Why give primary instead of alternate regulator?

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Just people out diving from a boat. Someone (not their dive buddy) wound up OOG and came up behind them over their shoulder and ripped out their reg. No one approached them from the front. This is just 3 people/instances, not a significant sample size.

While it is hearsay, so far, only Bob has you, um, tied. So, in 50 years of diving, Bob experienced a few things and in all the diving you've done, you've heard of 3 incidents, in 40? years of diving lowviz has had his kid tug on his hose.

Yes, we train and yes, we should train but IMO, the way a diver rigs gear should probably be based on who else they're diving with and the type of diving they are doing.

It's not wrong to dive with the intent to donate secondary. It isn't more safe to dive a long hose and less safe to dive a secondary in the zone.

7' hoses are for cave divers. 5' hoses are because 7' was not necessary for open water.
 
I like to hang in the back, often quite far back if in a group and conditions allow
Side by side with your buddy, only a fin kick away, of course?
 
Side by side with your buddy, only a fin kick away, of course?

Buddy? What buddy?
 
Buddy? What buddy?
Well the one who you plan the dive with, the one who helps you a little with the zipper, straightens out your shoulder strap so you can get into your harness, who gives you a hand if you need one, who helps spotting cool stuff just like you help them spotting cool stuff, who keeps you company when you decide to let the frantically finning DM go, and whom you grab a beer with after the dive while chatting about the dive.

Do you have more than one of those at the time?
 
More often, I have none of those at a time.

However, when I do have one, then we do all those things.
 
While it is hearsay, so far, only Bob has you, um, tied. So, in 50 years of diving, Bob experienced a few things and in all the diving you've done, you've heard of 3 incidents, in 40? years of diving lowviz has had his kid tug on his hose.

Yes, we train and yes, we should train but IMO, the way a diver rigs gear should probably be based on who else they're diving with and the type of diving they are doing.

It's not wrong to dive with the intent to donate secondary. It isn't more safe to dive a long hose and less safe to dive a secondary in the zone.

7' hoses are for cave divers. 5' hoses are because 7' was not necessary for open water.

Fortunately, maintained equipment is quite reliable, hence we avoid a lot of incidents. Statistically, the percentage is small. While I've spoken to a number of divers, and experienced it once myself, free flowing first stages is a rare occurrence. First stages failing shut I've heard about once.

To me, my preference is for a long hose to donate as that allows more comfortable swimming side by side, instead of having to lock arms to do so.
 
7' hoses are for cave divers. 5' hoses are because 7' was not necessary for open water.

And a 40 something inch hose for me, 'cause I like it and it plays well with my snorkel.

Fortunately, maintained equipment is quite reliable, hence we avoid a lot of incidents.

That's the good news, the bad news is that when there is an incident or serious casualty, it's the first time most divers see that diving can be more dangerous than they expected, and decide on another hobby.



Bob
 
That's the good news, the bad news is that when there is an incident or serious casualty, it's the first time most divers see that diving can be more dangerous than they expected, and decide on another hobby.

Yes, it is good news because the average training is quite poor. Yes, it is bad news in that if an incident occurs, they may not handle it and die as a result. People realizing that diving is too dangerous for them and taking up another hobby isn't a bad thing. I'd rather have the risks clearly taught at the open water level, have students properly trained. Sure it would produce fewer certifications, but probably improve the retention rate.

But that's another topic.
 
7' hoses are for cave divers. 5' hoses are because 7' was not necessary for open water.
I've had a buddy go OOA twice and shared air in two low on air situations. My seven foot hose was perfect for allowing us to sim side by side comfortably. I keep mine tucked under my shears on the right side of my harness so it never gets in the way. The hose stays against my body the entire dive, never snagging on kelp or monofilament the way my 40 inch hose did.
 
My seven foot hose was perfect for allowing us to sim side by side comfortably.

Yup. Maybe it's because I'm tall (6'2"), but a 5 foot hose would be much too short when routed in the standard long hose, primary donate configuration. And I stay the hell out of caves.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/teric/

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