Dry suit inflator hose connection to first stage

[Andrea Zaferes]

I agree with ergonomic points. The key to hose placement is to be able to immedately and rapidly disconnect the inflator hose should you have a freeflowing inflator. There is only one thing a drysut can do to hurt you - self inflate and cause a rapid ascent. Flooding is not an issue if you're neutrally weighted and properly use your BCD to adujst buoyancy rather than using the less than safe technique of using the drysuit for buoyancy control. Water weighs the same inside as outside the suit, so if you're not dependent on your drysuit for buoyancy then water in the suit shouldn't change your buoyancy. Just add enough air to the suit to be warm and comfortable.
Self inflation can be deadly. the first step is to stop more air from entering the suit - the only way to do this is to disconnect the source- the inflator hose. Hence, keep the hose at a 45 degree angle as it leaves the valve, thereby affording your hand and arm the most efficient and easiest motion of disconnecting the hose. I see some divers with their hoses sticking straight down or up. They will have a more difficult time rapidly disconnecting. Disconnect, depress the dump valve to dump air, and then flare your body into a face up position to slow the rate.

Any book or instructor who teaches drysuit divers to reach up and dump the neck or wrist seal as the line of defense for a free flowing inflator valve has never worn gloves, an attache dryhood, and certainly not a full face mask. You have to question everything you are told and read in the dive industry. Not realistic. TeamLGS uses the standard of - at the end of every dive just before exiting the water first ditch your weights (pass them off if boat diving) and then disconnect your drysuit inflator valve. This gives you practice of two life saving self-rescue skills at the end of every dive. We also recommend switching to your pony during your ascent (if gas mixes are not an issue) to add in that equally important self rescue skill. It takes thousands of repetitions to make self rescue skills reflexive under high stress. So practicing them on every dive can make a real difference. Safe diving Always, teamlgs.com

[Andrea Zaferes]

One more thing - if you practice disconnecting your drysuit inflator at the end of each dive, you will be ensuring that the hose connection is clear of other gear such as BCD straps that could hinder or even prevent you from disconnecting during an actual free flow situation.