What to do with inflate/deflate BCD hose?

[Texasguy]

Pretty much every BCD has a velcro strap which is used to hook up that BCD inflate/deflate hose so a diver would be streamlined. However, whenever you need to deflate, you usually hold the hose upwards, right? So, you have to unhook it from velcro strap and lift the hose up then push a button. After this task do you velcro it back again? Seems like a velcro strap can quickly wear out from all the hooking and unhooking. Another option, I guess, never hook it up back... but the hose would dangle more.

Thus, I am at odds, do I have to go through this unhook, deflate, hook back routine every time I need to deflate my BCD? Or, just leave it hanging?

 

[ibj40]

My Air 2 has a valve at the BC that is activated when I pull down on it, so not a problem for me.

 

[triplecove]

My bcd hose snaps into a holder on the tube itself and usually stays snapped in when I raise my inflator hose over my head so I dont seem to have the same problem that you do

 

[diversteve]

Zeagle has a dump at the shoulder end of the inflator hose. There's a wire inside the corrugated tube that pulls it when you pull down on the inflator itself - doesn't stress the corrugated tube. I almost never un-velcro mine.

Some BC's also have a right shoulder pull dump - I've seen it on both Zeagle (New Ranger LTD & Stiletto) and (I think) ScubaPro BC's

 

[KD8NPB]

I leave mine dangling.

It's pretty short.

 

[chrpai]

Thus, I am at odds, do I have to go through this unhook, deflate, hook back routine every time I need to deflate my BCD? Or, just leave it hanging?

My BP/W doesn't use velcro, I have a little rubber ring that's next to my left chest dring that I can slide the inflator in and out of. I also don't use a low pressure inflator pull dump. I typically give a quick burst of my rear dump and occasionally use my inflator dump.

If you are properly weighted and executing a multilevel or square dive ( not saw tooth ) you shouldn't have be dumping all that frequently anyways. Just a few times on your way up to maintain neutral buoyancy.

 

[TSandM]

It generally isn't necessary to release the Velcro, to get the end of the inflator high enough to vent gas. If you go slightly head up and slightly left shoulder up, it should be easy to get the end high enough to allow air to escape.

 

[DaleC]

I don't use my inflator exhaust. I dump from my hip seeing as I'm horizontal most of the time anyways.

 

[gcarter]

It generally isn't necessary to release the Velcro, to get the end of the inflator high enough to vent gas. If you go slightly head up and slightly left shoulder up, it should be easy to get the end high enough to allow air to escape.

That's what I typically do.

 

[OkByMe]

If you have a power inflator, check to see if there is a cable operated dump valve at the elbow. If there is, use that by pulling down on the hose to dump air, If not, you can retro-fit one by purchasing a dump valve with the cable (without the hose or inflator) for about 25 bucks. Size the cable by the length of your hose. When you take the inflator off the hose, check for a hole drilled under the neck where the hose goes. if you have a hole, buy a pin, if you don't have a hole, buy a pin and drill straight through the neck about 3/8" from the opening. You must drill between the opening and the ridge on the neck. The ridge captures the hose with the clamp. Size the drill to the pin diameter, tight slip fit is what you are looking for. The pin holds a loop in the cable and the hose covers the pin and keeps it in place.

I have added manual dump valves to my wings so I have one on each side at the bottom. That way I can dump air without changing position.