Why do we hate the Air2?

[NuclearOOPS]

I dont like them simply because, its combining to simple devices into one complex device. The more complex things get, the more they seem to fail.

 

[BDSC]

If you read half of these posts you would think a person needs to be far far advanced to be able to use an AIR II and not kill themselves!

 

[Scott L]

If you read half of these posts you would think a person needs to be far far advanced to be able to use an AIR II and not kill themselves!

I am not worry about them. Just their unknowing dive partners...

 

[charlesml3]

If however, you're diving a 7' hose, there's no reason to break trim while doing an ascent

Why in the world would you care about trim during an ascent? You're headed up, for crying out loud. Trim keeps you off the coral. 7 feet off the bottom it makes no difference if you're "in trim" or not.

I dont like them simply because, its combining to simple devices into one complex device. The more complex things get, the more they seem to fail.

Please submit the data you used to reach that conclusion. From more than 25 years and over 400 logged dives, I've seen just as many failures of octo-inflators as regular inflators (1 of each, by the way).

What I really see through this thread is divers who like octo-inflators and divers who don't. The ones who don't really can't seem to come up with a reasonable argument against them. I hear a lot of "Well most divers aren't trained for them. They'll be looking for a regular octo." Ok, maybe that's true but there is no real standard for where that octo has to be. It might be on the right hip, clipped to left shoulder, or up on the right shoulder. Heck, the DIR divers throw all of that out and put it under their chin. I doubt a diver untrained for it would think to look there either.

I've dove with both and I don't have a real preference. They both work and in some circumstances only an octo is appropriate (cave diving). That said, just because it works for cave diving doesn't mean they're appropriate or required for reef diving.

I've said it before: The best divers I've ever met were not the most experienced, or the most educated or the ones that had the best gear. The best divers are the ones that can easily adapt to different gear configurations, diving conditions or dive buddies without missing a beat.

 

[RJP]

Why in the world would you care about trim during an ascent? You're headed up, for crying out loud. Trim keeps you off the coral. 7 feet off the bottom it makes no difference if you're "in trim" or not.

Being in trim has many other benefits than simply keeping your fin tips off the bottom, but that's a topic for a different thread. (No need to "cry out loud" about it.)

 

[DevonDiver]

Please submit the data you used to reach that conclusion. From more than 25 years and over 400 logged dives, I've seen just as many failures of octo-inflators as regular inflators (1 of each, by the way).

ONE Low Pressure Inflator + ONE Alternate Air Source = TWO functional scuba items.

I've not seen a lot of AAS failure (whether regular of combined), but I have seen a lot of LPI failures.

 

[DevonDiver]

Yeah, the "streamlining" concept would hold up for me... if it wasn't typically invoked by someone who is otherwise configured like a Christmas tree.

The streamlining concept is valid - except for the requirement to then have a longer primary hose... which then adds more clutter and less streamlining to the rig.

And except for the fact that you now cannot tidily secure the LPI hose to the BCD, so it now dangles below the diver.

And except for the fact that you cannot opt for a shorter, less obtrusive LPI hose.

 

[Scott L]

The streamlining concept is valid - except for the requirement to then have a longer primary hose... which then adds more clutter and less streamlining to the rig.

And except for the fact that you now cannot tidily secure the LPI hose to the BCD, so it now dangles below the diver.

And except for the fact that you cannot opt for a shorter, less obtrusive LPI hose.

I know I am singing to the choir, but why in God's green earth would the diver be in a jacket BCD if streamlining was any kind of a goal.

 

[dmoore19]

I know I am singing to the choir, but why in God's green earth would the diver be in a jacket BCD if streamlining was any kind of a goal.

Because their air source II just doesn't look right on a BP/W?

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I know I am singing to the choir, but why in God's green earth would the diver be in a jacket BCD if streamlining was any kind of a goal.

Oh boy! You may have just ripped this thread wide open with that comment!

I gotta see where this goes.