Solo Kit setup: the required, redundant, optional, and hell-no items

[Celt]

With the surface available ( 100 feet) I bring no spares of any kind. Deeper ( deco) I bring redundant gas.

 

[wdeutsch]

Per the SDI manual, The Solo Diver, used for the Solo Diver course, see paragraph 3 below:



I am not going to carry a spare mask and a spare kitchen sink for a simple solo dive. If I have a mask problem and it somehow is teleported into an alternate universe I will just execute a simple return to surface. I have completed entire dive sans mask and that was part of my course, swimming without a mask so those who are solo certified, at least through SDI, should have completed a no mask exercise. It was also a part of my YMCA and NAUI scuba diver and advanced courses in 1966 and 1976.

DIsclaimer: I'm pretty new to diving and am working through the process of thinking about redundancy/safety in solo or self-reliant situations. So, please be kind.

The reg setup I'm starting with has an Air2, and I'm adding a 19cf pony with it's own primary/octo.

I'm not sure I see where the SDI manual is coming from with respect to a pony and an Air2 causing issues that wouldn't be there without it. With an Air2 vs not: In both cases, you still have an inflator hose with connection, the two air management valves. and the LP hose. So, the only added piece of kit is the actual regulator. That gives one additional failure point and negligable additional drag. It also does give some marginal additional backup of a second AAS. If, by some remote chance, the Air2 reg suddenly fails and starts free flowing, you can simply diconnect the LP hose and plan on a manual inflate when the time comes. Any other failure mode would be present with a normal BC inflation system as well, no?

So, is there any appreciable disadvantage to leaving the Air2 on my BCD that I'm not seeing?

 

[OMyMyOHellYes]

So, is there any appreciable disadvantage to leaving the Air2 on my BCD that I'm not seeing?

Nope. You summed it up.

If the Air 2 is the only AAS, and if it starts freeflowing,and you disconnect it, you would be left without an AAS. But a free-flowing AAS, whether an octo configuration or the Air 2, is reason to head up anyway, so I don't see any difference (you can still breathe off a free-flowing 2nd en route to the big air source topside). If you have a pony bottle and you are diving in a self-reliant mode, nobody else is relying on your AAS, then yep, you could unplug and continue.

 

[Nemrod]

DIsclaimer: I'm pretty new to diving and am working through the process of thinking about redundancy/safety in solo or self-reliant situations. So, please be kind.

The reg setup I'm starting with has an Air2, and I'm adding a 19cf pony with it's own primary/octo.

I'm not sure I see where the SDI manual is coming from with respect to a pony and an Air2 causing issues that wouldn't be there without it. With an Air2 vs not: In both cases, you still have an inflator hose with connection, the two air management valves. and the LP hose. So, the only added piece of kit is the actual regulator. That gives one additional failure point and negligable additional drag. It also does give some marginal additional backup of a second AAS. If, by some remote chance, the Air2 reg suddenly fails and starts free flowing, you can simply diconnect the LP hose and plan on a manual inflate when the time comes. Any other failure mode would be present with a normal BC inflation system as well, no?

So, is there any appreciable disadvantage to leaving the Air2 on my BCD that I'm not seeing?

Maybe you should ask SDI and the author of the manual.

I personally see no point in an "octopus" in addition to a second regulator on the redunant tank. In such case any addition to either is an additional potential failure point. As to the Air 2, it is a more complcated device than an inflator and in failure the inflator can be disconnected and the dive terminated using oral inflation if needed. My perspective is to take no more that is actually needed and an Air 2 and an octopus, either/or, is not needed with a fully redundant pony bottle rig. There is already a long thread in the Basic Forum about one particular diver's, for lack of any other description, overly complex rig, where does the slippery slope begin? For me, it begins the moment I add anything I do not need. And I do not create false narratives and hypotheticals to justify additional equipment that I do not need.

I like the Air 2 and my new tropical rig uses the DGX BCI, but not for intentional solo. That is not my intentional solo rig.

Again, you can discuss this with your solo instructor, SDI and the author of their manual for their perspectives. Ultimately, do what you think you need to do.

 

[wdeutsch]

I personally see no point in an "octopus" in addition to a second regulator on the redunant tank.

My bad on the terminology fail. My pony has just a first stage and a single, emergency-use-only, regulator. I definitely mis-used the terms primary/octo there. I definitely *don't* need two regs on my main tank and two on my pony!

Thanks for your perspective - it's much appreciated.

 

[34109411]

DIsclaimer: I'm pretty new to diving and am working through the process of thinking about redundancy/safety in solo or self-reliant situations. So, please be kind.

The reg setup I'm starting with has an Air2, and I'm adding a 19cf pony with it's own primary/octo.

I'm not sure I see where the SDI manual is coming from with respect to a pony and an Air2 causing issues that wouldn't be there without it. With an Air2 vs not: In both cases, you still have an inflator hose with connection, the two air management valves. and the LP hose. So, the only added piece of kit is the actual regulator. That gives one additional failure point and negligable additional drag. It also does give some marginal additional backup of a second AAS. If, by some remote chance, the Air2 reg suddenly fails and starts free flowing, you can simply diconnect the LP hose and plan on a manual inflate when the time comes. Any other failure mode would be present with a normal BC inflation system as well, no?

So, is there any appreciable disadvantage to leaving the Air2 on my BCD that I'm not seeing?

 

[34109411]

 

[scubadada]

Unlike @Nemrod, I do not have a specific set up for every type of diving I do. I dive one set of gear for all of my diving. My primary is on a 40 inch hose under my right arm. My secondary is on a bungee around my neck. When I dive solo, I sling a 19 cu ft tank on the left side. This works just fine. Sometimes I wish I had my short hose primary and an Air 2 when I am reboarding a RIB on a liveaboard.

 

[ofg-1]

Well, I have to say hell no to carrying an anvil. Even a small one. My wife keeps suggesting that I do, but her motives are somewhat suspect.

 

[Nemrod]

I love my DGX BCI. It screws off the corrugated BC hose so it stays with the regulator set. But it is not my solo diving rig, it is for benign tropical diving and as suggested, it is also great for diving from a RIB and in both cases diving with buddies.