What’s With The Long (Second Stage) Hose?

By John Hauxwell, Red Sea Tribe

One of the questions I hear most often when I dive with new people is some version of the one above: Why do you use such a long second stage hose?

The curiosity is natural. I often use an almost two metre long hose between my first stage (the one that attaches to the tank valve) and my primary second stage (the regulator mouthpiece that I breathe from). To make things even weirder, my secondary second stage (the backup regulator mouthpiece, or octopus) is on a very short hose, and lives on a short bungee around my neck!

Note: When I teach entry-level dive courses, I switch to a more common setup, as I need to demonstrate how to recover the regulator and use the octopus, so I only use this setup on my own dives, and for advanced courses.

So, to the average open water diver, this set up does indeed look a bit strange. But there’s a good reason for it.

The origin of the long second stage hose

The long hose setup originates from twin-tank setups, and indeed, that’s where I use it most often. I also have it on my single-tank setup from time to time. Cave and wreck divers used it originally, as the long hose allowed them share air in case of an out-of-gas situation. These divers would refer to what they breathed as “gas,” rather than “air,” as they often used gas mixes other than atmospheric air, while still swimming single file in cramped spaces. The octopus hung in a bungee-cord necklace around the neck. That way, if your buddy experienced an out-of-gas situation, you’d donate the primary regulator and switch to your secondary. The hose itself wrapped around the diver’s torso to keep their profile streamlined. This setup also allowed the diver to quickly deploy the regulator.

So why do you see divers (including me) use the long-hose setup on dives that aren’t in caves or wrecks? The decision comes from the realization that there are a number of advantages to the setup; first and foremost, a diver who runs out of gas is often in a state of panic, or at least severe stress, so they are unlikely to respond in a cool and calm manner. In fact, oxygen-starved divers often simply grab the first regulator they see. That regulator is usually the one in their buddy’s mouth. Second, a regulator that has just been used (as in seconds before) is pretty much guaranteed to work.

A regulator that you tested before the dive, but hasn’t been used since, might have developed a problem, however unlikely that is. And when a diver runs out of gas, it usually takes them some time to get their buddy’s attention and get their regulator. This means they’ll be oxygen-starved, maybe critically so. So if you’re going to hand them a regulator, best to hand them the one that you absolutely know for certain will work.

So this is the main reason a number of divers have adopted the long-hose configuration even for open-water dives with a single-tank setup. Add to this the benefit of having the same setup at all times, regardless of where and with what number of tanks you’re diving, and you’ve got a good argument for the long hose.

The Difference Between a Long Hose and a Short Hose Regulator Configuration

• Short Hose Configuration: Almost every recreational diver uses a short, 80cm – 1m t hose on the regulator he breathes from. He places his alternate air source (the extra regulator used to donate air to an out-of-air diver) on a longer, approximately 1.25m hose, and attaches it to his buoyancy compensator (BCD). A diver who needs air can simply grab the alternate air source and breathe from it as needed.
• Long Hose Configuration: A technical diver usually carries the regulator he breathes from on a 1.5 – 2m “long hose.” His extra regulator is attached to a very short hose and placed directly below the diver’s chin on a bungee “necklace.” To donate air in an emergency, this diver must take the long hose regulator he is breathing from out of his mouth, hand it to the out-of-air diver, and then switch to his extra regulator.

Is a Long Hose or a Short Hose Regulator Configuration Better?

Recently, I have noticed that some organizations, such as UTD (Unified Team Diving) and GUE (Global Underwater Explorers) use the long hose configuration in basic scuba certification training. I recently taught an open water course and practiced sharing air with a “standard” short hose configuration. The donated alternate air source twisted and yanked on the mouth during the ascension, pointlessly increasing the difficulty and stress of the drill. Using a long hose configuration for recreational diving is beginning to make more and more sense to me – it simply makes air sharing easier.

Pros of a Short Hose Configuration – Simplicity and Self Rescue

The short hose configuration does not require the diver donating air to remove his regulator from his mouth. This reduces the possibility of the diver drowning or experiencing a lung barotrauma by holding his breath while he donates air. In fact, the diver donating air doesn’t have to do anything but carry his alternate regulator in the correct position. The out-of-air diver can approach and secure the alternate air source on his own.

Pros of a Long Hose Configuration – Preparedness and Ease of Ascent

Proponents of the long hose configuration argue that in a panic situation, the average out-of-air diver will reach instinctively for the regulator in his buddy’s mouth, not his alternate air source. The donating diver prepares for this panic reaction by planning to donate the regulator already in his mouth. A diver in this situation will not be caught off guard if the panicked diver steals the regulator from his mouth. Furthermore, an ascent or exit when sharing air using a seven-foot-long hose is much easier because it allows the divers to swim to the surface in almost any position relative to each other. This becomes a necessity in a shipwreck or in a cave but could also be useful in open water.

So which is better?

Should all new divers learn to use a long-hose configuration from the very beginning, so that the multi-step process of air sharing with a long hose becomes second nature? Or, should instructors teach open water courses with a standard regulator configuration, and only “upgrade” divers to the long hose configuration as needed for advanced diving situations? Each diver should consider his comfort level with air sharing, and weigh the pros and cons of each configuration before making his decision. Recreational divers who are considering continuing on to technical training would be well advised to begin practicing with a long hose configuration as soon as possible.

For more information please contact us and we will be glad to help you.

Routings etc

https://frogkickdiving.com/regulators-%7C-hose-routing#9bf17498-05f5-466b-8f6f-d6934a8c9ace