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You wrote ..........
I personally don't like a long hose on my gear. I understand
that if an out of or low on air diver shows up it's easier to handle
that situation with a long hose. Honestly, what percentage of
folks using the long hose are going to ever need it? I have
successfully and without any trouble had someone on my
"short hose" second reg more than a dozen times in the
last 16 years. That experience has made me feel that for
myself I don't need a long hose. I consider, for the diving I do,
a longer hose has more points for failure, it has more chance
for entanglement and snagging even if properly stowed.
If I run into a diver in need in a narrow confine it would be
a benefit, but the odds of this happening are less than
the wreck collapsing in on me or someone else, does this
mean I should always have a car jack with me? (ok,
sometimes I do).
From what I can gather from this list, a long hose is a
good idea for caving due to restrictions and the fact
that many, if not all, cavers dive in teams. My diving is
solo, I rarely come across another diver where I go and
if I do I will usually escort them back to safer turf. The only
time I meet up with other divers is on my way to the surface
and then I don't NEED a long hose.
That's how I feel. Yes there is a great deal of equipment out
there and techniques developed that would provide the
maximum safety and preparedness at all times. But for
me the expense and the depreciation of my diving
experience does not warrant incorporating everything
possible for an event that will PROBABLY never occur
to me. The ultimately safe practice is to stay out of the
water. If the WKPP wanted to be the safest they could they
would incorporate ROV's and not expose themselves to
the risks they do. I doubt there is very much they are doing
that an ROV couldn't do, and one could stay down for
far longer periods at probably less expense, albeit less
fanfare for those involved.
..for what it's worth,
Mark Welzel
Mark
I must strongly disagree with you on this point. I dive a variety of
equipment configurations and in a variety of environments from Florida Caves
and East Coast wrecks to Northeastern Sumps. I tailor my configuration for
the type of diving I am doing. Sump diving is the only time I do not dive
with a long hose. It is the only time that I can be sure that I may not run
into an out of air diver. Even on a solo ocean or cave dive you never know
when you may run into an out of air diver who may be desperate or in a panic.
The long hose not only may save another divers life but may save yours as
well.
Case in point....... You run into a panicked diver who has a complete air
failure and pass him a regulator on a short hose. He does not calm down but
continues to panic. Because you have a short hose you are now face to face
and can't get away. He is not rational and wants out so he grabs your BC
inflator and holds it down for all that it is worth and locked in his powerful
andrenalin fueled embrace you rocket to the surface from 130ft.
If you had a long hose the extra length might have allowed you to get
behind him and with any luck grab his manifold and take control of the
situation. At the very least it would have saved you from joining him on his
rocket ride.
The story is true and happen last year on a wreck dive, by some incredible
stroke of luck neither diver suffered any immediate injuries. They were both
incredibly lucky.
In another case two years ago a sport diver became trapped on a quarry dive,
her trailing "safe second " was snagged by debris and she panicked. The buddy
donated her short hose and then did not have enough length to reach the tangle
problem. She too panicked and dropped her weight belt believing her positive
buoyancy would allow her to pull her buddy free. It didn't and she rocketed
to the surface and her buddy drowned. Fortunately due to the extremely cold
temps she got a second chance and was able to dive back down, free the buddy
and the other diver was revived with no permanent injuries.
Another real life example where a long hose might have made a difference...
I hope this information may prove useful....safe diving
JOSEPH KAFFL
SUMPDIVER@MS*.CO*
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