Great information. I dive w/an Air2 and like that I don’t have a dangling octopus but agree with the points you made about it’s negatives. Also appreciate hearing that other divers may be apprehensive (a bit of an understatement) about buddying w/me because of it. May rethink my config based on this...
I see a lot of Air 2s on dive boats, I could care less if the person is using an Air 2. TBH I think Air 2s are often better for divers as they are more likely to be serviced than the typical inflator, and you see more inflator problems, like a runaway inflator, than you see out of air these days.
Im just curious - how do you control you assent and buoyancy in an emergency breathing from your Air 2 and holding on to a panic acting buddy? you can't raise the inflator hose to release air from your BCD? Personally I would newer use this device for that single reason.
Excellent video! What you have just described is why we used to teach buddy breathing. I believe it should still be done as a confidence building exercise.
A variation on the first config is the use of a silicone regulator necklace. That way your octopus is hanging very visible around your neck where it can be taken (without warning) by the diver that is OOA. Easy to grab and no risk of dragging your octo through the sand.
i think my setup has the best of both worlds. I have the hogarthian setup, but with a more normal length hose for my primary (i dont remember the length but it goes over the shoulder normally and is slightly longer than the hose for my backup). That way i still have my backup on a necklace and donate my primary, but my primary doesnt dangle at the surface and on boats.
Great video. It is the only one I’ve seen describing all three setups as well as being non biased leaning to one over the other. I have heard of another for open water when the long hose is replaced with a 40” hose and run under the right arm as is the long hose. I like the streamlining of hoses but reluctant to remove my primary. What’s your opinion on having two oct length hose (40”) both running under your right arm? Primary on black hose with swivel or elbow and secondary (Octo) on yellow hose. This way you won’t have to give up primary, Octo is set up like majority of new divers are trained and hoses are more streamlined than standard setup. Your opinion would be much appreciated.
I have been diving with my primary regulator on a 40-48” hose under the right arm since 1990 and love that configuration! I have found that if you hand off your primary to an out of air diver they are less likely to panic because they just saw you breathing off of it where if you hand them an octo they will sometimes panic, spit out the octo and bolt for the surface.
Hi I use an atomic SS1 aas and have used the scuba pro air 2. I would say that I do like the streamlined feel of less hoses but when you donate your primary and have to use the air 2 or ss1 , it is not that comfortable with the bend on the hose on the aai as well as the fact that you can't dump air to ascend without taking the aas out of your mouth which is not as easy as you think based on your diving skill level and the situation at hand. Also, I have helped to mitigate some of that as I have a longer aai hose by and inch or 2 with a custom mouth piece and also my primary is a bit longer so as to not be crowded together when donating it away. I think I may move to a necklaced second regulator rather than the standard octo set up as I think there might be issues of panic when an out of air diver swims fast at you and grabs your octo, that they may yank it and could possibly break it pullling on it and creating a worse situation for you as the diver that is being approached. You have to practice what ever method your buy into and make sure your buddy undertands what to do . To date so far no free flow problems with my air 2 or ss1 and I never had to to offer my primary as of yet but I only have 46 dives.
Almost all Air 2 setups have pull dumps built into the Air 2 hose, so just pull on the hose to dump air. And many also have right shoulder pull dumps, so really there is no reason to take the Air 2 out of your mouth.
What about twin tanks set up to be independent of eachother with 2 regs and 2 octos? I use a valve to switch between tanks if i need to. I have a total of 3 spare i can use in a emergency.
Video titled buddy breathing. Does not discuss buddy breathing. Fantastic. Those are all alternate air sharing, not buddy breathing. Also if you're rigging the octi to be donated to another diver why do you have it on the right? Its the wrong way up when you give it over unless you put a bend in the hose. Having it on the right only makes sense if you're donating your primary so its the right way up for you. Otherwise the left works rather better. Also missed out the fact that if you see someone who dives with an air2 avoid them like the plague - they value saving a little weight over your life. And the damned things never work right. But good points, particularly at the end - too many people skip over "In an out of air situation, give me the out of air signal and I will..."
Great information. I dive w/an Air2 and like that I don’t have a dangling octopus but agree with the points you made about it’s negatives. Also appreciate hearing that other divers may be apprehensive (a bit of an understatement) about buddying w/me because of it. May rethink my config based on this...
C M I dove in the St Lawrence River. I will never dive without a 7 foot hose for those who may need it
I see a lot of Air 2s on dive boats, I could care less if the person is using an Air 2. TBH I think Air 2s are often better for divers as they are more likely to be serviced than the typical inflator, and you see more inflator problems, like a runaway inflator, than you see out of air these days.
Im just curious - how do you control you assent and buoyancy in an emergency breathing from your Air 2 and holding on to a panic acting buddy? you can't raise the inflator hose to release air from your BCD? Personally I would newer use this device for that single reason.
Excellent video! What you have just described is why we used to teach buddy breathing. I believe it should still be done as a confidence building exercise.
A variation on the first config is the use of a silicone regulator necklace. That way your octopus is hanging very visible around your neck where it can be taken (without warning) by the diver that is OOA. Easy to grab and no risk of dragging your octo through the sand.
One other con about the Air2 is that when you are acending you have to take out your air to be able to deflate your BCD.
I just use my right shoulder dump....
Shoulder dumps are there
Thanks for the instruction and tips.
How do you keep your secondary, on your necklace, from free flowing?
Thanks. This was a super clear and super interesting video.
i think my setup has the best of both worlds. I have the hogarthian setup, but with a more normal length hose for my primary (i dont remember the length but it goes over the shoulder normally and is slightly longer than the hose for my backup). That way i still have my backup on a necklace and donate my primary, but my primary doesnt dangle at the surface and on boats.
Great video. It is the only one I’ve seen describing all three setups as well as being non biased leaning to one over the other. I have heard of another for open water when the long hose is replaced with a 40” hose and run under the right arm as is the long hose. I like the streamlining of hoses but reluctant to remove my primary. What’s your opinion on having two oct length hose (40”) both running under your right arm? Primary on black hose with swivel or elbow and secondary (Octo) on yellow hose. This way you won’t have to give up primary, Octo is set up like majority of new divers are trained and hoses are more streamlined than standard setup. Your opinion would be much appreciated.
I have been diving with my primary regulator on a 40-48” hose under the right arm since 1990 and love that configuration! I have found that if you hand off your primary to an out of air diver they are less likely to panic because they just saw you breathing off of it where if you hand them an octo they will sometimes panic, spit out the octo and bolt for the surface.
What kind of oct clip or holder is he using ??
Hi I use an atomic SS1 aas and have used the scuba pro air 2. I would say that I do like the streamlined feel of less hoses but when you donate your primary and have to use the air 2 or ss1 , it is not that comfortable with the bend on the hose on the aai as well as the fact that you can't dump air to ascend without taking the aas out of your mouth which is not as easy as you think based on your diving skill level and the situation at hand. Also, I have helped to mitigate some of that as I have a longer aai hose by and inch or 2 with a custom mouth piece and also my primary is a bit longer so as to not be crowded together when donating it away. I think I may move to a necklaced second regulator rather than the standard octo set up as I think there might be issues of panic when an out of air diver swims fast at you and grabs your octo, that they may yank it and could possibly break it pullling on it and
creating a worse situation for you as the diver that is being approached. You have to practice what ever method your buy into and make sure your buddy undertands what to do . To date so far no free flow problems with my air 2 or ss1 and I never had to to offer my primary as of yet but I only have 46 dives.
james alfalla I highly recommend everyone using a 7 foot hose. Good choice
Almost all Air 2 setups have pull dumps built into the Air 2 hose, so just pull on the hose to dump air. And many also have right shoulder pull dumps, so really there is no reason to take the Air 2 out of your mouth.
Excellent video!!
Is that an X650 you are using as your primary second-stage?
Super informative. Thanks!
What about twin tanks set up to be independent of eachother with 2 regs and 2 octos?
I use a valve to switch between tanks if i need to.
I have a total of 3 spare i can use in a emergency.
SV Methos So you're diving them as doubles?
That is retarded
Great video man! Very helpful!
#flappysnaghazard octo
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Dude, get Mares MV so much easier.
Slow down
Video titled buddy breathing. Does not discuss buddy breathing. Fantastic. Those are all alternate air sharing, not buddy breathing.
Also if you're rigging the octi to be donated to another diver why do you have it on the right? Its the wrong way up when you give it over unless you put a bend in the hose. Having it on the right only makes sense if you're donating your primary so its the right way up for you. Otherwise the left works rather better.
Also missed out the fact that if you see someone who dives with an air2 avoid them like the plague - they value saving a little weight over your life. And the damned things never work right.
But good points, particularly at the end - too many people skip over "In an out of air situation, give me the out of air signal and I will..."
rmod42 tThanks for your input on the air2. Been diving with it for a few years and hadn’t heard this perspective before. May rethink my configuration.
Some people know it all
rmod42 why is everybody an expert because they been on a few dives ???
Some regs can be configured to the opposite side so the hose comes out of the left. Which makes it configured for the out of air diver.