comfortable 2nd stage hose?

PHXAZCRAIG wrote:

Dann-Oh wrote:

Be aware that when you use a long hose (either 5 or 7ft) you will not be able to use a snorkel, that might be a violation of your local laws (it is an issue for certain beach locations near me).

Not being aware of 'long hose technique', I have to ask why? I normally don't carry a snorkel as it gets in the way so much. My late wife used to carry a folding one in a pocket, just in case.

I guess I should always at least pack one when going to new locations.

The long hose will wrap down your right side, under a BCD pocket or knife, up across to your left shoulder, then around the back side of your neck and finally the reg will go into your mouth.

This video (at 3:30) quickly explains the routing of the hose.

You could guess that the long hose could get tangled with the snorkel in an out of gas scenario.

kelpdiver wrote:

Dann-Oh wrote:

Be aware that when you use a long hose (either 5 or 7ft) you will not be able to use a snorkel, that might be a violation of your local laws (it is an issue for certain beach locations near me).

as best I know, Laguna Beach doesn't require you to wear it, just to have it. And perhaps a sawed off one still meets the letter of the law.

That's the only location I'm aware of with such silly rules.

Ahh I thought they required you to wear it, and one could argue that "im wearing it in my pocket"

I use a 5.5 ft hose. I don't think there's a reason for the 7 for the OW photog, but the 5 is a bit short for me. A better shop will do it custom, you just need to take the 5 footer and assess.

Yeah the 7ft is kind of annoying with my jacket BCD BUT I am also looking to get into a BP+W/Side Mount (for Tec) in the near future so I thought I would just learn how to use the 7ft now.

For someone that is always going to be essentially solo with the camera, then the short hose can be an answer, but it does mean any actual sharing event will suck even more than it would otherwise. I presume the victim is going to take your primary and leave you to the octo. Hence the long hose and the octo on a short one on a necklace right below.

Yes that's how you would share air with a long hose.  I used to wear my octo (when I had one) around my neck because it was always falling out of every other type of holder I tried.  I always knew where it was and it was secure and VERY seen and deployable when needed.