Tank on board, shore or surface...

[Externet]

What is involved or need-to-be-aware-of if someone wants to do 'hookah' diving at only 15 feet with the tank with first stage regulator left on the boat ? Just curious...

Equipment... precautions... differences to scuba...

 

[tbone1004]

pressure drop to the second stage, lack of depth compensation from the first stage, finding a long enough hose. etc etc. 15ft isn't bad and if you are using a balanced second stage you shouldn't notice any difference as it is only a 7psi differential. Why don't you want the tank on your back for 15ft?

 

[Jonn]

Why not just carry the tank with you, on your back? It doesn't weigh anything in the water and is way less trouble than dragging a hose around.

 

[2airishuman]

What is involved or need-to-be-aware-of if someone wants to do 'hookah' diving at only 15 feet with the tank with first stage regulator left on the boat ? Just curious...

Equipment... precautions... differences to scuba...

Some things to consider.

1) No SPG, how will the diver monitor the air supply
2) Hose routing and strain relief. The better hookah systems have a belt pack that holds one end of the air line quite securely. You don't want a situation where the diver's 2nd stage is pulled away from them because they pulled on the line
3) Hose entaglement risks if present
4) Out of air procedures given the configuration. At 15' a controlled ascent to the surface should be possible. Much deeper, you really should have a bailout bottle, even with a buddy, unless the buddy is on scuba rather than the hookah system
5) diver should have sufficient training. What is sufficient? I don't know. Brownie's and others offer programs.

It is difficult for me to see any advantages to having the tanks on the surface except in some highly specialized situations, such as maintenance work where the tanks get in the way. Some resorts sell a "snuba" experience which is similar and thought by its proponents to require less training than scuba. But you still need cylinders and air fills, unlike the hookah systems built around a low pressure (~100 PSI) compressor.