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Dan --

Thanks. This came up because another diver (Kawika) asked. I said
stick with the octopus and bungee it so it's around your neck and 
easy to get in your mouth in an emergency (from George's "Doing 
it Right" video), but the majority response was to go with AIR II. 
I'll buy Kawika a copy of George's video if he/she gives me an address.

Now, TO ANYONE ON TECHDIVER WHO TOLD KAWIKA TO GO
WITH AIR II: Why?? I've never used one, and all I see in it is one less
hose (+) in exchange for wrong location (-) and extra complexity /
extra fussing in an emergency (-). It gets points for being better than 
an octopus getting dragged across a reef, and maybe better if you've 
got a first stage that throws hoses out in every direction, but this is 
techdiver and we don't do those things, right? Daniel's points 3 and 4 
also apply. 

Regards,
Dave Smith
U Tx School of Public Health


Daniel Gault wrote: 

Greetings-

I had an Air II (1st generation) in the early 80's.  I thought at the time
that this would help streamline my configuration and reduce the number of
hoses that were sprouting behind me.  Several difficulties arose from this:

1.      this was not a common piece of equipment.  any new dive partners had
to be taught to take my primary.  with the usage of the long hose under the
light and around the neck this may no longer be a problem.

2.      again, not common equipment; needed a Scubapro repair shop to service.

3.      generally, follow the K.I.S.S. principle:  a single piece of
equipment to provide a single service and the simpler the better.  you may
survive a bc inflator hose loss; what do you do if this is also your air source.
        assuming a primary 2nd stage failure and not neccesarily an out of
air/buddy breathing emergency in which case you would be grabbing your
buddy's reg;  then again, what if you cannot find your buddy or are solo?
UP SHIT CREEK...

4.      configuration of hoses when streamlining, using dry suit, etc.
using the AIR II was awkward compared to the octopus; it was also a hard
breather.

Just some thoughts that I am passing along; comparing use, cost and ease as
well as recognition to the toy factor, I think that you will have better
satisfaction with an octopus that the AIR II.

Regards,

Dan Gault 

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