5 or 7 Foot Hose

[ElectricZombie]

I'm trying to go ahead and buy some of the less expensive items I'll need for DIR Techdiving. Should I get a 5 or 7 foot hose? I've heard some say that the 7 is just too big and creates problems. Is this true? Will I actually need the extra 2 feet later on. How much should a 7 foot hose cost? Thanks.

[WYDT]

Do you plan on doing ANY cave or wreck diving? If so get the 7ft hose. The 5ft is too short for two people to exit one in front of the other through a restriction.

I cavedive, wreckdive and openwater dive with a 7ft hose and have no problems with it in any way. So does my wife.

Route it correctly (down right side of tank, under cannister light, across chest, around back of neck and into mouth) and you souldn't have any problems either.

DSAO!

[GP]

I use a 7 foot hose and right now only dive single tanks. I find the 7 foot hose to be perfect and isn't too long. After getting the 7 footer I was glad I did because I think the 5 footer would be too short.

[jbd]

is no canister light at this point in time? Can the 7' hose be routed so its not a problem?

[ScubaScott]

I use the 5' because I am not in wrecks or caves yet, no light canister and I'm still diving singles. I find the 5' to be just right for those conditions....... not to long that its dangling from my body or getting caught, but not to short that when I look left, thats its pulling the reg from my mouth.

I think price diff. is only about $10 over the 5' hose.........

SS

[O-ring]

is no canister light at this point in time? Can the 7' hose be routed so its not a problem?

...and just route it down to your right side and tuck the extra in the waist strap...then across the chest, around the neck and into your yapper.

[Lost Yooper]

I like a 7' for everything.

Mike

[large_diver]

EZ,

I think it depends on what you are going to be using it for. Although this is the "Tech" section of the board, I'll comment on my experience with single tanks just to give you another opinion.

I switched to a long hose about a year ago. I started out with a 7 footer. I was still using a jacket BC at the time. Hose routing from the first stage was down the right side of my body, hooked under the right front of the BC, across my chest and behind my neck. This seemed to work well for a while...but, without something more stable to hook it on, it had the tendency to slip out on occasion. Lots of folks recommended slipping the extra into your belt....tried it, didn't like it. Others I've talked to have used a pocket on their belt or even mounted a piece of PVC pipe to act as a pseudo canister light (and storage container). I felt getting a different size hose made more sense....especially since I am diving only single tanks.

I ordered 5 and 6 footers just to try them out. 5 turned out to be the best option for ME....routed directly under my arm from the first stage, across my chest and behind my neck. The hose does not inhibit head movement at all (I am not a small person). 6' was too short for the 7' routing and too long for the 5' routing.

One thing to consider.....with this 5' routing, your hose is now potentially running through the same area as one of your back-up lights if you are diving a DIR configuration. If you take out this light during the dive, you have to be somewhat careful that you dont't clip the light over the hose when you restow it. Since this routing is generally for rec diving, one solution is to only wear a back-up light on your left.

Hope this is helpful.

-LD

[Blargh]

I know a fellah that switched to a 7 footer after a few dives on a 5 footer.

I've never been tempted to even try a 5 footer.

hth

[WreckWriter]

Go with a 7 foot. It's just as easy to deal with as a 5 foot and you have the extra benefits. If you have no can light you either tuck it in your waist strap or Halcyon makes a waist strap pocket that goes in the same place as the can light and the hose can go under it just like the light.

Tom

[MikeFerrara]

I use a 7 foot for everything. When not using a can light sometimes I hang a pocket on the belt and sometimes I don't do anything with it. When horizantal the hose lays where it should. If you go vertical the hose may want to float up. I just stay horizantal. I'm going to try a 5 ft hose toninght in the pool. I have also noticed that a 5 ft is too short for large people. A smaller diver not using a can light may want to shorten up the hose (for open water) if they don't want to hang something on the belt just to hold down the hose.

[ElectricZombie]

I'll eventually be getting into cave and wreck penetration so, I'll get the 7 foot hose. If there is any extra, I think I can just tuck it under my belt since I don't have a canister light yet.

How much should I expect to pay?

Thanks for the quick responses guys.

[O-ring]

of that length..

[SPEEDSTER]

is a good place to look at options. A 7' is $32, the 22" is $23, and the 24" SPG is $26. or you can get the whole kit for $71 w/ a 5' hose, but they will let you do the 7' for a couple bucks more. Here's the price list:http://www.extreme-exposure.com/catalog/order/stage-hosekits.shtml under hose and fill kits.

Mike

[ElectricZombie]

Just ordered a 7'...can't wait to try out the long hose system.

[WreckWriter]

Originally posted by ElectricZombie
Just ordered a 7'...can't wait to try out the long hose system.

Once you get used to the idea of wrapping it around your neck you'll like it :jester:

Tom

[SPEEDSTER]

Once you get used to the idea of wrapping it around your neck you'll like it

When you put it that way, it sounds kinda funny:D
:hanged:

[Marlinspike]

You wont be disapointed. I went straight with a 7 for singles and it is perfect as long as you have a canister light or pocket to run it under on your right hand side.

~Marlinspike

[Padipro]

Good choice Johnatan,

I've been using a 7 foot hose for about 4 years now, at first it does take a little getting used to, as does any new piece of equipment, but after a few dives and a chance to figure out exactly how you like it rigged, you'll love it and find that it's just as easy to use as a standard length hose. The best part is the looks and questions you'll get from people on the boat that have never seen anyone diving a DIR configuration and wanting to know "What the @%*&( is up with that long hose?" Gives you the chance to tell them about the benifits of DIR. :D

Enjoy,

Scott

[ElectricZombie]

Padipro: Unfortunately, I'm not 100% DIR yet. :( I'm having to basically buy all new gear except for mask and regs. Unfortunately, I will have to buy it a piece at a time until everything is complete. The backplate, harness and STA is scheduled for next month, and I hope to buy some JetFins soon.

[Scuba446]

ElectricZombie,
I am an OW diver and use the 5 footer. I have been very happy with it, and since I dive with no canister yet, nor cave or wreck (penetration dives) I opted for the 5 footer. I love it! Works great!

[DocRCH]

I find that using a 7' hose is the right length when I am diving with my backplate and a cannister light. If I use a jacket BC, I tuck the excess under the waist band to keep it from floating around.

robert

[Padipro]

This might help get your gear a little faster. I have plans for a backplate as well.

Scott

[Padipro]

Figured I post the plans for the backplate as well.

Hope this helps out.

Scott

[WYDT]

Originally posted by SPEEDSTER


When you put it that way, it sounds kinda funny:D
:hanged:

It's not like that at all it goes around the back of your neck and into your mouth... nothing constricting at all. It doesn't wrap around your neck...

You're getting it confused with the NDS (noose diving system)... That used to be practiced in the old west... mostly by horsethieves and outlaws!!:D

DSAO!!

[divrnr]

I just got my 7' hose from Wally's scuba in Mass. Only $22 plus shipping and it's very good quality, very flexible, so your mouth isn't tired...

[SPEEDSTER]

It's not like that at all it goes around the back of your neck and into your mouth... nothing constricting at all. It doesn't wrap around your neck...

LOL, Yeah I know, I use a 7 footer. I just thought the way the sentence was posed was funny.:D

Mike

[Scuba446]

Padipro,
TOO funny! LOL!

""What the @%*&( is up with that long hose?"

Hahahahaha....your not kidding! All my friends (and even some Instructor's) have looked at me like I was some jerk and said "What the Hell is that feaking long hose you got on your regulator?"

I proceed to explain the merits of Holgarthian/DIR and they say to me "Well, I'm no cave, wreck or tech diver. Why the Hell would I want to add that unyieldly length hose?!"

Then I have to get into OOA Emergencies and etc. Opens up the whole can of worms about OOA's, and the Danglies!

[Padipro]

Originally posted by Scuba446

Then I have to get into OOA Emergencies and etc. Opens up the whole can of worms about OOA's, and the Danglies! [/B]

The OOA emergency is exactly why I decided to switch to the long hose even thought I'm only a Rec diver. We have days with a 2 or 3 knot current here in South Florida and trying to do an accent sharing air from over 100 feet in that would be next to impossible with a short hose. I always ask them to remember the fun they had in their Openwater class doing the Alternate Airsource Accent and ask them "With all the trouble you had doing it in shallow water with no current how easy do you think it's going to be on a bad day with heavy current, a paniced diver and a short hose?" I usually get the Ya I guess you're right look as they walk off thinking it over. No one has ever told me I was nuts after I run that one by them.;)

Scott

[Scuba446]

Ya, Baby....

Got that right! Touche'