"Streamlined" reg setup questions

[CapnBloodbeard]

G'day Scubafriends,

Wife and I are considering switching to the 'streamlined' setup (primary on longer hose, octo around neck). We just do OW/AOW, no cave/wreck diving.

I know people have a range of thoughts on the correct primary length anything from 40" (3 1/2 foot) through to 7' - we've had 4' suggested (fairly average height, 5'7-5'10ish).

So, with something like that, would it be recommended to get an elbow or swivel (and if so, which one)? For just the primary, or both?

And does the Octo move around in the water, bump into your neck/chin in current, anything like that?

 

[shurite7]

Several women I know like the five foot hose where it runs from the tank valve down under the right armpit, across the chest to the left side of the upper torso, around the neck and into the mouth.

Others who like the seven foot run it in a similar manner running the hose from the tank valve down to the right hip (tucked in under the BCD webbing) then back up across the belly/chest to the left side of the upper torso, around the neck and into the mouth.

You can use a swivel (there are some hardcore people who are not fans of the swivel - nonetheless, you can use one) such as XS Scuba’s brass or stainless steel swivel that works quite well.

The alternate second stage is hooked via a bungee necklace that hangs around the neck. It doesn’t bang around or interfere with anything, assuming you bought one that has the proper length. There is no need for a swivel on the alternate second stage. Scubapro offers a nice bungee necklace at a decent price. You can make one, although the price of a bungee necklace isn’t that munch.

Question for you regarding this set up - do you know how or are you truly willing to learn and practice the proper s-drill for this type of configuration, or are you just wanting a longer hose based off some reading on the internet? If the former is your answer then this set is for you, if your answer is the latter then do not go with the configuration.

 

[CapnBloodbeard]

Several women I know like the five foot hose where it runs from the tank valve down under the right armpit, across the chest to the left side of the upper torso, around the neck and into the mouth.

Others who like the seven foot run it in a similar manner running the hose from the tank valve down to the right hip (tucked in under the BCD webbing) then back up across the belly/chest to the left side of the upper torso, around the neck and into the mouth.

You can use a swivel (there are some hardcore people who are not fans of the swivel - nonetheless, you can use one) such as XS Scuba’s brass or stainless steel swivel that works quite well.

The alternate second stage is hooked via a bungee necklace that hangs around the neck. It doesn’t bang around or interfere with anything, assuming you bought one that has the proper length. There is no need for a swivel on the alternate second stage. Scubapro offers a nice bungee necklace at a decent price. You can make one, although the price of a bungee necklace isn’t that munch.

Question for you regarding this set up - do you know how or are you truly willing to learn and practice the proper s-drill for this type of configuration, or are you just wanting a longer hose based off some reading on the internet? If the former is your answer then this set is for you, if your answer is the latter then do not go with the configuration.

Fair question Was suggested by a dive shop and we liked the idea of it. Wife was more keen, so I'm going to let her guinea pig it! The dive shop suggested the 'run it under the right arm and back up' method, hence the 4ft recommendation.

Hadn't heard of S-drill, just found a thread on here discussing it (hadn't heard of it before) - so, basically, drill to ensure the hose is fully deployable - so basically a check to ensure you haven't looped something else over the top of it, right?

 

[CuzzA]

So, with something like that, would it be recommended to get an elbow or swivel (and if so, which one)? For just the primary, or both?

Absolutely. You'll be running the hose under your arm directly to your mouth. Without an elbow it will be very uncomfortable and your arm will be trying to pull the hose from your mouth.

You'll be happy with the setup and likely find it much more comfortable than any long hose and especially those on the shorter side as the hose gets messy without the length to secure it. 48" seem a bit long, especially since you both aren't overly tall. I would stick to the standard 40".

 

[shurite7]

Hadn't heard of S-drill, just found a thread on here discussing it (hadn't heard of it before) - so, basically, drill to ensure the hose is fully deployable - so basically a check to ensure you haven't looped something else over the top of it, right?

Yes, the s-drill is about deploying the hose in an out of air situation. Here are a couple of vids showing it: the first video is deploying it (warning the music is bad, as in porn bad)

The second video shows how it is deployed with the out of air diver swimming on the donor’s left side. Notice how the hose is deployed.

The third video shows the hose deployment with the out of air diver swimming on the donor right side, although I don’t hold onto the person’ arm like the guy in the video does. Again, notice how the long hose is deployed.

At first the drills may seem complicated or challenging, but they really aren’t. With a little bit of training in the pool and practice you’ll find it works quite well. Besides, you should be practicing out of air drills on every trip regardless of what kind of configuration one is using, unlike some who don’t want to bother with it until someone actually runs out of air.

 

[happy-diver]

All that hose doesn't look streamlined to me

My hose comes from the tank to my mouth allowing full head movement, that's streamlined




Beware people selling their ideals, not gear

 

[CapnBloodbeard]

@shurite7 greatly appreciated

 

[CapnBloodbeard]

All that hose doesn't look streamlined to me

My hose comes from the tank to my mouth allowing full head movement, that's streamlined


Beware people selling their ideals, not gear

Thanks for that link - Alec Peirce is great

I get the impression it (in terms of rec diving) also comes from some people's approach to sharing the primary, not the octo, for a few reasons.

Of course, sharing the primary doesn't make really make sense if it's on a short hose....

 

[CuzzA]

We humans generally recommend what we use. Be it scuba, golfing, fishing, reef keeping, et cetera. Here you'll find more overhead divers than elsewhere so naturally if you asked what hose to use most will say the long hose. But are you diving in caves and wreck penetrations requiring single file exits? No. At least not right now.

For the sport ocean diver there's little advantage to a long hose vs. a 40" under the arm, unless you're a guide trying to save the dive for someone who had some sort of failure, most likely a short fill that wasn't recognized until on the bottom. The schedule is two tank dive? Well, that's all you're going to get so sharing gas on a long hose can save the dive for the guy who didn't check his fill before they left and allow both divers to swim somewhat more comfortably.

In a private recreational dive if that happened you have time to go back up and fix the issue, grab a new tank or whip some gas over from another tank. In an OOG situation you should be holding on to the OOG diver and vice-versa as you make an ascent. In that situation it likely occurred as an emergency and the OOG diver is a little freaked out and likely to not be maintaining their wits so close contact gives you the advantage of keeping the diver calm and maintaining his buoyancy if he or she can't.

All of this is quite rare, but does happen so the 40" under the arm primary donate is the perfect compromise for maintaining a very nice streamlined profile without the bulk of the extra hose, while providing the benefit of executing a solid gas share in the OOG situation to get both of you to the surface.

 

[rhwestfall]

^ This!