GLENFWB
Contributor
I agree with Bugman about doing a switch early in the dive to test both regs at depth. I start the dive with the opposite reg I want to breath first, usually my long hose. I use this for a few minutes and test it underwater. Then I switch to my short hose, and use that tank for the first portion of the dive, much like DA Aquamaster suggests. But, I switch regs earlier and more often then he suggests. I think once I am full cave and start diving thirds, that I will switch regs less often. For now I switch earlier and more often then most...but I like the practice.
Recognizing a problem with an opposing regulator sooner than later is a pretty good reason to swap regulators more frequently IMO. I don't go as far to swap every 300psi, but make it a point to keep my tank pressures within a 6th of each other. I don't see any additional potential for mistakes while doing this and certainly an extra regulator swap isn't a reason to disregard this approach.