What's the best way to necklace a backup?

[mwilding]

Rubber snorkle holder.

I agree - best octopus holder out there!

 

[jonnythan]

Snorkel keepers work perfectly for what you want. Create a girth hitch with one loop around a D-ring, and the other loop allows you to put in a reg. They pull out easily and when you tug on the loop the reg slips back in easily.

 

[Diver0001]

Hi,
I hate those stupid octo holders that don't really work, so I'm trying to figure out the best way to attach an octo. Obviously something that will break away when pulled on, but went come loose for no apparent reason. I know the DIR crowd will say put it around your neck with surgical tubing, but how do they do that? Any pics out that show how? Other ideas would be welcome as well.

Darryl

Darryl,

There are some pretty stupid octo holders but there are some better ones too. Look around. The snorkel holder suggestion is good.

Personally, I wear my secondary around my neck. Over the course of the last 19-odd years I've tried every possible way of attaching my octopus and this is the only way that seems logical to me now that I've been doing it for a while. It does require you to learn a slightly different AAS protocol and ideally you'll combine this with a long-hose primary but once you've practiced it a couple of times it's as easy as every one says it is.

If you don't like surgical tubing (I don't) then try a 3mm bungie cord. You can get this at the MEC or shops like it. I prefer the 3mm bungie to surgical tubing because you can easily pull the octopus away from your face to look at it if you have to. (I'm a little far-sighted so I have to pull it quite a ways....).

Cheers,
R..

 

[dc4bs]

Also, if you look around, sometimes you can find snorkle keeps that have a tab on the loop so its easier to use that type for an octo holder. I havn't seen any like that recently though.

I've gone to the necklace and donate the primary. Even on my "rec" regulator setup.

 

[Don Burke]

This still allows the reg to be pulled out easily enough?

Darryl

If you can't get the necklace off the regulator, you made the small loop too tight. I don't want it to be _too_ easy.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

I dive independent doubles and the need to switch regs precludes using a bugee necklace. However I have found that using an 1/8 inch 0-ring, about 1 1/16 to 1 1/8 in diameter around the base of the mouth piece on each second stage works well. This O-ring is zip tied to a bolt snap that can then be secured to a D-ring. With independent doubles it allows me to unclip and reclip the second stages in normal use and keeps every thing secure and close to the body.

In an OOA situation, or in recreational octopus arrangement, the second stage can be pulled free of the O-ring with a firm tug and is very easy to access if needed in a hurry but still easy to rig and easy to replace underwater.

 

[roakey]

I've changed the title of the thread to refer to attaching an octo, since the term "backup" was creating some confusion.

For the record, through usage the term "octo" impliles that an unused, stowed reg is donated to the OOA diver and the donor continues to breathe the primary.

"Backup" implies that the donor passes the primary to the OOA diver and the donor goes to their "backup" reg (bungeed around the neck), hence the name change.

Roak

 

[dvleemin]

Hi,
Backup is what I meant. You should have edited Octo in the post, not the subject. Anyway . . . my wife and I pass the primary, not our backup. Although we don't have the 7' hoses, we do have 5' hoses for our primary . . .

Darryl

 

[String]

Ive got a very cheap flexy plastic octo holder clipped onto a D-ring on the left.

It comes away easy with a pull without problems.
The only issue is, if it is pulled HARD to get at the plastic thing will snap. Not an issue - its about 50p and if someone NEEDS the octo that badly its not exactly going to break the bank.

 

[Falcon99]

I use one of those form-fit octo holders that have rubbery "clip" edges and mount it to my BC belt rather than put it on my chest. It works well - haven't had a problem yet.

Jim