Air2 AND octo?

[2airishuman]

So what is the point of the Air2 if it can be an inconvenience?

I've experimented with Air2s but am not a fan. Nonetheless, I see the attraction. @caruso captures most of it.

The point behind an Air2 is that, when used as part of an integrated system including a BC designed for an Air2, the SCUBA kit as a whole is easier to handle and use on typical, recreational dives. It also facilitates primary donate, which has well-understood safety benefits over a traditional "octo." On a typical recreational dive, with a BC designed for use with an Air2, it is plausible to consider the overall safety of the kit to be as good as, if not an improvement over, a traditional "octo." Air2s and similar competing products have been in widespread use over many years and there has been no evidence to suggest that they pose a greater accident risk.

Compared to a necklaced secondary (which is what I use), an Air2 has one less hose, one less regulator, and one less thing to remember to do when kitting up. Compared to an octo, an Air2 doesn't have that hose that floats all over the place, and one less regulator, etc. It is part of Scubapro's overall strategy to streamline the diving experience by eliminating steps that have to be taken when kitting up or concluding a dive.

I believe that a necklaced secondary and a BP/W provide a better overall diving experience and better overall safety for the kinds of dives I do, so that is what I use.

Please help with this.

If you have the Air 2 in your mouth, it will not be at the highest point. How effectively will it deflate if it is not?

You don't use it. You use the shoulder dump. The "deflate" button is just on there so you can orally inflate your BC, if it comes to that, and is best regarded as having no other purpose.

If you are gripping the OOA diver with the right hand, as is taught, how to you use the right shoulder dump?

Take a look at any Scubapro BC made since the Air2 became available. They all have shoulder dumps that are operable with either hand. The most recent ones have a pull that sits over the right side of the wearer's collarbone that operates a dump valve high on the right shoulder.

What about BCds with no right shoulder dump?

Don't use them with Air2s. Similarly, don't use BP/Ws with an Air2, because BP/Ws depend on being able to dump air with the power inflator during an ascent in vertical trim.

 

[caruso]

And as you and others have pointed out, and as those of us who dive an Air2 are well aware of, the Air2's inflator and deflator buttons are actually right in your hand, and one does not have to reach for another device in order to maintain buoyancy control.

True but that's no different from a standard BCD power inflator.

 

[HeatCker]

If you have the Air 2 in your mouth, it will not be at the highest point. How effectively will it deflate if it is not?

if you are in horizontal trim with the air2 in your mouth than the air2 will not be in a proper position for dumping air..
it works the same as any dump valve..
if you are doing a vertical ascent and using the air2 to breath from than you can push the deflate button to deflate your BC

 

[caruso]

if you are doing a vertical ascent and using the air2 to breath from than you can push the deflate button to deflate your BC

You aren't saying anything different than the questionable statement you made before. In fact you're backsliding. If you're in a vertical position and ascending, and you've got the Air2 in your mouth and you press the deflate button it won't vent any air because the Air 2 is LOWER than the top of the BCD and all the gas in the BCD will be stuck INSIDE the TOP of the BCD. Even if it could vent air from the BCD if you've got the Air2 in your mouth all the air from the BCD would go into your lungs.

 

[HeatCker]

no sir, you are wrong, the air in your BC does vent and it does not go in your mouth.... i suggest you try one

 

[caruso]

no sir, your are wrong, the air in your BC does vent and it does not go in your mouth.... i suggest you try one

If you've got the Air 2 in your mouth when you press the deflate button the air will go in your mouth because there is no where else for it to go.

 

[HeatCker]

i stand by what i said......i use one.....its the way they are designed to work.... again, try one

 

[caruso]

i stand by what i said......i use one.....its the way they are designed to work.... again, try one

I just tried it and my lungs filled up with the gas that vented out of my BCD through the Air2 and into my mouth.

What should I try next?

 

[mcpowell]

Just to chime in here, then I’m going to move to a thread that’s more fun. Maybe the one where they’re riding the whale shark

I have a scubapro Classic BC with an air2. I occasionally practice with it. It doesn’t breath as well as my primary secondary, but I could sure dive a whole dive with it. My teeth might get a little tired from gripping the mouthpiece, but I wasn’t pampered as a child and I think I could manage. My scubapro classic BC has a dump valve on the right shoulder that I frequently dump with my left hand. And if I’m feeling special, sometimes I dump that same valve with my right hand. Kinda like it was designed to be used with either hand. And sometimes when I’m horizontal, I dump air from the dump valve by my right kidney. Ain’t I special?

When I practice OOA with my son, we are just hunky dory. My regular 2nd stage has a 40” nose, so it reaches him just fine.

I rarely use the dump mechanism on the corrugated hose, but it works.

Who is that big guy that says “live and let dive”. Yep, he’s got it right.

 

[caruso]

I have a scubapro Classic BC with an air2. I occasionally practice with it. It doesn’t breath as well as my primary secondary, but I could sure dive a whole dive with it. My teeth might get a little tired from gripping the mouthpiece, but I wasn’t pampered as a child and I think I could manage

Can you press the deflate button on it while you're breathing from it and deflate your BCD without filling your lungs with gas?

I sure can't.