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I think we are getting into too much hair splitting on this subject, 
especially in a forum for "advanced" divers. There are +s and -s to any
piece of equipment and these will change according to conditions.

When I took cave diving training we always did an air sharing "s" drill
at the start of every dive. We would get to where the buddy could see or 
hear a signal while he was swimming ahead. Upon receiving the signal, the 
buddy would whip around to see the signaler "out of air". Buddy breathing
would be established and the pair would swim a short distance. Then they 
would switch and repeat the drill. This tests all phases of the air sharing
process.

After regular practise of a drill like this, divers are experienced to 
the point where they are not bothered by problems which might crop up
during "the real thing". They will have learned valuable lessons about 
the effects of different regs, configurations and conditions. They are 
also not likely to be bothered by the unexpected, such as the "mystery 
diver" coming out of the murk and snatching their reg.

While equipment has to fit within certain standards of things which can 
be done with it, there is no substitute for experience and practise.
- Paul-

On Thu, 18 Jan 1996, Simon Hartley wrote:
> One factor I considered when buying regs a few years back was how the shape
> (design) of the first stage might make it easier or more difficult for an
> out of air diver to find the mouth peice and get a breath.  I wanted a reg
> that had an angled purge button/diaphragm to prevent free flow in strong
> currents but was concerned side breathing (if this is the correct term) regs
> such as the Posiedon Jetstream and one Oceanic reg I looked at, being an
> unusual shape, may lead to difficulties in buddy breathing or when an out of
> air diver takes your primary or occy.  My theory was this: 
> 
>         Regs used by most recreational divers have a purge button on the
> front, a roughly circular case and the mouth peice is generally in the
> centre line near the top of the case.  An out of air diver (I deliberately
> avoid the word panicked) diver who is used to this type of reg design may
> have some difficult (even just momentary) in finding the mouthpeice of an
> unconventionally shaped reg and perhaps this brief delay could make the
> difference between them taking a breath or bolting for the surface (if
> available).  
> 
> I beleive someone mentioned earlier that with this type of reg there is no
> real right way up so the person donating a reg could simply take it out
> (Oh!!! touchy subject, just got into an intense (not quite heated)
> discussion with one of the crew from my local dive shop on this topic today)
> flip the reg over and stick it in the out of air divers mouth.  This may
> negate the problem (if in deed there is a problem).  I don't use this type
> of reg so any comments?  (I will not be too put out if my theory is a load
> of old cobblers but it would be good to hear from people using this type of
reg)

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