Question about octopus for long-time divers

[ppilot]

Hi all, quick question. I've been an air 2 user almost since I've been diving. After reading some of the comments on this board, I added an octopus to my rig and have been planning to drill with both of them and see which setup I like better.

But...due to the placement of the inflator on my drysuit, I'd need three lp ports on the right side of my first stage, and I only have two. That got me thinking...I swear that way back when I learned to dive and used a standard octopus, it was standard to mount the thing on the left. I think I even remember we had to specifically practice breathing out of it because it was upside down. Am I imagining this? If not, was it ever standard, or just something my instructor did? If it was standard, when and why did it change? This was in the late eighties and the agency was NASDS.

Anyway, I'm pretty curious about this. But now, I guess I can either ditch the octopus, run it off the left side, run the drysuit hose off the left side and try to 'twist' it around, or somehow have the inflator rotated. The suit is something like a Harvey's sport aqua capsule. Thoughts?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Diver0001]

ppilot once bubbled...
Hi all, quick question. I've been an air 2 user almost since I've been diving. After reading some of the comments on this board, I added an octopus to my rig and have been planning to drill with both of them and see which setup I like better.

But...due to the placement of the inflator on my drysuit, I'd need three lp ports on the right side of my first stage, and I only have two. That got me thinking...I swear that way back when I learned to dive and used a standard octopus, it was standard to mount the thing on the left. I think I even remember we had to specifically practice breathing out of it because it was upside down. Am I imagining this? If not, was it ever standard, or just something my instructor did? If it was standard, when and why did it change? This was in the late eighties and the agency was NASDS.

Anyway, I'm pretty curious about this. But now, I guess I can either ditch the octopus, run it off the left side, run the drysuit hose off the left side and try to 'twist' it around, or somehow have the inflator rotated. The suit is something like a Harvey's sport aqua capsule. Thoughts?

Thanks for your help!

I'm guessing that you run your drysuit inflator under your right arm. Why don't you put it on the left and run it under your left arm? You might need to loosen the inflator valve to rotate it if your drysuit is old. If it's glued in place you might consider even replacing it with one that swivels. It's easily done and not very expensive.

And you're not imagining things about the octopus. I learned octo on the left too. I'm not sure when it changed or even *if* it changed. It's possible that we both just learned it wrong

There are some pretty good reasons for keeping it on the right, I wouldn't change it.

R..

 

[ScubaRon]

I learned diving in 1990 (PADI) and learned that the octopus should be attached to the front of your BC in the triangle between your mouth and the lower corners of your rib cage. This would imply that it could be run either left or right.

However I learned to wear it on the right side, which IMHO make a lot more sense.
ScubaRon

 

[pipedope]

... to dive an octopus was something soft and slithery that if you messed with it, would likely pull off your mask and regulator.


The second second stage was optional and could be just about anywhere. Commonly it would be down below the bottom of the tank behind the diver.

Once I saw a out of air happen to a buddy team. They were buddy breathing fine and starting for the surface when I handed the out of air buddy the octo from his buddy. They has both forgotten to use it as they were trained to buddy breath the one regulator.

That is why the long hose and necklaced backup is such a good setup. The *real* universal out of air signal is when the diver takes the regulator from your mouth.

 

[Genesis]

that you won't get "mugged" when someone REALLY goes OOA without warning has never seen it actually happen

 

[ppilot]

Genesis once bubbled...
that you won't get "mugged" when someone REALLY goes OOA without warning has never seen it actually happen

Agreed, I've had to share air twice, once with the air 2 and once when I first started diving with an octo. Both times the OOA diver (neither was *my* dive buddy) came from behind and took my primary from me. I think it's what you have to expect and plan for.

 

[ppilot]

Diver0001 once bubbled...


I'm guessing that you run your drysuit inflator under your right arm. Why don't you put it on the left and run it under your left arm? You might need to loosen the inflator valve to rotate it if your drysuit is old. If it's glued in place you might consider even replacing it with one that swivels. It's easily done and not very expensive.

Well, I definitely can't rotate the thing. Would I have to send it to the manufacturor to replace it with one that swivels? Or is this something a guy could do himself?

 

[roakey]

ppilot once bubbled...
...came from behind and took my primary from me. I think it's what you have to expect and plan for.

Excellent, you're half way there! Now dump the Air2, necklace your backup and donate your primary and you'll go the other half of the way...

See:

http://www.scubaboard.com/t10022/s.html

Roak

 

[Diver0001]

ppilot once bubbled...


Well, I definitely can't rotate the thing. Would I have to send it to the manufacturor to replace it with one that swivels? Or is this something a guy could do himself?

You should be able to unscrew it from the inside of the suit. Take a look at it. Typically the back of the valve screws on to the front. It's a sort of ring that you can loosen with your hand (might take some power). You shouldn't need any special tools for this. Once loosened a bit you *might* be able to rotate the valve to point the other way. If not it's probably glued right to the seals and you'll need to take it off first and glue it back on again. Getting it off is when the fun starts.

Replacement with a different valve is easy if you can get the old one off..... There is a hole in your suit that's just the right size for a valve. Just get the right parts on both sides of the hole, bush on some special glue, tighten and presto. Your LDS may even do you the favour if you buy the valve from them.

R..

 

[James connell]

i stopped use one completely - if you run out of air and can't buddy breath TOUGH swim for it.