The Octopus Conundrum

[dumpsterDiver]

In the minimalist world it's a sum total of all things that lead to unneeded extra gear that can lead to unneeded drag.
That's what drives the elimination process rather than the acquisition process.

So you dive without a bathing suit?

 

[danvolker]

They are really reaching when they mention the drag of an octopus (or an Air 2) relative to a scuba diver as a whole.. It is stupid really.

When I used to dive with Frank Hammett in the 80's and 90's, he was found of Air2's on his rental gear.....Every once in a while, I'd used one of his BC's with the Air2 on it.....Pretty much EVERYTIME that I tried one with the Air2, if I was lobster diving, the Air 2 would be a problem....Typically the up current belly to bottom stuff, and the air 2 getting hooked on the bottom.

 

[Nemrod]

So you dive without a bathing suit?

Incrementalism is the antithesis of Minimalism. A minimal solo rig fulfilling SDI requirements does not include an octopus or air2. They clearly state their reasons. An air2 requires a longer BC corrogated hose to funtion than is typical on a wing. An octopus defintly is an additional hose and both represent additional failure points and no matter how unlikely that is it is still contrary to solo training and Minimalism.

I do not care what you guys do, it is a discussion started by my curiosity. It is certainly understandable that divers who flip flop between solo and buddy and only have one rig will not switch up between missions but will simply add for the solo dive the redundancy they require. Which for some conditions and some solo divers is none.

N

 

[scubadada]

When I used to dive with Frank Hammett in the 80's and 90's, he was found of Air2's on his rental gear.....Every once in a while, I'd used one of his BC's with the Air2 on it.....Pretty much EVERYTIME that I tried one with the Air2, if I was lobster diving, the Air 2 would be a problem....Typically the up current belly to bottom stuff, and the air 2 getting hooked on the bottom.

I dive mostly solo but occasionally with a buddy. My Air2 is secured to my BC with a Scubapro octopus retainer, very steamlined, stays close to my body. I vent air exclusively with my butt dump

 

[captain]

I usually leave octopi where I find them, I never carry them along on a dive.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

Incrementalism is the antithesis of Minimalism. A minimal solo rig fulfilling SDI requirements does not include an octopus or air2. They clearly state their reasons. An air2 requires a longer BC corrogated hose to funtion than is typical on a wing. An octopus defintly is an additional hose and both represent additional failure points and no matter how unlikely that is it is still contrary to solo training and Minimalism.

I do not care what you guys do, it is a discussion started by my curiosity. It is certainly understandable that divers who flip flop between solo and buddy and only have one rig will not switch up between missions but will simply add for the solo dive the redundancy they require. Which for some conditions and some solo divers is none.

N

I agree that an octopus is not smart when you have an independent redundant system. However, drag is not a valid reason to eliminate it..

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

So you dive without a bathing suit?

Yes, I dive commando under my wetsuit.... TMI, but you asked.
One less thing that needs to be there and one less thing that needs to be dealt with afterward.

---------- Post added April 13th, 2015 at 05:45 PM ----------

Incrementalism is the antithesis of Minimalism.

That's distilled down to the pure.

I just look at diving from a historical perspective and see and endless escalation throughout the years of gear development most of which IMO has either been invented to cover for lack of skills, or lack of skills was due to new trend in gear development.
Where does it end? As you say incrementalism. A new piece of gear gets redesigned or invented therefore something else must change or get developed to cover for the previous development, and now that new thing needs some sort of clip or doodad to keep it in place, and on and on. Then since there is finally so much clutter any hope of streamlining is shot so then a new fin needs to be developed because nobody can push that much crap through the water efficiently anymore, so I ask...where does it end?
Let's look at an OW diver from the 50's, 60's, or even 70's, and then look at a typical OW diver from now and what differences to we see? ...both in gear and training.
Was a diver back then with the training they received and the typical gear they used safer than a typical OW diver now with all the gear they typically use and the training they receive? Buddy or no buddy.

...And please, nobody tell me it's the instructor, not the gear or the agency.

 

[oldschoolto]

I don't know.... But when I was in Bonaire in Feb , I watched 2 couples get in the water at oil slick with more crap hanging from them that I thought possible... It was noon and blue skies... They each had a big ass cave reel, 2 flash lights, SMB hanging from D-rings , dive knifes. Plus EMT shears and to top it off each had a spare-air....

I had to bite my lip, Not to break out in laughter...

Jim...

 

[danvolker]

Do you remember the Willies Jeeps back in the 50's?

You could drive through anything...they were tough, but easily fixed with a few supplies from anywhere..and not more than a few parts to fix anything......they were simple..and better than the Jeep of today..


A lot like the dive gear of the early 60's....less puff and fluff....just what you really need.

 

[Nemrod]

I usually leave octopi where I find them, I never carry them along on a dive.

Sometimes you have no choices in life, they are made for you by the circumstance:

You could drive through anything...they were tough, but easily fixed with a few supplies from anywhere..and not more than a few parts to fix anything......they were simple..and better than the Jeep of today..
.

Hey there, my Jeep resents that!

It was my wanting to accomplish both solo and buddy with the same rig that piqued my curiosity as to what you guys do. I could apply minimalism to my dive bag with different results . I was not meaning to present the SDI view as the only way.

Yes, I dive commando under my wetsuit.... TMI, but you asked.
One less thing that needs to be there and one less thing that needs to be dealt with afterward.

Uh, hmmm, you may be taking Minimalism just a bit to serious .

Yeah, I dive in a swimsuit, why not? I and my buddies dove in a tee shirt and cuttoffs in the 70s. I am pretty sure that was the standard uniform for all activities about that time. Who could afford a wetsuit. Geeesh.

N