Octo routed on the left side?

[dhampton82]

Lately I have seen a few instances of an octo being routed on the left side of the diver. I first saw it being used by a OW class on their check out dives and last saw it in an ad in a dive magazine.

Is this some "new" thing that divers are doing, or did I just not notice it till now? To me it does seem like a good idea. I was thinking that in an OOA ascent, the OOA diver could swim beside the donating diver with alot more ease.

Also, in the magazine ad, it was routed under the left arm but when I saw it being used by the OW class, they had it routed over thier left shoulder and held in place by the velcro on the inflater hose.

Anyone else seen this? Is this a recommended thing to do? Or just a case of the blind leading the blind?

 

[Cheekymonkey]

I could be completely wrong here, wouldnt be the 1st or last time, but I would imagine that routing it with the velcro of the inflator hose, puts you at risk to get them tangled and not be able to pull one or the other as needed, not to mention even a standard length octo hose will leave alot hanging that way.

 

[Thalassamania]

If you're not going to surrender the primary (as God and all right thinking divers say you should) then routing the octo under the left arm (esp. with a 3 of 4 ft hose) makes a great deal of sense since the regulator can be used with the donor and receiver face to face without and "S" curve in the IP hose.

 

[diveman7683]

As explained by my instructor, it goes back to the old NASDS days. He'e still teaches it that way now as an SSI Instructor.

 

[dhampton82]

Yes, i too thought that the over the shoulder was a bad idea. I am curious about the under the arm (like normal) on the left side

 

[dhampton82]

So if this is more then likely a better way to route a octo hose, why is it taught to route it on the right side?

This seems to me to be the way I want to start routing it. Until I order my long hose of course

 

[Thalassamania]

So if this is more then likely a better way to route a octo hose, why is it taught to route it on the right side?

This seems to me to be the way I want to start routing it. Until I order my long hose of course

Because thinking folks all went over to donating their primary years ago and the non-thinkers are still trying to find a way to route a hose on their right to an octo in their golden triangle.<G>

 

[OE2X]

If you ever start diving with deco bottles for which the standard is to clip them off on your left side then routing your octo on the left would be ill advised.

As to velcrowing it to your inflator. From my perspective - I don't want anything attached to my inflator.

 

[plot]

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that some people's backup is built into the inflator, so people think it's OK to put it through on that side now. Someone velcrowing an octo to their inflator would be similar, but not quite the same. Probably where they got the idea from though, or visa versa.

I'd have to put my reg in upside down if I routed it on the left over my shoulder. Hose sticks out the right side.

 

[String]

Certain agencies encourage routing on the left.

For non hose stand primary/octo setup mine is also on the left hand side.

The thinking being here at least is the octo is for the buddy not for you in this setup and it can donate to the buddy face to face the correct way up without needing to adjust and without a twist in the hose. That means theres a bit more hose to play with and a bit less stress when its in the receivers mouth.

If you do want to use it yourself just twist the hose to put it the correct way up - its easier for you to do that than have a buddy like that.

If you follow the "primary == mine, octo == buddy" thinking then octo left makes a lot more sense than having it on the right hand side.

FWIW i went through the entire padi idc and ie with no objections to my left side octo.