Which regulator should you donate?

[Rick Murchison]

Originally posted by Uncle Pug


Wow Rick... sounds like the Air II takes some avanced skills and plenty of practice...

That is precisely correct. Skill and practice; routine maintenance and predive inspection and checks; "S" drill on *every* dive. With skill and practice it is a perfectly viable option. Like most Scuba gear.
Rick

 

[Uncle Pug]

Originally posted by Rick Murchison
That is precisely correct. Skill and practice; routine maintenance and predive inspection and checks; "S" drill on *every* dive.

Soooo... I've gotta ask the typical strawman question that is thrown at DIR divers:

What about the unknown buddy you are paired up with on a charter boat who has never even seen an AIR II... do you spend the first few dives doing drills and various OOA scenarios with them?

And don't tell me you'd invoke rule #1

 

[Rick Murchison]

Originally posted by Uncle Pug

Soooo... I've gotta ask the typical strawman question that is thrown at DIR divers:

What about the unknown buddy you are paired up with on a charter boat who has never even seen an AIR II... do you spend the first few dives doing drills and various OOA scenarios with them?

And don't tell me you'd invoke rule #1

No, I wouldn't invoke rule #1... as an instructor that's not an option, is it? I do take the time to brief what I expect in the event of an air sharing situation... and... in the first place, the only ways a buddy of mine can run low on gas are to either hide their SPG and lie to me about how much gas they've got, or have some kind of catastrophic gas delivery failure. Secondly, in an emergency I am a consumate tyrant - as physical as required to control the situation. I have made more than one ascent holding a regulator in some fool's mouth while arresting their panic ascent and kneeing 'em in the belly to force exhalation. If it's me with a catastrophic failure I'm not wasting my time with a buddy I'm not absolutely confident of - I'm just making my CESA.
If I'm diving deep enough that a CESA isn't a safe option I'm diving redundant regs and/or with a regular buddy.
Rick

 

[detroit diver]

Rick,

As an instructor, you've got the skills, knowledge, and experience to handle these types of situations. My problem comes with the "average Joe" diver who uses one of these things 'cause they're new, cool looking ,etc. (you fill in the blank). They're not diving with the same buddy and practicing ANYTHING.

Then the OOA situation turns into a mess, and maybe more.

 

[The Chairman]

whatever system you use, it really comes down to practice, practice, practice. I have used the AirII, but would rather have a plain old octo on my waist D-ring. The AirII is uncomfortable to breathe on for me, so I don't choose to use it. HOWEVER, since I don't expect everyone to wear my size bathing suit (it works just fine for me) I really don't expect everyone to be comfortable with my octo set up. Just like when you buy a mask or fins, comfort and fit are the most important criteria. After you determine HOW you are going to deploy the back-up reg you should practice, practice practice till it's second nature.

The most important points are to have a set system, share that system with your buddy, MAKE sure your equipment is functioning correctly, and then practice early and often!

 

[greyface]

Detroit Diver:
1) I don't have to push any buttons to breath thru the Air II.
2) Why would I have to take the Air II out of my mouth to decend? I have 3 air dumps on my SP Knighthawk bc. Pull down on the Air II is one dump. Rt shoulder is another. Right side, waistline is another.
3) In a "real" ooa sit., why would one want/need to decend? I ain't doin overhead diving. Yet, anyway.
4) isn't there something to be said about being more streamlined with the Air II? Seems alot less likely to get tangled or snagged, which is honestly my 2nd biggest fear.
5) Practice is my "new" middle name! lol Thanks to all for the cool debates! I want more!=-)

 

[Rick Murchison]

Originally posted by greyface
Detroit Diver:
1) I don't have to push any buttons to breath thru the Air II.
2) Why would I have to take the Air II out of my mouth to decend? I have 3 air dumps on my SP Knighthawk bc. Pull down on the Air II is one dump. Rt shoulder is another. Right side, waistline is another.
3) In a "real" ooa sit., why would one want/need to decend? I ain't doin overhead diving. Yet, anyway.
4) isn't there something to be said about being more streamlined with the Air II? Seems alot less likely to get tangled or snagged, which is honestly my 2nd biggest fear.
5) Practice is my "new" middle name! lol Thanks to all for the cool debates! I want more!=-)

The principal advantages of the integrated inflator/safe second are (1) elimination of one LP hose and its associated failure points and (2) less clutter.
The principal disadvantages of the integrated second are (1) restricted head movement, (2) OOA diver gets the standard hose, (3) more difficult to operate the BC functions while breathing it, (4) performance, though adequate, is not the same as a quality second stage, (5) in the extremely unlikely event of a shrader valve failure and a simultaneous OOA situation, you have a real mess on your hands.
Personally, I find the integrated second a viable option in open water, (and that's what I dive on tropical recreational open water dives) but unsatisfactory for a number of reasons in an overhead environment.
Rick

 

[greyface]

Points well taken, thanks Rick! :sombrero:

 

[divedude]

Equipment failure is the "only" excuse for a out of air situation. Then were is your redundent system? Someone that does not keep a eye on their gauge, puts my life in danger. :fury:
This post is a great ad for solo diving, all this talk of divers ripping your reg out of your mouth and bolting for the surface :spank:

 

[devilfish]

Good shot roakey, too bad diving instruction nowadays is like the old telephone game, by the time the message gets to the last person, it's nothing like the original message. Too many inventions out there with the basic knowledge lost in the shuffle and then taken for gospel. Also it is too easy to get cought up in claims "I can do this, I can do that, I did this, I am able to do that". Unfortunately it does not apply to the majority especially beginning divers out there. As for the ability to have the reg out while being a bit deeper than a bath tub, when you come to my itc and can make an ascent breathing directly from the tank valve, then we can talk. That's enough rock throwing, peace.