The long hose Blues

[jscott099]

I always dive mine off the NC coast and wear pretty much the same configuration for wrecks and caves. Over time I have fiddled with hose lengths and placement until satisfied and comfortable. I keep a completely separate set of regs for 'regular' diving so that helps keep all the mess sorted out.

One thing that I did earlier this year was to switch all my tech regs over to Miflex hoses (except the high pressure which cannot be). I have been happy with the performance and the increased flexibility the hoses have.

 

[irishsquid]

For now, I'm still an OW recreational diver who uses a 7' hose. I read so much about it here on SB and seen it in use in the Florida springs, it just made sense to me. I tried it and liked it, so now I dive with that setup and a (DSS BP/W). I could be wrong, but my gear feels more streamlined and uncluttered than compared to a BCD and regular setup.

 

[RJP]

Did you retain the hose, or revert back to standard length?

7' is standard length...

 

[cos]

Like Peter I dive a longish hose on my primary (5 foot) which I give up if needed and I back that up with an inflator/reg combo.

What is the advantage of this set up over the separate inflator and back-up?

 

[Doppler]

7' is standard length...

Not really... ever hear of metric units?

 

[Peter Guy]

The only advantage I know of, and Thal may have some more comments, is that it reduces by one the number of hoses (and thus reduces drag and clutter) you have.

Unlike Thal, I use my combo setup only as a pool rig because I need to dive a "traditional" BC for demonstration purposes.

In OW, I dive a BP/W, long hose primary, bungied secondary -- why? -- because I like the fit/feel of the BP/W better than my Balance AND since I go back and forth between singles and doubles, I at least keep some of my gear relatively standardized. Ideally, I'd do my pool work in a BP/W also but that means I'd need to develop a relationship with another shop -- but THAT is another long and boring story.

 

[RJP]

Not really... ever hear of metric units?

The length is the same, regardless of unit of measure...

 

[rongoodman]

My first set of gear was a Hog set-up, and I've seen no reason to change it, other than to add a set of doubles. I've never had an issue with the 7' hose, tucking it either in my belt or under a can light.

 

[TekDiveGirl]

Nope -- sorry!

I grew using standard measurement for everything.

Whenever I have to deal with you metric people I have to use a converter.

Feet to meters I am pretty good at averaging.

Celsius to Fahrenheit I do ok as long as it is in the 20-80 range (the temperature range of places that I monitor)

I know -- they all tell me metric is supposed to be simpler -- Sorry I just can't wrap this blonde head around it and make the switch!

Oh yeah and as to not hijack the thread -- I agree a 7" longhose IS the standard!

 

[Doppler]

Oh yeah and as to not hijack the thread -- I agree a 7" longhose IS the standard!

Kimber! are you saying what I think you're saying... a seven-inch hose is standard! :cool2:


The real point was to suggest that citing a very specific measurement as standard can lead to problems... especially when dealing with things like standards... far better to say a long hose is standard and its length is usually around 7 feet or two metres.

Trying to convert is the problem... I have to deal with both and it's easier to just think in either unit without attempting any conversion... a 200 foot dive is a 60 metre dive... even though really it's not.