Dave,
	I agree wholeheartedly!! Unlike you I have used the AIR II many 
times.  I worked in a diveshop for a couple years which used these pieces 
of shit for their OW classes.  I helped out as a divemaster and used 
their gear for some time before I could afford my own.  Well, I actually 
had to use the AIR II several times, and THEY ALWAYS BREATHED LIKE 
CRAP!!  These things would never supply sufficient air at depth and even 
as shallow as 30 ft they're hard to breath and breath WET!  If an OW I 
student actually had to use the damn thing they would probably panic when 
they stuck the AIR II in their mouth and sucked on it.  They would a nice 
spray of water with every breath of air. REALLY COOL (not).  They regs 
are just plain dangerous and should not be used by anyone who would like 
an octupus to work in an emergency.
	
	Please, no more discussion is needed about this piece of shit.  
Get real people.  Use a decent Octopus and strap it around your neck.

	Dive Safe,
			Sean Creagan
			Virginia Institute of Marine Science
			Dept. of Fisheries
			

On Mon, 22 Jul 1996, David P. Smith wrote:

> 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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