Do you use an Octo/Inflator?

[BoyntonBeachBum]

In an ongoing effort to strip drag and items off my BCD and equipment setup I have been considering taking adding a combo inflator/octo so that i can remove the additional octo hose.

I am curious to know what people are using and why? Any pros and cons to the equipment you are using now?

Happy Holidays!

[Megabeast]

I use one and in hindsight, they're just ok. I often times wish I could take it off and put my regular inflator back on, then I remember I own a Dive Shop and I have an 'image' to project, so diving with one 2nd stage is 'bad'. It is much more steamlined in the long run and you will like that. I'll do some pros and cons.
Pros:
Streamlined
One less hose
Real Easy to find if you need it as a breathing source

Cons:
Can't look all the way to the right (corrugated hose is too short)
Tends to freeflow more from what I've seen, and you can't just take it off if it does.
If you are they type of diver who is always 'head under the ledge after lobsters' they aren't for you because sand gets jammed into the buttons when you're crammed under the ledge.

If you are a diver who stays up high off the bottom, cleans his gear really really well and are super concerned about streamlining, they're for you. If you don't fit that criteria, I'd recommend the old fashioned setup. My .02

[titaniumdiver]

I use a Tusa Duo air second stage above say 140'.....Then I dive with a older Sherwood reg as a second. Here is the reason, anyone diving with me beyond the recommended "deep diving" depth by P.A.D.I. is prone to grabbing the fu*$er you are sucking on! It is much easier to find that big corregated hose than to reach around to the back and side and pull up a longer second.

This has happend three times on dives in the tropics with so called "Advanced Divers". Either someone on the dive ,"free flows" and they panic because they are low on air even though we are ascending, get freaked beacause they are under 400 Lbs, or thier main starts to freeflow, then they start breathing really heavy and suck the remainder of my gas! Usually, a duo air type second will breath a little heavier than a real reg. They get just enough gas, and I get to keep breathing!


In Negril two years ago I had a girl that I was partnered up with on a 130' dive to a cessna that was sunk, as we ascended to our stop, she keep rising! I grabbed at what I could reach, her (bikini top! then pulled back down,and let some air out of her bc. She then pointed to her gauge that still had 300 lbs showing, I gave her the okay sign and she grabbed my reg "out" of my mouth. Why do they still teach that stuff, they ought to be teaching self preservation! Anyway, I had around 1100 lbs. showing so I gave her the Duo Air second.....This was a supposed "advance diver"

I think that the gear you dive has to do with the dives you plan on doing and "WHO" you are diving "WITH".

[jfjf]

The octo inflator is not intended for the buddy to use

[chasintail]

I love mine.Get a cap to cover the mouth piece and that gets rid of the sand problem.They are bail out only so it dosn't really matter that they don't breath that well and you can't turn your head all the way.If you are buddy breathing you need to be heading up or relaxing at a safety/deco stop.All I need is a PITA extra hose to tangle in the rigs.

[titaniumdiver]

Originally Posted by jfjfjfj

The octo inflator is not intended for the buddy to use

Really? No shit, I thought the short hose just meant you had to bring them closer!

I am sorry when orginally certified I was taught the buddy system, but spearfishing kind of negates that theory. Trust me if my spearfishing partner is in trouble I will do what I can within reason to get them calmed down first, then give them whatever I have to breath off of and buddy breath off my main if need be. I have had three too many people pull my reg out of my mouth when "they" thought they were in trouble. Once, they grabbed the life supporting mechanisim in "my" mouth, I wanted to know why...they are usually getting some hard breathing thinking they were "out" of air while we are ascending. Each time the person had over 300 lbs at 15'.

At any rate, typically if you are spearfishing with me, you have at least logged enough dives to be comfortable with your breathing and be able to spear fish and know your breathing rate without having to look at your gauge/computer every 2 mintues.

Like I said that cessna dive was supposed to be advanced, the duo-air worked fine.. and I made a new friend!

[chasintail]

Cute chick.Now,Mr advanced diver.Show me some pictures of some fish.

[titaniumdiver]

Hell, until I joined Spearboard, I honestly never saw a reason to stand around mugging with fish. Just thought I was supposed to fillet and either eat them or freeze them for eating later.

[kmoose]

How many people have had a 2nd stage lock up to the point not providing any air even when you pushed the purge? I am willing to bet very very few in any at all? Now how many have had spare second stage or alternitive air sources free flow uncontrollably for one reason or another. IMHO the latter of the 2 would pose more likely to be a threat, especially in deeper water. Ti, say you had an octo on your reg and it started freeflowing uncontrolably for what ever reason at 135 fsw, you only have 1000 psi of air in your tank when it starts. I bet things are going to probably be a little tense unless you stop the free flowing.......Now if Ti had a alternate air source he could unplug the inflator hose and proceed up with little consequence. Neither should fail if properly cared for and inspected, but as we all know shit happens at the most inopportune monments to even brand new equipment. I personally don't like either octos or alternates but if I was required to have one or the other I would choose the low pressure alternative source.
You can go cheap on alot of your gear and do just fine.....but regulators and breathing accessories are the exception.

[Grin]

I have a inflator Octo. I use a pony tank for backup and I figured a inflator octo gives me some extra options. Like if I decide to not use the pony for whatever reason, I still have a backup. I have a Zeagle infator-octo and I have not had any free flow issues. Ive only had it for about 6 months though.

[BoyntonBeachBum]

I imagine using the octo as a back up personal air supply. I guess if someone is running out of air they are supposed to take your primary and you take your octo/inflator, not that it is that sweet to have your primary reg ripped out of your mouth.

As long as I have two regulators that are working I am comfortable that there is enough redundancy. I do a fair about of lobster digging and I had never considered the sand in the unit as a potential problem but that makes sense.

Those of you using the octo inflator, is it easy to use? In otherwords, are the purge and inflate buttons easy to hold/use? Does the additional size affect the comfort of the inflator?

Thanks for all of the comments so far.

[PatMyGreen]

I have only 50 dives on my atomic combo but it has yet to have any problems. Like Moose said, if it free flows you can always unplug it and just swim up, not so much a solution for a regular second stage.

[MichaelBaranows]

when I was cert. I was told that most time a person that is out of air is most likely to grab the reg. in your mouth just because that is the first one they see and know is working.

I have about 50 dives on the ScubaPro Air2 without and problems. The buttons work fine and might not be the most comfortable if I need to use it but then again if I am using it something is wrong and I am coming to the top so I won't have to use it long.

If I have a dive buddy like TD I agree to get them close.

[chasintail]

Or when get tried of swimming around with all that shit on start freediving.Speedos are cheap.

[Belzelbub]

Originally Posted by titaniumdiver

anyone diving with me beyond the recommended "deep diving" depth by P.A.D.I. is prone to grabbing the fu*$er you are sucking on!

I was first certified by PADI, and learned to configure so that I was using the shorter hose as a primary, and the longer secondary was clipped to my BC. Needing a class to fill, I took the NAUI/YMCA open water class at UF. They taught gear configuration using the Hogarthian method. At first it seemed odd, but it makes sense. A diver under stress due to either a real or perceived problem with their regulator is most likely going to grab the regulator out of your mouth. Therefore, it makes sense to plan for that. Share your primary, and breath off of your backup.