When switching to the Hog setup...

[ACR]

When switching from a 'standard' hose set up to a hog set up. What skills should one practice before getting into the water?

 

[Colliam7]

When switching from a 'standard' hose set up to a hog set up. What skills should one practice before getting into the water?

A couple of thoughts. One primary 'skill' that comes to mind is the process of donating your long hose / primary second stage to your buddy in an OOA situation, and then quickly freeing the hose from its routing path (around the back of your neck). Perhaps, a secondary set of 'skills' is making sure that the routing of the long hose allows for it to remain streamlined, (e.g. it is run under a knife or pocket or can light on the right side of your waistband, so it doesn't float free) but can still be quickly / easily / readily positioned free of any emcumberances after you donate your primary. From your post I am presuming that you are moving to a single tank hog rig (e.g. not doubles with stage / deco bottles). If the case of clipped bottles on the right side, a related skill is making certain during your initial check that the hose is not trapped under the tank (runs between the two attachment points). Adjusting the length of the bungee loop on your alternate, so that it allows the second stage to sit below your chin and out of the way of your primary second stagte, but is still easily accessible after you donate your primary, is an additional skill.

 

[rf_scuba]

Make sure you don't accidentally trap the long hose with the bungee necklace. Put on the backup reg first and then route the long hose around your neck. Before getting in the water, practice deploying the long hose to verify it's not trapped by anything. Do a search for the term "s-drill".

Ralph

 

[TSandM]

What everybody else said.

The key skills to a long hose configuration are arranging the hoses in an efficient and streamlined fashion, and making sure you can, and know how to, deploy the entire length of the long hose. (And this should be checked before each dive, because even with experience, it's possible to get hoses crossed or tangled and restrict the available length of hose to donate.)

 

[JeffG]

Tying your shoes. You don't want to trip on them as you go to the dive site.

 

[ACR]

Thanks to everyone for their advice... Except of course JeffG.

Wait, I take that back. Tripping on the laces of your rock boots in full gear would not be much fun on the entries around here!

And thanks for not saying "what are you nuts?!?! you need WAY more experience before you even think about thinking about that!!"

 

[TSandM]

And thanks for not saying "what are you nuts?!?! you need WAY more experience before you even think about thinking about that!!"

You don't. I switched to a Hog rig at about 40 dives. No issues, except a little learning curve.

 

[JeffG]

Thanks to everyone for their advice... Except of course JeffG.

You're welcome.

Understand that this isn't rocket science and nothing is needed to be praticed before trying/using.

 

[Colliam7]

And thanks for not saying "what are you nuts?!?! you need WAY more experience before you even think about thinking about that!!"

You're right, we blew it. 'YER GONNA DIE!'

 

[Ben_ca]

Make sure you don't accidentally trap the long hose with the bungee necklace. Put on the backup reg first and then route the long hose around your neck. Before getting in the water, practice deploying the long hose to verify it's not trapped by anything. Do a search for the term "s-drill".

Ralph

DO NOT put the hose around your neck!

it goes behind behind your neck not around....

(I know this is what you meant but you never know... seen some silly people walking around with a hose wrapped around their necks)