Which length long hose 5ft or 7ft?

[PfcAJ]

Here's my problem with 6 foot hoses and DIR.

DIR is all about simple transitions from one environment to another (cave to wreck to shallow openwater to where ever).

6 foot hoses are inadequate for single file egress. The diver receiving gas in in front, with the donating diver in the rear. A 6 foot hose puts single file divers too close together to swim efficiently/ deal with obstacles.

Why limit yourself with a hose that has the potential to cause issues at a time when extra issues are the LAST thing you want?

 

[amascuba]

Looped around your neck twice? Umm.... How is that DIR?

The hose should come straight down the right side and either be tucked in the waist harness or under the can light, up the chest to the left shoulder, behind the neck, and to the right shoulder where it's placed in the mouth.

The hose should never physically be wrapped around your neck.

The routing should be like this:

I concur as to the use of the 7 ft hose. It leaves you more options. If you were to try to stow the 5 ft hose around your neck, you'd either strangle yourself or have too much hanging loose. For my regular diving (double LP 85's) a 7 ft hose is my standard primary. Routed from the right, looped around my neck twice. Very comfortable and easily accessible. Then of course my seconday (short hose) is necklaced and hangs right below my chin. Very simple in design and very functional when needed.

 

[Captain12Pk]

Sorry rjac321 and others. I noticed after I posted that this was in the DIR forum. As I am (obviously) not DIR I should have read, but not posted here. Sorry, didn't mean to lead anyone astray.

 

[made4water]

Thanks to everyone for the prompt responses. Looks like i cant go wrong with the 7ft hose....thanks again

Logan

 

[Zinc]

i was wondering which length of hose (primary) you guys would recommend for single tank diving. 5ft. or 7ft.

I reguarly dive single tank using back plate and 7ft hose. I got a 5ft for open water diving but found it too short and constricting across my chest. I switched back to the 7ft, all the time.

If you are not wearing a canister light, the excess hose can be routed around the front and tucked under belt, but I prefer to tuck it under a small knife mounted in the center of my waist strap. A duck of the head gives the first 4ft, a flick from under the knife gives the full 7ft.

 

[rjack321]

Here's my problem with 6 foot hoses and DIR.

DIR is all about simple transitions from one environment to another (cave to wreck to shallow openwater to where ever).

6 foot hoses are inadequate for single file egress. The diver receiving gas in in front, with the donating diver in the rear. A 6 foot hose puts single file divers too close together to swim efficiently/ deal with obstacles.

Why limit yourself with a hose that has the potential to cause issues at a time when extra issues are the LAST thing you want?

If the OP is in an overhead he shouldn't be in a single tank. A space where 6ft is inadequate is like a Cave2 sized restriction. Cause I probably coulda used a 6ft hose throughout my Cave1 class without additional contortions. Would have been a hassle switching sides of the line on exits, but otherwise 6ft probbaly would work in Cave1.

Alot of people use a different length hose for their dedicated single tank rig. If having 1ft wacked off a hose is that big a deal to switch back and forth between a single vs. your proper overhead kits then that's an issue far larger than 1ft of hose!

Kinda like the pocket contents specifications IMO. If you are that fluxomed by switching what goes where out of necessity sometimes, then you aren't really to be doing very advanced dives IMO.

 

[Carribeandiver]

you might want to try a 5 foot hose before buying it but I think you will find the 7 foot hose best. I run the 5 foot hose under my right arm, looped around my neck from my left shoulder but it seems too tight under my left arm. Therefore, I much prefer the 7 foot hose that I can tuck in my waistband because it offers more freedom of movement and is not tight anywhere, at least on me.. I am 5'9" slightly broad in the shoulders but not exceptionally so.

 

[PfcAJ]

If the OP is in an overhead he shouldn't be in a single tank. A space where 6ft is inadequate is like a Cave2 sized restriction. Cause I probably coulda used a 6ft hose throughout my Cave1 class without additional contortions. Would have been a hassle switching sides of the line on exits, but otherwise 6ft probbaly would work in Cave1.

Alot of people use a different length hose for their dedicated single tank rig. If having 1ft wacked off a hose is that big a deal to switch back and forth between a single vs. your proper overhead kits then that's an issue far larger than 1ft of hose!

Kinda like the pocket contents specifications IMO. If you are that fluxomed by switching what goes where out of necessity sometimes, then you aren't really to be doing very advanced dives IMO.

I just disagree with you.

Why bother having a different hose size when the standard can fit just fine? If you did your C1 with a 6 foot...would you switch it to a 7 foot for C2? Why not just buy the right piece of kit the first time? You admit to the possibility of a hassle in your class. But lets remember, thats just a class, and real life is a bit more unforgiving.

I'm not concered with what "a lot of people do". I am concerned with making good choices by purchasing the proper equipment early and training for actual dives, not to pass a class.

There is zero advantage to a 6 foot hose (or a 5 foot hose, for that matter.), and only disadvantage (as outlined above and in my previous post).

 

[rjack321]

I just disagree with you.

And the GUE's position as outlined in the DIRF book too. Although that may have changed I wouldn't know.

There is zero advantage to a 6 foot hose (or a 5 foot hose, for that matter.), and only disadvantage (as outlined above and in my previous post).

Not true. Short people like my wife (5'3 or 4" with short torso too) have quite a bit of extra hose flopping around when using 7ft. She does because she is also practicing for cavern and cave dives. But if she was sticking to OW dives then a 6ft hose fits her stubby torso better. And it doesn't require hooking the excess on her knife like she has to do with 7ft. Her s-drills are faster and smoother without the extra hook on both the can light and the knife. BTW a GUE cave instructor told her to hook the 7ft on the canister and the knife sheath to help keep her torso clean.

Hoses are cheap. Trying different sizes and seeing what fits best for non-overhead dives is perfectly acceptable. Not everyone wants or needs to "dress for bear" to bimble around on a shallow reef.

 

[amascuba]

Not true. Short people like my wife (5'3 or 4" with short torso too) have quite a bit of extra hose flopping around when using 7ft. She does because she is also practicing for cavern and cave dives. But if she was sticking to OW dives then a 6ft hose fits her stubby torso better. And it doesn't require hooking the excess on her knife like she has to do with 7ft. Her s-drills are faster and smoother without the extra hook on both the can light and the knife. BTW a GUE cave instructor told her to hook the 7ft on the canister and the knife sheath to help keep her torso clean.

Why not just hook the hose on the can light and pull the excess behind her? That should keep the torso clean. It's what I do anyway...