What are the general thoughts on Swivel hoses or Swivel adaptors?

[lexvil]

What second stage do you use for alternate?

D420

 

[Cornbread O'Malley]

On one hand they same like great inventions that increase comfort in a dive. On the other hand, it seems like adding an additional potential point of failure to your kit.

Been looking at the Omni swivel as an add-on. Cheaper brand reviews mention leaks, but Omni has positive reviews.

Omni Swivel Standard

Omni Swivel is dedicated to manufacturing the finest and highest quality diving products on the market. All of Omni products are made in the USA with over 40 years' experience manufacturing diving...

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I added this Omni Swivel on the 40-inch hose on my primary donate a few months ago. I like this swivel as it makes routing the hose under my arm easier. I was concerned about the screw backing out so used a Sharpie to mark a line across the screw and the swivel body. If the screw does start turning I will see the misalignment of the line. I visually inspect the swivel before and after every dive and make a fresh mark with the Sharpie after a number of dives. No issues after 40+ dives.

 

[jay040]

All good thoughts, thank you

 

[lexvil]

I added this Omni Swivel on the 40-inch hose on my primary donate a few months ago. I like this swivel as it makes routing the hose under my arm easier. I was concerned about the screw backing out so used a Sharpie to mark a line across the screw and the swivel body. If the screw does start turning I will see the misalignment of the line. I visually inspect the swivel before and after every dive and make a fresh mark with the Sharpie after a number of dives. No issues after 40+ dives.

There is an old style with the lock set screw butting into the base of the main screw and the new type that jams the set screw into the main screw from the side (more conventional use of a set screw) you can buy an upgrade kit. I have used the old style for a long time but have been upgrading as a service

I just did one yesterday, the tool make it very easy but isn’t necessary..

 

[rx7diver]

I use Omni on my stuff, even have a shut off valve in line

What second stage do you use for alternate?

D420

I don't use a swivel on my Scubapro D400, G250, or Balanced Adjustables (my very first regs, purchased new c. 1987, and still used), or on my Poseidon Odins.

And I absolutely don't use in-line shut-off valves for the open circuit, recreational diving that I do.

I like to keep gear as simple and minimalist as possible, for the type of dive I will do. No unnecessary stuff. Fewer things to monitor and maintain. I recommend this approach/mindset to new/newer divers, too, when asked.

rx7diver

 

[lexvil]

I don't use a swivel on my Scubapro D400, G250, or Balanced Adjustables (my very first regs, purchased new c. 1987, and still used), or on my Poseidon Odins.

And I absolutely don't use in-line shut-off valves for the open circuit, recreational diving that I do.

I like to keep gear as simple and minimalist as possible, for the type of dive I will do. No unnecessary stuff. Fewer things to monitor and maintain. I recommend this approach/mindset to new/newer divers, too, when asked.

rx7diver

I don’t tend to run straight stock gear, the Omni on a 40” hose makes it adjustable on the fly, I adapt gear to me rather than the other way around. The shut off came about when an experimental seat blew out on a D series, by the way kinking modern hoses doesn’t even slow the flow) they have never presented a problem, if they did I would stop using them.

 

[rx7diver]

I don’t tend to run straight stock gear, the Omni on a 40” hose makes it adjustable on the fly, I adapt gear to me rather than the other way around. The shut off came about when an experimental seat blew out on a D series, by the way kinking modern hoses doesn’t even slow the flow) they have never presented a problem, if they did I would stop using them.

@lexvil,

For dives between approx 34 and 68 ffw, I use a single BM cylinder with a Y-valve and two complete regulators. If one of the regulators ceases to function properly, I put the 2nd stage to the other reg in my mouth, and reach over my shoulder to the Y-valve and shut off the offending regulator, and end the dive. I'm doing three season MO and AR freshwater recreational diving (almost always solo these days). No use for in-line shut-off valves in any of my gear configurations.

ETA: My old thread here (Freedom Plate: First Dive) includes pics of the configuration described above. Regs are D400 and G250 on Scubapro Mk10 Plus first stages. This configuration hasn't changed much at all since that time.

rx7diver

 

[stretchthepenn]

I can't access my gear stockpile right now and check, but I think I used Omniswivels in the past. I liked them at the time, but I had an odd/slightly concerning situation and have since switched to hard-angle swivels.

I was at about 130', putzing along the bottom of a quarry, breathing off a regulator with an Omniswivel, when I noticed a a small storm of bubbles buzzing out of the swivel's sphere. I paused, ascended about six inches. The leak stopped. So I went down six inches. The leak started up again. Seems as if the pressure at that particular depth was exactly the pressure at which the sphere's main o-ring started to deform.

 

[Dsix36]

I used generic 70 degree swivels for years with no issue but recently moved to Kirby Morgan ones since they are made with less parts and thus less chance of failure (lot more money but never heard of an issue with one). Kinda like Omniswivel vs. generic. You get what you pay for and my life is worth a few bucks more.

 

[hilljo88]

I've used swivel for years with no issue.