Scubapro Air2

[rickdds]

I did a quick search on this. I'm getting ready to upgrade my crappy half-working octo to Scubapro. I have a MK-16 reg which i've been using for a while happily. I was going to go for the D190 but LDS sells the Air 2 for an extra fifty bucks and I'll happily lose a hose for that price.

What are your experiences those of you who have been using this? I guess it's the 4th generation model now...

 

[24940]

It's still an AIR II and less than ideal, imo. Even if you never need them it in an emergency, it makes for a crappy inflator. As an inflator, it's more likely to fail. If you have a backup to replace it with, not such a concern, but how many people have an extra in their save a dive kit?

As a secondary, they create jaw fatigue and are a PITA to use as an inflator when stuffed in your mouth. I could go on, but it has all been posted many times.

 

[rickdds]

so the general concensus is that most experienced divers prefer an octo to an air 2? I just thought it would be nice to lose a hose but I will not do it at the expense of safety/comfort.
Thanks

 

[mavdog]

I actually like my air 2. It isn't the most comfortable thing in your mouth but, your only using it to get to the surface. plus you always know where it is cause its your inflator.

just my 2 cents. there will be many who disagree

 

[24940]

so the general concensus is that most experienced divers prefer an octo to an air 2? I just thought it would be nice to lose a hose but I will not do it at the expense of safety/comfort.
Thanks

There are lots of experienced divers who dive an Air II. I have used them, but don't see any real world advantage and the downside outweighs any marketing claims to the contrary, imo.

What problems has the 'extra' hose ever caused?

I can see the appeal of always knowing where your secondary is, but there are better solutions. Bungeed secondary is my choice, but good gear management is also acceptable. Find a good place to secure the secondary and develop your ability to grab it without thinking about it.

 

[redacted]

The Air2 is an excellent inflator. The mechanism is the same as the Scubapro Balanced Power Inflator. The regulator portion is similar in design to the R190 and, due to the much smaller diaphragm, is somewhat limited in its performance capability. But as long as you keep your head about you and keep it reasonably well tuned, it will get you to the surface. I retired mine quite a while ago in favor of a more conventional octo (rigged hog style). But my wife still uses the Air2 and likes it. If you do go the Air2 route, practice often as it does limit your head movement and may complicate BCD operation as you ascend while using it.

 

[halocline]

I'm sure they work fine, but I don't see any advantage to them in the water. Of course this is an often-debated topic and if you search you'll find all sorts of opinions. Mine is that any convenience that is gained by losing a hose is more than lost b the fact that you have to use a longer corrugated inflator hose than you otherwise would, and you have a larger than otherwise inflator mechanism. This means EVERY time you use it to inflate/deflate, you're dealing with a longer than necessary large diameter hose that is likely to dangle, and a bulkier piece of plastic hanging on the end of that hose.

Another disadvantage is that if your inflator mechanism sticks, which does happen occasionally, with a standard inflator you just disconnect it and finish the dive, no big deal, you can inflate orally as you need to. With the AIR2, if you disconnect it, you have also lost your alternate air source. Not too likely a scenario, but why pay extra for it?

I'd get a R190 octo and clip it off in a good place; you'll never notice the extra hose while diving.

 

[Jrock1062]

My reason for not using the air II is simple I do not want to take my S600 out of my mouth and give it to a inst buddy who's rent -a -gear took a crap, I would much rather give him my octo. I prefer to keep my reg in my mouth at all times and if I need to help a buddy seems to me it would be easier not removing my air source.In the case of cave diving hose length may be an issue with the air II

 

[DA Aquamaster]

My reason for not using the air II is simple I do not want to take my S600 out of my mouth and give it to a inst buddy who's rent -a -gear took a crap, I would much rather give him my octo. I prefer to keep my reg in my mouth at all times and if I need to help a buddy seems to me it would be easier not removing my air source.In the case of cave diving hose length may be an issue with the air II

I have donated gas in 3 real world OOA's over a 25 year period. One of them, the last one, was a more or less technically oriented diver during an ascent and I saw him coming so I had a deco bottle ready for him.

The other two were recreational divers I was not even diving with and both times I got mugged for my primary. Now this is not such a big deal as I believe in donating the primary anyway. But it is a bit of a shock when it happens and in the real world of semi panicked OOA recreational divers, the primary is going to get grabbed - but in most training agencies they still teach the unrealistic exchange signals and donate the octo approach to gas sharing.

The relevent points then are:

1. You can plan to keep your S600 primary, but your buddy is the one who will be using it if he goes out of air as he will go straight for the reg that is making bubbles as he can see it, he knows it works, and he wants to make bubbles of his own RIGHT NOW.

2. It's a good idea to ensure uour octo is at least as high quality as your primary as the odds are you will be using it in an OOA donation situation.

3. An Air II requires that you donate the primary and is oddly enough more in keeping with relality than the donate your octo approach taught by most agencies.

4. If you use an Air 2, a long hose primary makes things a bit easier as you can maintain a bit more distance and freedom of movement from the buddy. That makes up for some of the restricted head movement an Air 2 imposes.

5. A long hose is one of tose things that once you try you will never go back to a short hose - and it is consitent with the "donate the primary" reality of real world air shares.

 

[Hoosier]

My reason for not using the air II is simple I do not want to take my S600 out of my mouth and give it to a inst buddy who's rent -a -gear took a crap, I would much rather give him my octo. I prefer to keep my reg in my mouth at all times and if I need to help a buddy seems to me it would be easier not removing my air source.In the case of cave diving hose length may be an issue with the air II

I think that is your lack of skill and fear in UW.

When we exercised S-drill with my GF first, she had a lot of fears to take out the primary second stage from her mouth, but NOT ANYMORE. You can exhale a breath slowly more than 30 second that is more than enough time to switch your regs (3~5 seconds). Even some techies can swap their 2nd stages between 1st stages in UW.


For the double tank diving, it is a normal practice to give your primary to your buddy or any troubled divers and switch to back up (2nd stage) It doesn't matter what kind of gears your buddy is using and who they are. If they need it and you are ready to help, you have to give one of your 2nd stages. That's it.

For the single tank rig, we are using Air II exclusively with 5' long hose. We practiced S-drill every dives with Air II and we are so happy with its convenience.
Currently, we have four Air II, there has been no free flow once in 40 degree water.


Just my 2 bar.....