For PSD work you want as little gear as possible and as few hoses as possible.
The Air-2 can help by eliminating a hose. But the Air-2 isnt the only option. My wife uses one but I have a normal regulator in-line on my BC hose. So IF something were to happen where the BC needs to be unplugged I still have an Octo.
I dont care what it is there will be the group that says its fine and another group that will say the same thing will kill you. Try whatever your looking at for yourself, see if it fits your needs and make your own evaluation. There is no equipment out there that will fit every need as there is no one motor vehicle that will work for everyone.
Its like the guys that got all over us last weekend at the Ironman. We could have been in the water, to dive deep, in less than two minutes because we were ready but not suited up. They were suited and ready to go. Thats fine but who is going to be in the best shape if something happens?
We were ready with our normal Rescue response gear. They had more equipment than some cave divers use including 3 tanks and 4 regulators, lines, lift bags etc.. Our gear was all positioned and ready to slip into. They were fully suited up even to the point of having their masks on.
Now youre sitting in a boat for 2.5 hours, in the sun and warm temps. The water is in the mid 60s at the surface and in the mid 30s at depth. Who do you think is going to be in the best shape to do a rescue?
That group has never done a rescue or a recovery in their existence. In fact they have never and will never be called. There things they just overlook. First is training. They think the PADI Rescue course makes them PSDs. They have this idea to start CPR on the bottom to speed things up and the list goes on.
The chances for having to DIVE at the Ironman or most other swimming events we have in the lakes are very slim. The swimmers are wearing wet suits so we are there more for surface rescue than to dive. We did 6 this year, which is real unusual.
So it just boils down to knowing what you need, getting what you need and getting PROFICIENT with it.
Gary D.