longer primary hose after getting an air2 - what length and type?

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I just switched to a 120cm / 48inch primary hose - routes under my right arm - with a 110° swivel (lines up better than a 90° - my mouth isn’t in line with my hip where the hose goes).

I also removed my Air2 and replaced it with the stock inflator and a 24inch secondary on a bungee.

I’m liking the arrangement a lot.

Primary routing means no big hose loop over my right shoulder (secondary is short and routes pretty neatly). Angle of the primary hose and definitely reduced jaw and neck fatigue when when I rotate my head.

(Not making this an Air2 thread ... but ... so much happier with less bulk on my left side)

(Not making this a MiFlex thread ... but ... they all MiFlex hoses)
 
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40" primary on a swivel routed under the right arm . See the below but with a air 2

upload_2018-11-16_16-18-9.png
 
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Here is my experience with the Air 2 for what its worth: I dove with an Air 2 since the mid 1980s. I think its a good system with allowance of donating primary and breathing off it off in an emergency. I've been in an emergency with an Air 2 @ 55 feet when a buddy came to me with OOD sign (turned out his reg was not working so functionally he was low on air). Made a safe ascent; no issues. But I went to long hose 2.1m hose (84in) since the mid 2000s and I believe its a much better system for a variety of reasons but mainly because it allows the 2 people sharing air not to tangle into each other on the way up. Yes I know that the journey up is supposed to be slow and controlled. In the OW class it always is but in real life OOG situations, it can be quite different.

The Octopus is necklaced right under my chin. I try to make it so can put my chin down and grab the octo with my mouth. Does not always work like that.
 
After having my primary pulled from my mouth for the second time on two different trips while using a traditional open water setup I got advice from a very experienced tech diver/trainer. One recommendation was the Dive Rite Advanced Openwater package. He suggested a long hose but I was a bit hesitant and went with a 40” hose. I would never go back to a traditional configuration, so streamlined.
My reg wasn’t pulled out of my mouth in OOG situations but both times while I was admiring something on the reef a newly certified diver dropped down on top of me getting their arm caught in the bowed primary hose and pulling their arm away once they crashed into me. I will never dive without a streamlined setup again. I was worried the third time may not end so well. Eyes in the back of my head stoped working since the kids moved out.
 
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Think that's a solid idea mate. You could even go longer (2.2m) which would put more distance between you and the person that ripped the reg out of your mouth. :)

If you do it, learn what an S-Drill is and practice it. Play around with it topside (in front of a mirror -- think about entaglements) and later in a pool before taking it out.

One word of caution, the longer hoses can get floaty and difficult to manage. In my experience, I have found rubber hoses to be more managable when long.
 
For recreational diving there is nothing better than the streamline setup, in MY opinion. 40" under arm with 90* elbow and necklaced backup on 22".
 
For recreational diving there is nothing better than the streamline setup, in MY opinion. 40" under arm with 90* elbow and necklaced backup on 22".

That is the configuration I decided on after trying most all I have encountered. The only issue I encountered with the long hose is due to my use of the snorkel. Since I am not going to stop wearing a snorkel, due to the dives I normally make, the long hose is less than optimal. To be fair, the drills can be done OK, but I had reservations that an emergency would go smothely. For the right dives I could ditch my snorkel for the advantages of the long hose. It's a matter of the right tool for the job.

A buddy uses a BP/W with an Air2 and normal length rec primary. We had no issues with diving and drills.

Dive and let dive.


Bob
 
As I read through this and other similar threads, I wonder if there is a little terminology mismatch.

To me, and Air2 is a specific model of an octo/BCD inflator combo sold by Scubapro. When I first read it, I initially figure someone is using the Scubapro name as a generic description of any such octo/inflator.

But I get the feeling that at least some of the folk in this thread mean something entirely different, and maybe aren't all understanding Air2 to mean the same thing. (perhaps some regional differences in common use of the term?)

Thoughts? Clarifications?
 
I personally don't like Miflex hoses and I removed them from all my equipment rather quickly after trying them out couple of times.
just a personal preference, I don't like hoses which are
-too slippery
-have abrasive surface
-are floaty at times
-don't keep their shape very well (even too flexible for a long hose I think)

I have the "normal long hose setup" with the 7' / 2.1m normal rubber long hose and secondary on a necklace with the "standard lenght" rubber primary hose.
it was very easy to get used to the long hose but it needs a little bit of attention to not get it jammed under drysuit hose etc. when putting the gear on.

I am not sure how the air2 and long hose would work together, you would need to have the long hose unwrapped and off your neck before you could breathe from the air2 so it would take marginally longer to get to your own backup air source. in most situations should be no problem (when you have practiced the single move primary donation with the long hose the difference would only be couple of seconds) but it would still be a little easier and faster to have the separate octo on a necklace.

wouldn't it be difficult btw to adjust your own buoyancy when breathing from the air2?
never tried one but that seems a potential problem to me
 
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To me, and Air2 is a specific model of an octo/BCD inflator combo sold by Scubapro. When I first read it, I initially figure someone is using the Scubapro name as a generic description of any such octo/inflator.

When I refer to the one I used for several years in a post, I refer to it as an Air2 clone. One reason to differentiate is that not all of that style operate the same, I found out that the Air2 does not have a pull dump, a major difference from mine.


Bob
 
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https://www.shearwater.com/products/swift/

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