Alternate air. What do you use, and why?

[mm2002]

I thought this would be an interesting thread, and possibly educational to newer divers. With all of the options out there, I'm very curious how my fellow divers arrived at whatever they use for an alternate air source, and their reasoning behind what they've chosen. I would really prefer no posts about who's right and who's wrong, which is best, etc.

To start with, most students start out learning the most widely accepted system; an alternate second stage regulator (octo), connected to the same first stage regulator, hose routed on the divers right side, and the regulator secured somewhere in the triangle area from your lower left and right ribcage to your chin.

Once a certified diver, things can start to get a bit confusing (at least it did for me). There's short hoses, long hoses, spare air, pony bottles, ways of mounting pony bottles, combo octo/inflator systems, different hose routing, double tanks, and the list goes on.

Here's what I've settled on, and why:

I have a 13 cf pony mounted to the right side of my plate. It's out of my way, and I don't even notice it there while diving. I use a 5 ft miflex hose, and an Oceanic swiv octo. The hose is looped lengthwise of the tank, and secured with bungies. The first stage reg is a Zeagle Razor, so it's small and doesn't get in the way. The second stage reg is secured with a snorkel keeper on my right lower d-ring (in the usual place an out of air diver may look). I do not have an octo on my first stage, just my primary reg on a standard length hose, and an SPG. What I like about my setup is that first of all, my octo is a totally redundant air source, independent of my main tank, and primary first stage regulator. It's mounted in the usual location that most divers are trained to look, so no confusion there. The octo is easily deployed with a gentle tug, and has plenty of hose so nobody gets cramped up. The swiv octo is almost impossible to put in your mouth wrong, so to me, that eliminates another possible stressor. The only thing I plan to change is sizing up a bit to a 19 cf tank. It will be mounted the same, and still won't be in the way of anything. I've tried many styles of mounting, including slinging, mounting to my primary tank, etc., but this is what I've grown to like, and it fits "my" style of diving.

What do you like, and why?

[snagel]

Good question, Mark. I don't have a pony and use the standard "octo" tied to my primary tank. Have thought several times of doing something like what you have. But, I keep coming back too, why? If I be a "good diver" and keep an eye on my gas management and if all else fails have a buddy close, I should never need the extra bottle.

It will be interesting to see what others do.

S. Nagel

[rongoodman]

Standard Hog set-up, 7' primary, bungeed secondary. An OOA diver gets the known working reg(with the proper gas) that I've been breathing, I get the secondary that's hanging under my chin. If I want the redundancy of a pony, I'll bring my doubles.

[Splitlip]

I really should have a pony as often as I "solo". When I do get one, I will sling it and still keep a back up from my primary first stage.

I normally dive a necklaced alternate with a long primary and occasionally an octo inflator with a long primary.

[Rainer]

Originally Posted by rongoodman

Standard Hog set-up, 7' primary, bungeed secondary. An OOA diver gets the known working reg(with the proper gas) that I've been breathing, I get the secondary that's hanging under my chin. If I want the redundancy of a pony, I'll bring my doubles.

Same.

[setesh]

Originally Posted by mm2002

I thought this would be an interesting thread, and possibly educational to newer divers. With all of the options out there, I'm very curious how my fellow divers arrived at whatever they use for an alternate air source, and their reasoning behind what they've chosen. I would really prefer no posts about who's right and who's wrong, which is best, etc.

To start with, most students start out learning the most widely accepted system; an alternate second stage regulator (octo), connected to the same first stage regulator, hose routed on the divers right side, and the regulator secured somewhere in the triangle area from your lower left and right ribcage to your chin.

Once a certified diver, things can start to get a bit confusing (at least it did for me). There's short hoses, long hoses, spare air, pony bottles, ways of mounting pony bottles, combo octo/inflator systems, different hose routing, double tanks, and the list goes on.

I know I'm still too inexperienced to bo doing solo dives, but I still want the extra peace of mind of having my own second supply. My wife doesn't dive, so I'm usually 'assigned' a buddy on the boat. Since I don't know these people from Adam, a pony would make me a little more comfortable in that sense too. I've been digging through all the threads I can find trying to get a better feel for what I should get. I'm very interested to see what your post turns up!

[ianr33]

Originally Posted by rongoodman

If I want the redundancy of a pony, I'll bring my doubles.

Just to be argumentative,doubles are not as redundant as a pony.

[chilly willy]

When I travel on airplanes I bring a Spare Air for its ease of airport security in addition to my standard primary & octo. For local diving I sling a 19 cf because I mostly do solo beach dives.

[BouzoukiJoe A.K.A. wrecker130 AKA Chuck Norris AKA joeforbroke (banned)]

Bungeed nechlace and long primary. I started with the standard rig taught in open water but I found the hose halos caught on things and there was never any good way to stow the octo.

So I switched to a 5' hose and bungeed secondary. I have since switched to a 7' hose.

Below 60' I always have a redundant source of breathing gas- either pony or doubles.

An interesting setup for rec divers to try is the bungeed secondary with a 40" hose coming under the arm. You might need a reg swivel for that.

Whatever setup you use you should practice sharing air or switching to backup so that you develop the confidence and the muscle memory to do it without panic in a real situation.

[mm2002]

Originally Posted by BouzoukiJoe

An interesting setup for rec divers to try is the bungeed secondary with a 40" hose coming under the arm. You might need a reg swivel for that.

Yes, I had that setup, and it worked out nicely. I used a trident 90 degree elbow at the second stage reg. Very comfy.