Singles set up with the long hose

I'm curious how many of you out there dive a long hose for your singles set-up. I had the opportunity to dive a long hose singles set-up while in North Carolina (thank you again VADiver for saving my dives and sharing your MK25 singles set-up with me and later to WreckWench for the same in loaning her MK2s). It was instantly more comfortable for me since I have been primarily diving doubles, but that's because of my doubles diving. What about those people who do not dive doubles nor ever plan to?

So I am curious, however, to hear some of your reasoning for the long hose set-up for singles.

First, why would a diver using a single set-up opt for a long hose? I have come to understand that long hoses are used for the regulator you would donate in the case of an out-of-air situation when diving doubles. Why? People diving doubles may be in an overhead environment with space issues where your buddy may need to dive [i]behind/in-front/above/below[/] you and the 7' hose allows for those single file/stacking diver configurations. The longer hose also helps divers on scooters. Those are just two examples, but I wouldn't be entering a tight spaced overhead environment on a single set-up and I wouldn't be planning a more advanced dive with scooters covering distances on a single tank that wouldn't be able to cover me in the event of a failure. So my dive plans greatly differ from doubles to singles.

Second, what about singles gear set-ups? Are they conducive to long hose regulator configurations? For example, I dive a backplate/wing set-up for both my doubles and single - the long hose set-up on my singles was a non-issue. But, would there be configuration issues or potential entanglement hazards for those who dive with BCs?

I'm curious how many of you out there dive a long hose for your singles set-up.

I do.

First, why would a diver using a single set-up opt for a long hose?

We spent a lot of our DM training sharing air, either by octo or by buddy breathing. Just a little thing our instructor liked to do to increase our task loading. One of my fellow DM-candidates had a long hose, and we all saw the advantages.

Second, I have had my primary regulator stolen on 3 separate dives by OOA divers, so I'm pretty confident that the standard signal for OOA may be the slashed throat, but the reality is it is when you're wondering WTF just happened to your reg (and I'm 2 for 3 for having the mask knocked off too.)

Second, what about singles gear set-ups? Are they conducive to long hose regulator configurations? But, would there be configuration issues or potential entanglement hazards for those who dive with BCs?

Normally, when I wear the jacket, it is with a class. I reconfigure to a 5 foot octo, and a short primary. The only reason I do this is to be a good doobie for my dive shop and not wear my BP/W with students. I think this might be a problem if I was doing anything that might offer entanglement issues.

If for some reason, I dive my jacket without students - e.g. when my son reclaims the BP/W, I wear it configured just like my BP/W - i.e. looped around my torso and then I'm using my AIR-2 as my secondary.

The BP/w is standard - 7 foot primary looped around, short secondary necklaced.

Both my singles and doubles setups are 7ft hose. Reasoning is simple:

I want ONE set of automatic responses in an emergency. I want to be able to respond exactly the same way under duress, and not fumble looking for things. This is also why I won't dive a jacket BC. With my BP/W, I can lay hand to everything on me with my eyes closed. I don't want tthis to change just because I am wearing a single tank.

Both my singles and doubles setups are 7ft hose. Reasoning is simple:

I want ONE set of automatic responses in an emergency. I want to be able to respond exactly the same way under duress, and not fumble looking for things. This is also why I won't dive a jacket BC. With my BP/W, I can lay hand to everything on me with my eyes closed. I don't want tthis to change just because I am wearing a single tank.

OK, similar to me I now like the idea of having the same set-ups when switching between the two. It's why I was so happy with Vinny's regs. Any comments for the singles diver who doesn't dive doubles or may never plan to dive doubles?

I now like the idea of having the same set-ups when switching between the two. It's why I was so happy with Vinny's regs. Any comments for the singles diver who doesn't dive doubles or may never plan to dive doubles?

Switching between different configurations is a personal problem I have to contend with, trying to stay friends with my LDS for class, and then going with the rig I want for all other diving. Not recommended, and certainly not a great practice, but you asked.

For anyone contemplating buying gear, or upgrading, I steer them toward the BP/W and long hose for all the reasons that have been discussed at length.

It's a fairly small investment - two hoses - with a big payoff. I can't really think of a reason why a jacket bc diver couldn't use a long hose - as long as their jacket is serviceable - why spend the money for a whole new bc if they're not planning a path to doubles and other non-rec style diving?

I'm not sure what kind of "comments" you're after. I can tell you why I switched...

The first time I had someone take me through an OOA, I was hooked. The typical "lost reg" scenario that necessitates and arm sweep was gone. The possibility of a octo free-flow without the wearing knowing was eliminated. The awkwardness of using an AIR2 was a non-factor. There are no dangling hoses anywhere so moving through reedy bottoms, or branches was a non-issue.

In short, it's a system with a great deal of advantages, and no drawbacks that I could find. The fact that it moved right over to doubles was a bonus.

I dive singles only. I use a long hose configuration with not such a long hose. I have the bungeed reg around my neck and I donate the primary hose but it's not 7' or even 5'. It's just longer than my outstretched arm. I route it under my arm when in use.

I use this setup for the bungeed reg. I use a BP/W but used the same setup when I had a jacket BC. If I practiced OOA on every dive I suppose I would go to a longer hose. Since it's rarely needed I see no reason to drag around a 7' hose. The few times my buddies have needed air they didn't seem to have a problem with the length of my hose.

I use a Light Cannon rather than a cannister light. A cannister light is helpful to wrap the hose around with a 7' hose.

Edited by gcbryan, 12 July 2006 - 03:51 PM.

Both my singles and doubles setups are 7ft hose. Reasoning is simple:

I want ONE set of automatic responses in an emergency. I want to be able to respond exactly the same way under duress, and not fumble looking for things. This is also why I won't dive a jacket BC. With my BP/W, I can lay hand to everything on me with my eyes closed. I don't want tthis to change just because I am wearing a single tank.

OK, similar to me I now like the idea of having the same set-ups when switching between the two. It's why I was so happy with Vinny's regs. Any comments for the singles diver who doesn't dive doubles or may never plan to dive doubles?

In one of my first boat dives on Lake Michigan I had the unfortunate experience of a freefow @ 120' on the Car Fery Milwaukee. I was the recipient of a donated 7' hose... Never turned back.

My singles & doubles rig are identical (minus the stroke transmitter for my uwatec).

-Tim

edit: I never really explained WHY I never turned back...

The extra length of the 7' hose affords alot more space to be comfortable when dealing with the situation vs. being all cramped up on each other...

I don't dive with long hoses, in part because it is just another thing that COULD get in the way while I'm concentrating on filming. I rarely dive with buddies (except highly experiened ones) and the long hose is not necessary for them.

With that said, I am not suggesting it is a bad idea to dive with one. As with everything else, it depends on what kind of diving you are doing. I can see many situations (ones I'm rarely in though) where a long house could be a life saver.

Nicolle,
What Perrone said, plus my input on the scooter.

You can dive a scooter with a single tank without issue. In the case of an OOA emergency/failure your buddy donates and stows his scooter. He then grabs your crotch strap, tucks in and you scooter to the upline. If reaching the upline isn't feasable then you can both stow the scooters, shoot a bag and ascend. No problem.

Scooter operation in itself does not call for doubles, just a little more planning.

V

Scooter operation in itself does not call for doubles, just a little more planning.

good point - we dive with small scooters from time to time up here on singles. In my post, I was thinking of the bigger scooters and the dives that could be planned with them up here - we do a lot of shore diving and some, with proper planning and the right scooters, where you could cover great distances - that's what I had in mind when think about doubles (AIR) and long hose (comfort in an OOA).

I've seen both types of scooter "diving" (I don't really consider a scooter to be diving, but that's my opinion). Several of my friends dive singles with the smaller scooters, mainly to do some deep (135-160 ft) hunting of bugs, lingcod, etc. Others who dive off the boat use doubles or rebreathers to do deep scooter dives, often with HD cameras to film at depth.

While I can see a few situations where I'd use a scooter, given my focus (videotaping marine life) in diving it makes little sense to me unless I need to get to subjects that are not at easy swimming distances. Again, that's my opinion. Your opinion may vary... after all, this is America (well, at least where I'm standing... recognize we have international members here and darned glad of it!).

I don't see a connection between doubles and long hose use, doubles are for deco diving and long hoses are for getting your OOA buddy out of a tight spot.
Sometimes singles are the only way to get into tight spots, I believe that's how U-who was ID'd.
The long hose can be used with singles, doubles, slung or whatever and it's nothing new, I was using a long hose in the early 70's but it was on the octo then and not so much for the OOA diver but used by wreck divers to check out tight spots. Remember that back then the tank could be shed while still keeping the horse collar. Don't try that now, the DIR police would tear up your C-card!

I don't see a connection between doubles and long hose use, doubles are for deco diving and long hoses are for getting your OOA buddy out of a tight spot.

I guess in my area you don't see the long hose set-up except on doubles or on a singles set-up of a doubles diver. That's why I made the association - I don't mean to create a misunderstanding or absolute association. It's just a question based on my observations and thought it might be interesting to discuss so that singles divers out, not previously exposed to the long hose set-up, might have more information regarding alternative set-ups to make a choice.

I've done some ocean diving where a buddy came up short on air while we were on the down line...I don't have a long hose on my octo or my primary...but it would have been alot more comfortable if I did plus a swivel