Why do you have your regs set up like that?

[flyboy08]

So many possibilities...why and whats best for recreational diving? I realize this will provoke many responses and some heated debate, but I'm interested in hearing from seasoned divers (and newbies) as to why they have their reg set up the way they do? What made them change styles?

Pictures PLEASE!

As you can see, I use a swivel on my second. a necklace for my Octo (but I find this claustrophobic at times and remove it to my vest) and two snap rings....I also am utilizing a long hose for my secondary...for no other reason than it came with the setup. I like this so if I have to offer my secondary to a buddy, they aren't all over my space

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipPMtjWCXyCpfCpht0LtSHKMWgfWKK3Bt-7KAf17

 

[Pullnglide]

I don't have any pictures but I have a 30" hose on my primary and a 36" yellow hose on the secondary. The secondary is secured by the mouthpiece inside of a little rubber ball looking thing attached to a ring and easy to deploy if necessary, I've only had to do it once in a real life situation. I've always had my reg set up the same way. It was how I was taught and has worked for me. I don't have swivels but have used them in the past and like them although it's another failure point.

 

[Patoux01]

The picture's not working here...

 

[northernone]

We hopefully all do what best works for us and our environment. Incredibly personal and varied.

I dive recreationally with about 9 various routing depending on my mood, availability, and what I'm trying to accomplish.

For example, a second 2nd stage to me is just an extra failure point if I'm truly solo but a buddy likes it.

Sometimes I want my hoses short and tight to my body for sensitive bottoms, other times I want everything ready for OGG drills from rogue buddys.

Perhaps in my 3rd decade of diving I'll come across a setup that works well for all recreational diving but for now I have a variety.

------------------

...a double hose is still my favorite and I think everyone should dive one... May be even attach it to a rebreather.


Regards,
Cameron

 

[flyboy08]

a double hose is still my favorite and I think everyone should dive one

Explain please?

 

[KevinNM]

a double hose is still my favorite and I think everyone should dive one

Very old school. Like Cousteau in the 60s.

 

[fmerkel]

It's kind of expedience vs. "insurance". A Hogarthian setup is kind of a low grade pain to deal with all the time...until you really need it in an OOA situation.
A short hose primary and safe 2nd on your BC inflator is supposed to be simple and streamlined but could be difficult to deal with in OOA. When you are pushing around a tank and BC I have never given any credit to the 'streamlining claim. It would be lighter to travel with, the only big advantage I can see.

 

[Scuba J7]

For "fun" dives I dive with a 90 degree swivel on my 2nd stage on a 40" hose routed under my arm, Alternante air source is an Air2, and my computer is wireless AI.
For teaching I dive the same as my students, 2nd stage on a 30" hose, Alternante air source on 36" hose under the arm, still use wireless AI for my air though.

Looking for pics, will update if I find them.
This pic is from Dive Gear Express, My setup is similar but without the bungeed alternate, I use Air2.

 

[boulderjohn]

As an OW scuba instructor for more than a decade, I have taught students in the traditional setup, with an alternate air source located in the "golden triangle." The problem with that setup, which I saw in my own diving, is that the piece that holds the regulator in place is designed to come off easily in case of an emergency, meaning that it comes off easily even when there is no emergency. I have to deal with students whose alternates have come off regularly, and I make sure they are in place before we start dealing with out of air instruction. In my own diving, I found my alternate came off every time I did a giant stride entry, so I learned to deal with that.

then I got into technical diving, where I had to use a long hose for the primary and donate that, with the alternate hanging around my neck on a bungee. Because the alternate is not supposed to come off in an emergency, it does not come off accidentally, either, so it is always there. Although I used such a setup on technical dives, I didn't bother changing my gear on recreational dives.

And then I read about a dive incident in Europe in which a woman went out of air and went to her buddy for his alternate. His alternate was supposed to be in that "golden triangle" position, but as so often happens, it had fallen off and was somewhere behind him. In the attempts to find it, she panicked and drowned.

Immediately after that I changed my recreational gear as well. I now dive with a long hose primary and a bungeed alternate on those dives as well. If you go out of air near me, you will get my primary--which I guarantee will work--and I will get the alternate that is securely fastened below my chin.

 

[CuzzA]

Personally, IMO <-----, I think every diver should begin their training in the streamlined open water setup and obviously if they progress to dives that are technical (managing multiple bottles, single file exit, etc.) it's an easy adjustment to adding the long hose. Why every training agency hasn't accepted this as a universal standard is beyond me.

Right now I'm diving what I call a "modified streamlined open water" setup. The only difference is the AIR2 is my alternate and it sits 6 inches to the left on my left peck rather than under my chin.

Edit: I guess I should answer the OP's questions. I dive this setup because a 40" primary is the perfect length for routing under my arm on a swivel and providing enough space to comfortably execute an uncomplicated (meaning no gas switches or single file exits, etc.) air share.

The AIR2 is simply to avoid constant reconfiguring of my rig. If I'm doing by the book buddy diving and my buddy is carrying my spare gas or I'm in shallow water I have no need for a pony. If I'm deep or solo then the pony comes with me and is backmounted due to my activities underwater and the pony reg is necklaced as it would be in the traditional streamlined open water setup.