Octo vs. octo/inflator

[Divesanywhere]

Hello. Getting an ST1 and trying to decide if I want a regular octo or an octo/inflator. Not a tek diver and I prefer warmer to colder dives. Anyone particularly in favor or against either set up? I understand the differences but anyone notice a difference in comfort, safety etc.?
Thanks in advance.

 

[CT Sean]

I like mine separate. Never tried an integrated inflator/octo and don't really have any interest in doing so. Nor do I have any interest in learning how to use one in an "air share and ascend" incident. Nor do I have any interest in dropping my wing of for service along with my reg set. I can't really comment on comfort other than I find the "standard" configuration pretty comfortable.

There's a lot (a LOT) of prior threads discussing this, if your interested in slightly less than current opinions, searching will provide quite a bit of research material.

 

[Teller]

And were off...

Keep it separate, its just one extra hose.

 

[eelnoraa]

I vote for separate as well. Yes extra hose, but shorter inflator makes less dangling around, longer octo makes easier air sharing.

 

[Tarmin]

Keep in mind that you will be the one using it if an emergency occurs so it's up to you ! If you are comfortable with that then go ahead, 1 less hose. That's my opinion anaway ...

 

[Kryssa]

I like the thought that if something happens to my BC on a trip, I can just rent a new BC and use it with my regs. Same thing if I have a reg issue.

From what I understand, the same can not be said if you have an octo-inflator.

Sent from my HTC Glacier using Tapatalk 2

 

[Thalassamania]

I like the one less hose idea, however, most of the integrated models leave you with too short a connection and can be confusing to operate (I've only seen one setup that I thought was really good especially when coupled with a sidebreather like the Oceanic OMEGA II, MARES put it out about 20 years ago and I've not seen it since).

 

[supergaijin]

Comfort is not really an issue as you're only supposed to be using it in an emergency.
The biggest problem that I see with them is that nobody (including the owner) knows what to do with them.

So it's a minus point in safety in my mind.

I think the idea is actually a good one in theory but many divers aren't adequately prepared to use them in reality. If you get one, the onus is on you to explain to every buddy/group that you'll be donating your primary in an OOA situation, and you need to retrain yourself.

 

[k ellis]

Go for it. I use the Octo-Z made by Zeagle and never had an issue. As far as if something happens to the BCD well I always keep a drysuit hose on my rig and it does just fine in the absence of my setup and I need to use a rental.

Its great to know you have one more source of redundancy and one less hose though I now have re-added that hose for the purpose of classes and I needed a setup a student would be familiar with.

In the end take advice for what it is and know what works for me and works well may be a disaster for someone else!

 

[whaylonsmithers]

Other poster's wealth of greater experience acknowledged......and here's my $0.02.

I've tried both, in fact until my new BCD power inflator arrives I'm running both simultaneously. I'm going back to standard Occy because: 1. it was just a bit fiddlier with the 3 buttons rather than two on a standard inflator 2. sharing air is a bit harder. 3. I like soaking my regs on the tank for an hour at the end of a weekend and I can't fit a tank+BCD+regs in the bathtub I have at home. 4. fail mode on the integrated is likely to be freeflow, so disconnecting it means I'm manually inflating my BCD (though it may be postive - at least you can quick disconnect the reg).

If you do get the integrated consider a longer hose on your primary second stage so it reaches easily to the buddy. Maybe look for an adaptor that changes your inflator hoses's oversided integrated air fitting onto a standard one in case you ever need to use someone else's BCD (I have no idea if they're available or suitable but worth a look - swapping AIR2/Inflator is a lot more annoying that fitting a quick-disconnect adaptor would be).

And maybe look at in-line occy alternates, won't offer opinion cause I've never used one.