that day. For me, I feel that you are in more control having a longer hose and your alternate secured around you neck.

It also does not cost 10$. Go to your local out door sports store and get some 1/4 bungie, some tie wraps and you can make it for less than 1,50$ plus have more in case your friends want one made. Stuff costs about 50, 75 cents a foot....

safe dives