After reading a few really good threads discussing hose lengths and routine for sidemount, I have a question regarding whether or not a regulator necklace makes it safer and easier to retrieve your second stage than, say, clipping to an upper d-ring?
The reason I ask is that in backmount, the long-hose is breathed, while the short hose is necklaced, so that in an OOA situation the long hose can be passed and the donating diver switches to the necklaced reg. In sidemount, you have a 50/50 chance of being on the short hose vs long hose if you are balancing properly, so this is why I run two 7 foot hoses that are neatly tucked into tank bungees for easy deployment, and I keep the non-used regulator clipped to my upper d-ring. That way, I am guaranteed 100% that I will be on a long hose for working portions of the dive - and am thus able to always pass my working regulator that is a long hose. The only fundamental argument or flaw in this logic is, does it make it less likely I can grab the second stage from the d-ring as opposed to a necklace? I think the system works OK, but I would love to hear reasons why necklacing would be better or safer. Thanks!
The reason I ask is that in backmount, the long-hose is breathed, while the short hose is necklaced, so that in an OOA situation the long hose can be passed and the donating diver switches to the necklaced reg. In sidemount, you have a 50/50 chance of being on the short hose vs long hose if you are balancing properly, so this is why I run two 7 foot hoses that are neatly tucked into tank bungees for easy deployment, and I keep the non-used regulator clipped to my upper d-ring. That way, I am guaranteed 100% that I will be on a long hose for working portions of the dive - and am thus able to always pass my working regulator that is a long hose. The only fundamental argument or flaw in this logic is, does it make it less likely I can grab the second stage from the d-ring as opposed to a necklace? I think the system works OK, but I would love to hear reasons why necklacing would be better or safer. Thanks!