Air Buddy

[Jared2223]

Im looking at purchasing the Air Buddy as a alternate air source and attach to my bc inflator on a halcyon eclipse. Anybody ever use this?
thanks for your help

 

[Thalassamania]

I was part of the test group back in '95 or so. I liked it then, I still like it. It has held up well, I still have the one they sent me to test, and I'd estimate that I've used it on a bit more dives per year since I got it than the average diver makes.

It works well, but you do have to train for it - you need to get used to biting it to start the flow of air and exhaling through your nose or around the Air Buddy.

But, it can't free-flow, it is not a regulator so it'll work fine down to the dregs of the tank, it doen't need yearly servicing, and they make some (likely legitimate) claims that it delivers air in a way that tends to provide oxygen better and eliminate CO2 better.

 

[Jared2223]

thanks for the review. it looked like a good product but everybody makes there product look good. based on your review I will probably purchase one here in the near future
thanks again

 

[Thalassamania]

A few caveats:

1. This is for you, it is not an octopus. You must be committed to donating your primary if you are going to use it. A long hose makes this easier.
2. This is a device for an emergency ascent. It is not for any sort of overhead diving.
3. You must practice with it. I'd hate to see someone try and use it for the first time in an emergency.
4. Your buddy's are gonna look at you weird.

 

[Jared2223]

Does anybody have a airbuddy they would be willing to sell.... thats still in working order of course

 

[jridg]

I received my air buddy Friday after reading about it. I thought it would be the perfect second stage for my pony bottle as I really hate the fact that my pony reg second was getting a little beat up even with a cover on it.

The air buddy was very simple to set up and practiced a little with it after I set it up to get a feel for how it works.

On my first safety stop today I deployed and tried it out. It is definitely a weird feeling at first - and it does take some practice, but I LIKE THIS THING! It works great and I was able to do my full 3+ minute stop with it and surfaced with it in my mouth.

I am definitely going to have to practice some more as I was burning a little more gas than I needed to while using it. It's not as simple to use as a regular second stage, but again, I really like it and will definitely keep using it.

Bonus as well is that it will not free-flow, so I keep the pony charged during the entire dive and don't have to worry about losing the gas.

 

[Nemrod]

Im looking at purchasing the Air Buddy as a alternate air source and attach to my bc inflator on a halcyon eclipse. Anybody ever use this?
thanks for your help

I love mine, I have completed entire dives with it going well over 100 feet. I put it once on a old Mark V first with a button SPG and sneaked into the Blue Hole Spring in I---------, Flariduh for a semi-cave dive. I usually use it with my double hose regs because I can tuck it out of the way and it does not detract from the vintage look.

The first time I used it was in a pool and it nearly drown me as it shot some water down into my lungs and my larynx closed up---lol. After that I got the hang of it, easy really.

N