What do you do when your inexperienced insta buddy is set up for Air2.

[TravisD]

A traditional octopus and primary is NOT primary donate, well as far as I know. Perhaps you use terms different than I?

I teach Primary donate for both trad octo and integrated/breathable inflators. The rationale being that the OOA diver is getting a reg that definitely works, isn't fully of sand, etc, and gets it NOW. The donating diver can then find their octo and get it into their mouth without having possibly been without a breath for some time.

They also learn that in an actual OOA situation, expect the unexpected, and expect that an OOA diver is going to take whatever reg they can find first, including the one in their mouth.

 

[Joneill]

In nearly 3,000 dives, I haven't seen that. Of course, I do maintain my equipment.

And dive 3001 could be the one where it goes sideways even with proper maintenance! Regardless, my intended point was that there are situations beyond one’s direct control that may cause you to run out of air even if you watch your SPG - so your advice to the OP was both inaccurate as well as a bit condescending!

 

[lizardland]

It is what YOU asked. You said: How is it any different to a new diver trained on a traditional octopus and primary?

A traditional octopus and primary is NOT primary donate, well as far as I know. Perhaps you use terms different than I?

I think you are just looking for an argument where there is none.

You are relying on a new diver to react properly. It doesn't matter if that diver is using a traditional main + octopus, primary donate or any other option. It makes zero difference. Either they will get it right or they won't. I really don't get what the issue is with primary donate and an Air2. Have we suddenly had a load of dead Air2 users I've missed?

 

[lizardland]

In nearly 3,000 dives, I haven't seen that. Of course, I do maintain my equipment.

Yeah, in about 3500 dives my experience is similar. The only time was a badly serviced Poseidon Jetstream that let loose the cylinder contents when it reached around 50 bar and conveniently dumped everything I had in a shockingly quick time. On the other hand, I've lost count of the number of people I've seen who can't glance at a needle on a gauge every couple of minutes and end up in the ****. Which is kind of terrifying when you consider that most of them drove a one ton Molotov cocktail on wheels on an open road to get there.

Ultimately the original diver has a choice to make. Either you dive with the new diver and assume that you are on your own or you don't. If it's the former then the next choice you have to make is: am I comfortable diving solo with no redundant gas or not? The reality is that diving is incredibly safe and the likelihood of a catastrophic equipment failure being the thing that blows you to Valhalla is very remote. Equipment doesn't generally kill divers, it's the choices they make with it on their backs. The other side of the coin is that too many divers think equipment will save them from bad choices.

The whole situation looks like it was swirling round the drain of bad choices and could've been avoided by asking: do you know what you're doing? Or, can I buddy with someone else?

 

[Jai Bar]

The Air2 thingy has been addressed in multiple answers.

About instabuddy panicking: if you think panic is exclusively a novice diver-with-less-than-20-dives (with or without Air2) thing, then you should get used to disappointment.

Any diver can panic, it can augment with hypercapnia, stress, fear or whatever conditions, and no matter how much we practice and how many dives we have under our weight belt: anyone can panic under some circumstances. You, me, him, any random Scubaboard member.
Maybe the great Cousteau or Poseidon himself could have potentially panicked sometime (after all he and Pan are family )

Just enjoy the diving, keep an eye on buddy and be ready to help him, should he need assistance, and vice versa

 

[lexvil]

the main problem with an air2 in and OOA situation is now you have to awkwardly close to your buddy. close enough, in fact, to feel when they pee.

now close your eyes and imagine...

Mmmmm warm

 

[johndiver999]

I teach Primary donate for both trad octo and integrated/breathable inflators. The rationale being that the OOA diver is getting a reg that definitely works, isn't fully of sand, etc, and gets it NOW. The donating diver can then find their octo and get it into their mouth without having possibly been without a breath for some time.

They also learn that in an actual OOA situation, expect the unexpected, and expect that an OOA diver is going to take whatever reg they can find first, including the one in their mouth.

So then I assume that all your students are using a long primary hose and a short back up?

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Question:
How many people here who have observed people using Air2's also using a standard 32" length primary hose?
How many people have seen air2 users actually using a minimum octo length hose of 40" as their primary? Because that's what it really should be.
Have you ever tried to share air with somebody using a 32" primary donate hose?
it doesn't work very well.

 

[scubadada]

Hi @mockney

This topic has been discussed a million times, why does it keep coming back? An easy topic, anyone, regardless of experience, can comment.

Post in thread 'When is it time to switch to a long hose setup?'

Sep 20, 2025

Air 2’s are fine, snorkels are fine, just learn to use them, practice with them on each dive, once you get the hang of each toss the snorkel in a bag and look into the necklaced second even if you keep the air 2 eventually you’ll decide what works best for you.

Always an interesting discussion. I dived an Air 2 from 2002-2018, just under 1500 dives. I did Deep Diver in it with a deep OOA simulation in 2004 and did Rescue in it in 2005. I practiced switching to it relatively frequently. I told new buddies about it and let them know I would be donating my primary.

I switched to...

• scubadada

• 
• 

 

[Cthippo]

OP has two choices.

1 shut your pie hole and go dive

Or

2 Shut your pie hole and stay on the boat.

Either way, this is a YOU problem, not a buddy problem.

You don't get to dictate someone else's gear configuration for your own comfort.