Octo on right , or left side?

[Centrals]

Many 2nd stages only allow one routing of the hose ie right-handed but there are exception over last 10 yrs eg. Apeks XTX series.

20yrs ago:

octopus regulator

Most divers carry the octopus regulator on the right, same side as the primary second stage. I am curious of opinions if the place for the octopus is better on the right side or left, and why?

scubaboard.com

 

[RIHappyDiver]

The gal I know who has hers on the left, explained it to me, using the words of her instructor. It made sence to me. I specify in my OP, this thread is not about primary donate, over octo; but rather just left or right side.

I apologize. While my intent wasn’t to tout one method over the other, merely to say that left side would seem to work well in one but not the other, I should not have brought primary donate into the discussion.

Erik

 

[RIHappyDiver]

Many 2nd stages only allow one routing of the hose ie right-handed but there are exception over last 10 yrs eg. Apeks XTX series.

20yrs ago:

octopus regulator

Most divers carry the octopus regulator on the right, same side as the primary second stage. I am curious of opinions if the place for the octopus is better on the right side or left, and why?

scubaboard.com

DIve Right In Scuba has a house brand regulator, Illusion Reversible Second Stage Regulator, that is reversible. Not sure how easy it would be to get internationally.
I have one of them routed left for my pony. It’s a nice little reg.

 

[Belzelbub]

But this thread has nothing to do with primary donate; only to do with placement of octo.

In a way, it can be tough to separate them.

Many 2nd stages only allow one routing of the hose ie right-handed but there are exception over last 10 yrs eg. Apeks XTX series.

In the case of 2nd stages where the hose can be connected to either side, then primary and secondary donate can both be done. If the hose can only be connected to one side, then primary donate is complicated.

If you have a 2nd stage that can be routed either way, then it appears to be a wash. If you have a 2nd that can’t, then routing to the left works fine for the buddy, but is not ideal for the diver. In addition to buddy donate, the octo is also there for the diver in the event of a problem with their primary 2nd stage.

 

[SlugLife]

Where I dive, virtually everyone has their octo, or alternate, on their right side. I know a diver who likes hers on the left side. Quick investigation shows me, right or left for octos, changes all over the globe. I have heard the reasons for left side, and actually it makes sence to me.
Group thoughts on this? If you primary donate, that's the way you dive and that works well for a lot of people, including many of my dive buddies. This thread is not to debate that primary donate is better. This thread is about having an octo on the right, or left side.

Whether it's on the left or right side is fairly irrelevant, other than for some very niche and mostly irrelevant topics. Instructors tend to teach a "right handed" (for lack of a better term) configuration to Open Water students, simply because it's consistent and easy, and makes it easier to spot students doing something "wrong."

1) The most important thing about an Octo, is that you can find and breathe from it QUICKLY and easily in an emergency. Make sure you also PRACTICE finding and switching to your octo. I highly recommend securing it somehow, in a very consistent location. There are a bunch of options for octo-retainers, but for a simple one I'd suggest something like this:

Scuba Dive Regulator Octopus Octo Mouthpiece Holder Retainer with Webbing & Clip | eBay

Dive/Mask Snorkel Combo. Snorkel Vests. Snorkel Gear Bags. SCUBA DIVING. Scuba Masks. Prescription Scuba Masks. Scuba Fins. Scuba Accessories.

www.ebay.com

2) The second most important factor for an octo, is having a plan for donating air to an OOA buddy. I'm not going to get too into the weeds on this one. Standard practice is to donate your primary. Some people (myself included) use a "long hose" (5 to 7 feet), however that requires some minor additional skill and knowledge to do properly, and isn't recommended for people just starting out.

---

With that out of the way, and into fun-facts territory, there are all kinds of ways to configure your gear. For example side-mount, you have two tanks under your arms, and two complete regulator-sets (1st stage, 2nd stage, spg), with no octo. The left and right regulators are functionally identical (and may often be identical). Independent doubles is another configuration that's somewhat similar. Another situation where you might ditch the octo, is when diving with redundant-air (decent sized pony with it's own regulators), where the redundant air is more than enough to safely surface from any point in the dive.

edit: I forgot about the whole "most 2nd stages have the hose on the right." Only a few 2nd stages can be reconfigured to the left side. You can still put it on the left, but the hose-routing and comfort might be a little awkward.

That said, there's also the Air-2, which is on the left usually. It's essentially a combined octo and inflator-hose. Keep in mind if you go the Air2-route, that you need to practice surfacing safely while breathing from the air-2, because it's much more difficult to both be breathing from it and operating the inflator/dump at the same time, perhaps made worse in an air-share emergency.

 

[SlugLife]

... only to find it held in place with a necklace

Some people will debate whether this is correct or incorrect, but IMO it doesn't matter that much.

The important thing is to brief your dive-buddy about what to do in an OOA situation, if your setup is non-standard. For example, I dive sidemount with some minor modifications. I always tell dive-buddies that the bright-green-hose is the regulator for them, regardless whether it's clipped to my chest or in my mouth. My blue-hose is on a breakaway-necklace, and I'd strongly prefer if it always remained in my mouth or under my chin. The green-hose is also 7-feet, so better for air-share.

DIY Reusable Breakaway / Magnetic Retainers for Regulator Necklace, Hoses, Bolt-Snaps, Accessories, etc.

For about a year, I've been looking for a good solution for retainers, clips, breakway clips, etc. Retractors suck, and are expensive. Magnetic retainers usually suck, have limited uses, and are expensive. Bolt-snaps are great, but you may want a breakaway feature in some contexts. The...

scubaboard.com

 

[tursiops]

Some people will debate whether this is correct or incorrect, but IMO it doesn't matter that much.

The important thing is to brief your dive-buddy about what to do in an OOA situation, if your setup is non-standard. For example, I dive sidemount with some minor modifications. I always tell dive-buddies that the bright-green-hose is the regulator for them, regardless whether it's clipped to my chest or in my mouth. My blue-hose is on a breakaway-necklace, and I'd strongly prefer if it always remained in my mouth or under my chin. The green-hose is also 7-feet, so better for air-share.

DIY Reusable Breakaway / Magnetic Retainers for Regulator Necklace, Hoses, Bolt-Snaps, Accessories, etc.

For about a year, I've been looking for a good solution for retainers, clips, breakway clips, etc. Retractors suck, and are expensive. Magnetic retainers usually suck, have limited uses, and are expensive. Bolt-snaps are great, but you may want a breakaway feature in some contexts. The...

scubaboard.com

In an emergency, I would find that confusing, since green is usually associated with oxygen.

 

[Gandalf-the-Diver]

If you have a 2nd that can’t, then routing to the left works fine for the buddy, but is not ideal for the diver.

More the buddy I am thinking about. For me, I sling a 30cu pony.

 

[AfterDark]

I use the right side because the 2nd stage I use has the hose on the right. It routes under my right arm and is clipped to the waist D ring.

As an aside, during more than 50 years of diving I have yet to use an octo reg. The 1st 30 years I didn't even own an octo and neither did my buddies. It was only when I started diving with new/different buddies that I started using an octo, it made them feel better.

 

[scrane]

I was taught on the right. That's where I'd go looking for one if I needed it.