Octopus problem

[kneptoon]

I recently exchanged my SS1 integrated inflator/octopus for a standard octopus and bcd inflator. The new simple octopus had a hose protector at the second stage end of the hose. So this hose protector has grooves in it and those grooves matched up very well with the knurling on the fittings holding the hose to the second stage. Eventually the 2nd stage unscrewed from the hose because the hose protector acted as a perfectly designed plastic wrench spinning the 2nd stage free. Fortunately this happened at home and not on a dive. I think it is easy to see this would be pretty problematic underwater and at depth. I have hesitated to post this warning as I am sure it will invoke the usual cacophony of opinions about hose protectors, pro and con, which this is not about. So, if you have a hose protector that has the ability to grab and turn a connection that is life supportive you might consider discarding it.

 

[tfsails]

Had you tightened the hose with a wrench to a torque beyond which the hose protector could not overcome? I've seen protectors like what you're describing, but never had anyone complain about loose hoses. Don't super-torque the hose; just a tad beyond snug is all you need. That should be more than the protector can overcome.

 

[diver 85]

I discard all hose protectors....

 

[Straegen]

Yep first thing to go is those hose protectors.

 

[fire_diver]

+3, ditch the hose the protectors. They don't do squat. Well, I take that back. They do hold sand and salt water against the metalic areas of the regs and hoses, promoting corrosion.

Just make sure you tighten the hoses enough. Enough here is best described as "a smidge past hand tight." A 1/4 turn more would be plenty.

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

I for one have hose protectors on all my hoses. I dive a lot and I think the sun protection on the tightest bends and the bump/bang protection afforded by hose protectors way outweighs a little corrosion on the hose fittings.

 

[nwdiver2]

Use Miflex hoses and you don't need hose protectors

 

[rcpalmer1]

As a regulator service tec I have seen more hoses go bad than any other problem. I think it is more important to have them on the HP hose than LP hoses. If the the regs are put together right they should cause no problem with unscrewing your reg.

 

[kneptoon]

If you are the only one handling your gear I can see that hose protectors are unnecessary. But when you look down at the deck of a panga and see your tank wedged in with 5 or 6 others, hose protectors seem helpful. I hear about this threat of corrosion but it is something I've never seen first hand. Pull the protectors back and wash out the salt or dirt. My specific warning was for a particular knurled protector that lined up perfectly with the knurling on the reg connector creating a perfect wrench. Turn the reg and the protector grabs the fitting, like a wrench, unscrewing the reg from the hose.

 

[Downing]

Use Miflex hoses and you don't need hose protectors

Yup.

Don't need two hands to pack your reg, either.