Long hose for a new diver

[jtpwils]

I'm starting my OW classes this week. I'm putting together my rig and I'm contemplating starting with a 5' hose and bungied spare SP G250v or a "common" deployment using my spare reg and then changing hoses later.
Ultimately I will have a long hose as it makes the most sense to me. My daughter and I are doing the class together and we'll be our normal buddies.

My questions are these:
1.) will deploying the long hose be confusing for me as a new diver?
2.) if I wear a long hose, will the fact that my config is different from the instructor or other nearby divers likely be confusing to my daughter if she get into an OOG situaltion?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[Slonda828]

I'm starting my OW classes this week. I'm putting together my rig and I'm contemplating starting with a 5' hose and bungied spare SP G250v or a "common" deployment using my spare reg and then changing hoses later.
Ultimately I will have a long hose as it makes the most sense to me. My daughter and I are doing the class together and we'll be our normal buddies.

My questions are these:
1.) will deploying the long hose be confusing for me as a new diver?
2.) if I wear a long hose, will the fact that my config is different from the instructor or other nearby divers likely be confusing to my daughter if she get into an OOG situaltion?

Thanks,
Jim

In all honesty, you do not even know what you want yet, which is totally okay. I suggest you dive both setups and make a decision based upon your personal feelings after doing so. I know you read or heard somewhere that the long hose is the way to go (and it is in a lot of situations), but if you are just going to go diving on vacation a few times a year with your daughter, then you are going to be in the vast minority. SB is deceptive in that many of the people on here who contribute a lot of the posts espouse the long hose. I have not come across a single person in the three foreign dive trips and 6 years of regular diving that I have done that uses one. People in the PNW tend to use them more than anyone it seems. They are largely cold water, drysuit divers. If you are going to dive with your little girl my personal recommendation would be to dive configured like the vast majority of divers, at least until you get more experience. Remember, if you decide to add a 7 foot hose later, it only takes a dive shop tech or a crescent wrench to make that decision. It is not like you are going to be in any overhead environments or shipwreck penetrations any time soon anyway. If you want to learn the long hose from the beginning, then I suggest you locate an instructor who is well versed in training divers to use it. Most open water classes mention nothing about using this method for out of air emergencies.

FWIW

 

[DevonDiver]

AAS drills can be performed with a long-hose...and the technique/kit is not prohibited under any standard (with PADI at least).

You would have to make sure that the instructor concerned was educated about long-hose use though..... many are clueless! If he/she doesn't know how to do the drill, then they will be reluctant to try and teach it.

IMHO, having students in differerent configurations is beneficial for an OW course...as it offers more learning possibilities for them. It is good for all divers to understand different ways of air-sharing...and that different divers use configurations other than the 'norm'.

Wearing/using a long hose has many benefits. If you eventually intend to use this system, it is better that you train with it from the offset. If your instructor knows their stuff.... then learning to use Long Hose AAS is no more confusing than using a conventional AAS.

How will you be wearing/deploying the long hose?

I often find that 5' is not long enough to store in the 'typical' looped around the head configuration....and that a 7' hose is preferable.

 

[rongoodman]

I don't see any problems with a long hose for new diver, I switched the very first dive after OW class. OTOH, I doubt my instructor, who ran a very vanilla PADI class, would have allowed me to use it during his class. The main thing to keep in mind with the long hose is that you can't allow it to be trapped under other gear or hoses, something you should confirm at the beginning of every dive.

 

[CamG]

Sorry for the double post, I have been having computer trouble and an accidental spray of carpet cleaner in my eye has not been helping!
CamG Keep diving....keep training....keep learning!

 

[Cave Bum]

Check with your instructor and see what he or she will allow. Many instructors who are not cave or tech trained will not understand the use of a long hose and will not allow because of that.

Reg recovery is a little more difficult with a long hose but certainly doable and should be practiced if that's the rig you're going to dive.

Be safe and have fun in the water! Bruce

 

[H2Andy]

agreed ... it depends on what your instructor is familiar with, and what they will allow

learning to route, deploy, and stow a long hose is not difficult. after a drill or two, the extra length is not a factor at all

the biggest issue is that the long hose is donated to the OOA diver while you switch to your backup regulator (i.e. the octopus).

whereas the regular procedure with the shorter hose setup is that you keep your primary in your mouth and donate the octopus

for safety, always do what the rest of the class is doing and expects you to do, particularly while in training and during your first few dives. for that reason alone, i would suggest that you use whatever setup the rest of the class is using (more than likely the standard, short-hose setup)

you can always switch later (and i suggest you do ... the long-hose is a safer system)

 

[CamG]

Greetings Jim and very good question. I have asked the very same one many times to different instructors. I wish there was a definite answer but it really depends on their personal opinion and wishes. So I would recommend going with your instructors wishes.
Some would agree with training with the configuration you will use and others would like to begin with the basic configuration that most all starting OW divers in the recreational world are employing. As far as your daughter is concerned, both of you need to be totally comfortable with both of your gear configurations. By that I mean each of you need to know where everything is located and familiar with alternate location and deployment procedures.
Now with that being said, IMO ,"in my opinion" I understand your desire to go with the long hose, bungee alternate under the chin. I also echo your desires and am switching my standard rec-rig to that configuration. This is my single tank regulator set up for my personal diving which is limited due to I dive doubles primarily for my personal pleasure dives. While assisting training as a DM I have been asked to maintain a standard regulator configuration to make it easier for students and be more uniformed to shop rental regs. It just makes sense for a lot of reasons.
Once your OW training is complete I would switch if you both so desire. At this point I would train till both of you could perform air share drills effortlessly. Bear in mind that if you dive with anyone new you will need to explain to them what air sharing procedures are. Not a big deal, be prepared to answer questions.
My recommendations would be to gain experience and familiarity with your gear as well as diving in general and then sign up for AOW. I would train in the long hose, bungee under chin configuration. Practice your 18 basic skills till they are habit and do not take them for granted. Mask skills, free flow, etc. can and will save you in a emergency situation. Enjoy the journey diving is a incredible experience and to share it with your daughter is twice as awesome! Memories are priceless and being in your shoes right now with my own daughter, see if a DM will take some photo's of your training. It makes it even cooler.
Have a blast and love every minute, keep us posted.
CamG Keep diving....keep training....keep learning!

 

[jtpwils]

In all honesty, you do not even know what you want yet, which is totally okay.

Actually, I know what I want, I just don't know if what I want is what I need.

Seriously though Slonda828 hit the nail on the head and we're thinking exactly alike. The problem is DevonDiver hit the other nail

If you eventually intend to use this system, it is better that you train with it from the offset.

Still, if 99% of the divers will not be using it, it may be better to go with the norm for now and change to a long hose later. Assuming I do that is it "OK" to use a regular reg as an octo on a yellow hose, instead of a reg with brightly colored purge?

Still undecided

 

[H2Andy]

i don't agree that you have to train with it from the outset.

it's not rocket science. you'll get it after a couple of drills and a dive or two.

as for the octo, as long as it is where your buddy expects to find it, the color doesn't matter