regulator leash

[Matt S.]

I'm no DIR diver, though I consider myself a sympathizer... I take what I like from the system. I adopted the necklace because it sure seemed like a good idea, and never looked back. (And the first time you switch to the backup with no hands, it's pretty cool!)

Like others said, avoid the Manta necklace. I tried it and learned the lesson too. Make your own with 1/8" bungee. Tie a knot in each end, and secure it to the mouthpiece with another ziptie. Stretch it all you like and it won't pop loose, unlike the Manta.

Once you switch, you just have to make sure that you tell your buddies how you do things.

I plan to move to the 5' hose, but have just been using the 40" hose on my primary for now. It works well enough but longer is better. Of course, you have to drill deploying and stowing the long hose, so there is another skill to learn.

 

[tomgrogan]

TS, thank you for your reply. I was curious about the use of a 5' hose on the secondary and the routing of it. Have you had any problems with the hose being in the way of your BC, catching on any BC attachments, interfering with the inflator hose, the first stage or back up regulator on the bungee?

 

[Nemrod]

A back up implies redundancy. Another second stage on a single first stag is an octapus rig and is a long accepted term. A back up regulator is a complete regulator first and second. That may not be the DIR definition but this is not a DIR forum. An octapus does not provide any real redundancy, a backup regulator does.

You can make the "leash" also called a bungee or a necklace using surgical rubber tubing, bungee or purchase the one pre-tied from Halycon or the molded rubber necklace from Manta Industries. I just make a fisherman knot around the mouthpiece with a piece of bungee. I also got a few of those from Manta and I sorta like them but you can make 10 homemade ones for the price of one Manta necklace. The Manta ones come in cool colors though. N

 

[highdesert]

I've been contemplating ditching my current setup (26" secondary hose and Octo+) and going to the underarm primary and necklaced backup for some time. Do users of this rig stick with a 26" hose for the backup, or go to something shorter? I've always thought the 26" hose on my first stage now is too long, just creating a big loop hanging out in space. I'd like to have that hose as long as necessary, but no more. Also, since I haven't really taken note of it, how many second stages are able to be converted to a left side hose? I'd want to stick with Zeagle stuff making the switch.

 

[ToddK]

Having a necklaced reg on a short hose (24" or so) is great! When I had the octo setup, the hose would tend to bow out away from me, and could occasionally catch on things. The necklace also works 100% of the time to hold the reg, while some of the octo holders don't always work too well. As the other said, in an emergency, you know exactly where your backup air source is, and there is no screwing around.

I like the 5' hose for the primary. My dive buddy used to have a 7' primary, but couldn't keep the extra hose tucked in his belt, and it would keep floating up (we dive single tanks without canister dive lights).

You just have to remember to remove the necklace & your primary prior to getting out of your rig!

 

[halocline]

IMO the ideal rec diving arrangement is to have both primary and alternate 2nd stages on hoses long enough to comfortably share air. The DIR arrangement assumes that OOA divers will go straight for the primary, which is a sensible assumption given the training and teamwork involved in DIR and tech diving. With a poorly trained rec diver, who might not even be your buddy in a group, I would not assume he/she would go for the primary, especially given the PADI OW training of going for the alternate. Sure, you can say all day "they'll go for the reg they know is working, in your mouth" and that MIGHT be true, but my point is that the behavior of rec divers in a group is definitely unpredictable. So, the way to be most prepared for that would be long hose on primary (either 5' or 40" under arm) and a standard 36-40" on the alternate, which could still be bungied around the neck for hands-free deployment. That way, no matter which reg the OOA diver goes for, you can safely and comfortably share air. (at least in theory, with a panicked thrashing novice diver it might be pretty hairy no matter what you do)

 

[diver 85]

It is the backup 2nd stage (try not to call it an octo...) not the primary. Yes it can benefit a rec diver! You don't have to buy the gadety fluorescent colored plastic doo-dads that are supposed to hold your backup(octo) somewhere in the magic triangle... its a simple piece of bungee (or surgical tubing though it doesn't last as long) zip tied by the mouthpiece. Your backup is protected under your chin from dragging in the sand or flailing somewhere behind you. You put the backup on a short hose ~22' and have your primary on the longer hose (40" normal octo hose is minimum) and donate primary in out of air scenario. HTH

Why not call it an octopus??....Not many people I converse with call a car, vehicle, or automobile a road machine for transportation..........Why not keep life simple....every diver knows an octopus is not a living creature........just my 2 cents worth of nothing, lol.......GEAUX TIGERS.........

 

[rongoodman]

So, the way to be most prepared for that would be long hose on primary (either 5' or 40" under arm) and a standard 36-40" on the alternate, which could still be bungied around the neck for hands-free deployment.

Having the bungeed secondary on a 36"-40" hose would result in a huge loop out to the side. The standard length is 22"-24", but I went to a 20" to keep the hose from blocking my right shoulder D ring. (I'm not very big-150 lb).

 

[wreckchick]

24" for singles, 22" for doubles, 5' primary for singles, 7' for doubles.

I have had many situations where I've ended up donating my primary for one reason or another and I've NEVER had anyone grab at anything. I've gotten the throat-slash, the bugged out eyes, the swimming toward me at rapid speed... but never anyone grabbing. Training does not include grabbing and, shock of shocks, people actually do revert to training in an emergency.

I use the knotted bungie with a zip tie to secure my secondary, about $.38.

YMMV

Rachel

 

[John_B]

Why not call it an octopus??

An octopus is part of a specific configuration, say, a 32"-36" primary regulator you breathe from, with another regulator on a 36"-40" hose that is kept clipped off to some "triangle area" somewhere on your chest for donating to an OOG diver.

A bungeed backup is a different configuration where the backup regulator is attached via a bungee or surgical tubing around the diver's neck and is on a 22"-24" hose, while breathing from a primary regulator on a long hose (7', 5', depending on who you ask even 40") which is the one donated to an OOG diver while switching to the bungeed backup directly under his/her chin.

What people are telling you is that a bungeed backup is NOT an "octopus".



John