replacing the octo with a inflator / reg

[just add H2O]

I have been thinking of streamlining my Halcyon more and am looking into getting an regulator / inflation accessory. I have read reviews on the atomic SS1 which seem to give it high marks but the review is over a year old. I would like to know if this device or one of the other brands that are now entering this market are better for breathing and maintaining proper buoyancy. I would like to know anybody that is using this piece of equipment and pro's con's they have come up against. Thanks

[FishFood]

I had a dive buddy's SS1 start leaking before a dive once. Had a couple divers near by say they've seen those act funky before. Later that day had a reg tech say he's had a couple from the factory that he just couldn't get adjusted correctly.

Of course, every brand has problems so take it with a grain of salt.

I havent heard anything bad about Dive Rite's regs, and they have a new integrated octo out. Might give that a look.

[awap]

You can probably get more streamlining accomplished by selecting the correct hose lengths and routings than by eliminating the hose to your octo. The classic downstream design of an octo/inflator is a limiting factor on performance. And their location will get in the way of a slung tank or pony. I suggest you think about where you are going with this before you go through that expense.

[DMWiz]

I don't particularly care for them (Octo/inflators), but the SS1 is one of the nicer breathing octo/inflators, but so are the zeagle and aqualung versions of the same item. (But hopefully you will not need to be breathing from it all that often unless you really want to) None of these will help you control your buoyancy better or worse than a regular inflator. People usually get these to get rid of a hose IMO there's no added benefit to using one.

Whatever you decide to get, please make sure you practice donating your primary and making a controlled ascent while breathing from your alternate.

[kjvander]

i have the octo Z and it works fairly well so far. about the only thing about it that i have noticed is tht it is not comfortable while using. mine does breath well and works very well..however it is not to be used for long periods of time. I spent a lot of time in the pool getting used to breathing off of it before i felt comfortable with it. I do find it convenient and it is nice to get rid of one more hose.

[ektess1]

I felt the same way about removing one more hose. I have a combo octo/inflater. Wish that I had never wasted money on it. A necklace backup and long primary, mine is 5 ft, are more streamlined and earier to use. Don't waste your money.

[Byte Me]

I've got an octo-z from zeagle that I'm very happy with. I've worked on donating my primary and just swapping back and forth myself underwater. I breathes very easy, still gives easy access to the control buttons and I, personally, really like not having another hose for the octo or having the octo come loose from it's holder and be flopping along beside me. Before I had my own gear that's one of the biggest annoyances I had with rental gear was the hose routing and how often they would come loose.

[just add H2O]

Hey everyone thanks for the information gives me some more to think about. On my last dive trip my octo kept coming popping loose, which started me thinking what to do about it, & I noticed at my LDS most of the divers have switched to the combo.

[Byte Me]

Originally Posted by just add H2O

Hey everyone thanks for the information gives me some more to think about. On my last dive trip my octo kept coming popping loose, which started me thinking what to do about it, & I noticed at my LDS most of the divers have switched to the combo.

One thing I forgot about - while lots of folks pass these off as gimmicks or an accident waiting to happen I concur with what H2O added above - that I've seen a lot more of these lately and not just from casual divers. The last DM I dove with uses one (also uses an octo as he has had instances where he needed both!) and all three of the instructors in my rescue class use them as well.

On another dive trip one of the guys had the same issue w/ the octo popping loose and lagging behind. His solution was to tuck it under his BCD shoulder strap and then stick the octo in his BCD pocket. Didn't turn out to be an issue but back on the boat during the surface interval the DM said if he didn't have the octo in a position where it was usable he wasn't going down on the next dive. He spend a lot of time on the next dive futzing with keeping it connected where it should be.

I did get involved in a discussion that turned ugly over on scubaboard (big surprise huh?) when a couple folks insisted I didn't know what I liked best for myself and my own diving.

My suggestion - try them both (octo and octo/inflator) and see what you like FOR YOU!

[DMWiz]

Originally Posted by Byte Me

One thing I forgot about - while lots of folks pass these off as gimmicks or an accident waiting to happen I concur with what H2O added above - that I've seen a lot more of these lately and not just from casual divers. The last DM I dove with uses one (also uses an octo as he has had instances where he needed both!) and all three of the instructors in my rescue class use them as well.

I have no problem diving with someone using octo-inflators and I think they are fine, but what I have seen is people not used to doing ascents while breathing from them turning into runaway ascents (Usually during rescue classes where you get to do a bunch of ascents). Again it's not the equipment that caused the problem, but the lack of practice with it.
If you're comfortable with it then by all means get one.