Using A Long Hose Isn't Just For Tech Divers

[O2BBubbleFree]

The potential is that a standard back-mounted pony can have a slow leak and be empty by the time you need to use it if you keep it on. You wouldn't know.

That makes sense. Since the earlier poster mentioned "clipping off" and "handing off" I was in a front-mounted mindset. If I was to start carrying a pony, it would be front-mounted with an SPG.

Your buddy isn't OOA cause he's breathing

I was talking more about your statement that you knew you buddy had enough gas to get you both back. If you are out of gas (as you stated), then he's probably pretty low, as well. Isn't he?

 

[JeffG]

I was talking more about your statement that you knew you buddy had enough gas to get you both back. If you are out of gas (as you stated), then he's probably pretty low, as well. Isn't he?

You need to lookup the term rock bottom....(Short version) Every diver reserves enough gas to get him and his buddy back

 

[novadiver]

I think that what some folks are failing to see is that any rig you choose involves trade-offs ... and the one that's "best" for any given individual is the one that works best for "them" given the type of diving that they're doing.

For me that happens to be a Hog rig ... for someone else doing the same diving, given their training, background, and preferences, it may be something else.

FWIW - I had a recent opportunity to bring an almost OOA, semi-competent diver up from a 97' depth while sharing air. At no point did the use of the long hose restrict me from staying close to this individual ... that's what the situation called for because he was in no way competent to be attempting an open-water ascent on his own. Frankly, he didn't belong on this dive but that's another story.

The point is that if this had been a different individual ... one who was competent to control his own buoyancy on a free ascent from depth ... I would've also had the option to release his BCD strap and give him the freedom of motion to control his own ascent. I've had occasion to do that as well, and it's quite a bit more comfortable and less complicated than the "traditional" OOA ascent that we're all taught in BOW class.

I haven't experienced the entanglement hazards, panicked diver head-kick, or any of the other horrible scenarios I've read about in this thread. Frankly, if I had I wouldn't consider that I had followed my own training in terms of controlling the situation. That has nothing to do with the choice of rig ... it has to do with how I respond to the situation.

Bottom line is that the longer regulator hose gives me more options. How I use those options is really up to me. With a shorter rig, I wouldn't have as many choices to adapt to the situation.

So, for me, that's reason enough for the gear choices I've made. If yours are different that's OK ... I'll respect your reasons for making them. But please, try to show a little respect for mine as well ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Glad that all worked out for ya. but add a little panic and all bets are off. I've seen divers twitching and flailing to a point were rescue was put off untill the RIGHT time

 

[BigboyDan]

-- 1) The point is that if this had been a different individual ... one who was competent to control his own buoyancy on a free ascent from depth ... I would've also had the option to release his BCD strap and give him the freedom of motion to control his own ascent.

-- 2) Bottom line is that the longer regulator hose gives me more options. How I use those options is really up to me. With a shorter rig, I wouldn't have as many choices to adapt to the situation.

-- 3) So, for me, that's reason enough for the gear choices I've made. If yours are different that's OK ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

1) I'm not going to give an OOA diver freedom to do anything. I give him my secondary, and I hold onto him throughout the ascent. Period.

2) See answer # 1.

3) Agreed.

 

[wedivebc]

Dave - I'm sure your students are very fortunate. It's good that they don't learn to grab the reg. Communication is key in buddy skills.

Would you agree with me that storage and deployment of a long hose 40",5' or 7' is not rocket science and that even new OW students can understand and practice this technique?

Absolutely, the 7' hose is really the way to go in many situations. It is not rocket science and has been adopted by many.
I personally dive a few different configurations depending on the type of dive. A seven foot hose would not work too well with my rebreather

 

[OE2X]

I was talking more about your statement that you knew you buddy had enough gas to get you both back. If you are out of gas (as you stated), then he's probably pretty low, as well. Isn't he?

I would hope not. It's one thing if a diver isn't watching their gas, but to have two buddied up on the same dive speaks of a far greater problem. OOA can happen for a variety of reasons. O-ring or other mechanical failure, inattentiveness to gas, stress, elevated SAC etc... Generally though it will happen to only one diver of the pair - you hope.

In our scenarios, I and my buddies know what our rock bottom is for the dive. You turn the dive at the rock bottom or well before.

 

[OE2X]

A seven foot hose would not work too well with my rebreather

Now that would be a sight.

I should have clarified in the original post that rebreathers aren't being considered here.

 

[O2BBubbleFree]

You need to lookup the term rock bottom....(Short version) Every diver reserves enough gas to get him and his buddy back

In the situation JonnyThan brought up, he stated that he has run out of gas. So, at this point, proper gas managemnt has gone out the window. My question was, in this situation, how can you be sure your buddy has enough gas to get both of you back to the surface?

 

[Gary D.]

[devilish mode] So you have to do a lot of air sharing do you? [/devilish mode]

That's a good one.

Keeping an eye on your air is even easier

Gary D.

 

[BigboyDan]

In the situation JohnnyThan brought up, he stated that he has run out of gas. So, at this point, proper gas managemnt has gone out the window. My question was, in this situation, how can you be sure your buddy has enough gas to get both of you back to the surface?

This situation should never happen. Good gas management skills will prevent it. Buddies should, in predive, account for total gas failure of at least one diver's rig, and know what to do.

When I DM, though, I always carry a front-mounted pony to donate, boat requirement.