Octo/Alternate - How/Where (do you keep yours?)

[Daz]

Just wondering how and/or where everybody keeps their octo/alternate...

Back when I first started diving we always kept it in the "safety triangle" (or some such name - in front, visible to anyone who may need it), but I never really found a good way to fix it to one spot yet still have it be breakaway. I used to have a soft rubber holder that the octo mouthpiece fit into, it worked fairly well - was just a bit of a hassle sometimes to get the thing in - are these still around?

We've been diving with combo alt/inflators (Sherwood Shadow Plus) for the last 15 years (my wife dives the same set-up as me), but since switching over to a BP/W I've determined that the Shadow Plus' hose is now a bit too long for our "H" wings and I don't like the way the knurled knob on the connector rubs the corrugated hose on the wing (so using a shorter hose isn't really an option even though the Shadow uses a 3/8" reg hose).

So, we decided to lose the combo inflators and instead added a couple of R295's to the kits. Any suggestions on what types of holders work and which don't? I don't dive a long hose, so no necklace. I figure we'll probably end up using some sort of holder with a clip or boltsnap to attach to a chest D-ring but figured I'd ask around and see what everyone else is using.

Thanks all,

 

[1_T_Submariner]

Right side chest attached to D ring.

 

[Nemrod]

I know it drives certain segments of the dive world nuts but you could use the necklace with a fishermans knot. This allows the necklaced regulator to slip free for rapid deployment. Way back I used regulators that had factory necklace straps with snaps. Maybe that is why this feels so natural to me. N

 

[Daz]

Right side chest attached to D ring.

attached using ______?

 

[ucfdiver]

Manta Industries Regulator Necklace

That might be what you're looking for. Personally, I'd suggest putting that $10 towards a long hose however.

 

[stairman]

A piece of bungee works just as well and is adjustable.That one looks too short fo me.

 

[RAWalker]

Just because you are going to a BP&W doesn't mean you can't use a octo on the inflator or an integrated. I myself have a Aquatech Air 3 on my OMS wing.

 

[Daz]

Just because you are going to a BP&W doesn't mean you can't use a octo on the inflator or an integrated. I myself have a Aquatech Air 3 on my OMS wing.

It's not that I'm going to a BP/W - its that I'm not happy with how my Shadow Plus works/fits with the BP/W I'm already using. Standard style BC's - great, short corrugated hose wings - not so good.

I have been using it, but it's just not the best for the present set-up. It works, but to be streamlined and comfortable it needs a shorter hose That I can do easily enough, I know I can get 16" hoses made up - but that still brings the whole assembly up pretty close to me face and it kinda bugs me having that extra gear above my left chest D-Ring.

All that said, the biggest issue with continuing to use the Shadow Plus with my wing is the fact that the LPI fitting which connects to the inflator has a knurled knob that rubs against the corrugated hose. It's rough enough to chew through the corrugated hose and holes in hoses are a bad thing in my book.

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

I've used this octopus holder made by Scubapro:

Scubapro Octopus holder in Regulators,Accessories from Simply Scuba

Works fairly well. You can clip it to a D-ring (in your case I'd guess you'd use right chest D-ring).

I think most Scubapro dealers carry them.

You can do something similar to what Nemrod suggested (bungee with fishermans' knot), but maybe attached to D-ring rather than as a necklace if that's what your more comfortable with.

Good Luck.

 

[Deefstes]

I've seen various octo holders and I'm thinking of getting one but can't quite decide which one I like best. In the mean while I simply keep it on a D-ring on my right shoulder, probably same as 1 T Submariner.

I simply make a bight of the hose which I push through the D-ring. The hose is stiff enough to keep the octo in position and a yank on the octo pulls it out of the D-ring without a probem.