The Longhose Concept in Recreational Diving

I had a dive partner and he didn’t understand my longhouse configuration. And when he was diving his octo would always be dragging on the sea floor. I’m sure it would never work if someone needed it.

I'm about to buy my first set of regs. I learned the traditional octopus way but after getting my deep cert can see the advantage of having more room to swim together on a gas share and be able to comfortably do a deep stop, swim back to shore or the line. So I'm considering a long hose. A lot of recreational divers seem to go for a 1,50m hose vs 2,10m. I wonder what you think about that for open water.
PS: the comparison of the two setups is a bit unfair. You're not just comparing octopus vs long hose but inconsiderate vs safety conscious diver (dangling equipment, not well serviced, no predive checks) 😉

how long is the long hose in this setup?

Great points

What wing were you using on the backplate and wing because I’ve been looking for a backup,ate and wing to use while diving and also what regulators are you using on the backplate and wing setup

I took an intro to cavern course and they taught the same hose configuration. It’s just a smarter and safer way to dive. I remember diving with my buddy and watching his spare yellow reg trolling the bottom of the ocean, getting full of sand and crud. It probably wouldn’t work if he needed it.

I have to disagree with this video. These guys are advanced technical divers who are used to using a longhose setup. This setup is additional training which comes as part of Intro to Tech or AN/DP. Either way, it's something you learn and practice (a lot) once you get into doubles. If, as they claim, a diver can't be bothered to check their octo, then that diver certainly is not a technical diver and doesn't need the additional complexity of a longhose. It'll more likely get them in trouble rather than help anyone. This is a perfect example of overthinking. KISS!!

Just found your channel - great content. I think the problem with a long hose setup for rec divers is with the diver who goes to the caribbean once a year - if they dive with a long hose and back plate they will likely be the only one on the boat with that setup. Not a problem if they are comfortable, have a good dive partner who is also setup and comfortable - but for everyone else they will appear a bit foreign. In this case it is less about what is the better configuration and more about what is the expected configuration. my 2 cents - looking forward to going through the rest of your vids - keep it up!

Very disappointing. First of all you need to focus on what you want to say. There is no way in you can share all you know in one video. You got to long hoze after 2 thirds of your video has passed. Second I find your argument really disappointing. It is probably not what you wanted to say. But you are advising people to use long hose becouse they do not checking their safe second. So in your argument give you give air you breath and if your safe second is bad you choke. You sound like you know better.
I am someone who can only dive in few weeks when I am taking my family to holiday. Nothing bad about that. But if you want to responsibly advice people like me you need to give million % respect to Padi, SSI or any other training I have. Not put them in doubt. Training is clear. You check both regulators. You clip yellow visible safe second in triangle area in your front. That is where we look for it and that is how you have it ready.
If you with your huge experience do not like this set up that is fine. You can explain why you like it and why you think it is better. Hopefully with in first few minutes of video.
Until than no matter how many thousands of dives you have more than me I would not be diving with you. Let me know when you get better. I do not think you are bad guys. You just think that your experience is giving you right to change rules. If I was not clear try driving in opposite way of traffic :)

Thanx for very interesting but really not so fair video :). There are two huge pluses of octopus set : 1. It's in different colour, visible from any side of donator, 2. It's always avaliable, causing no danger of pouring out sec stage from donators mouth. Good habit would be use it for few minutes on each dive then I'm sure it works. It's also easier for begginers to train with, including even hygiene question. Long hose I find actually the only logical way for advanced divers ( right gas for right depth f.ex. or enough space on cave or wreck diving) There are many more things to discuss about it but I now I have to mount croach strap on my Mares Bolt :)

I switched to Long Hose/BP/w. its like taking the red pill, you'll never go back to rec set-up.

But in reality, do you all really use a single tank that much, even recreational? I do have a single tank, back plate and wing long hose set up... but I don't like to dive single tank anymore. I'm kind of addicted to the redundancy of two reg's. Do you sidemount for recreation?

great seeing two professionals explaining their craft. top class video

Hi Achim,
Do you recommend a certain color for tanks?
for instance,not a black unmarked tank?

I was certified by a US Navy diver. He taught us that shorter hoses are safer. One, if you you are diving in lo viz you couldn’t see a long hose or your buddy. We learned to share air from the primary. A panicking diver is more dangerous with a long hose. What works for you doesn’t work for everyone. I do a lot of solo diving and would rather have short hoses. It is more important to be familiar with your equipment than long hoses etc.

instead of long hose, i use 90cm hose for primary, which goes underarm and 55cm short hose necklace ( thinking in going shorter) , spg with blotsnap hook to d-ring, wing style bcd, everything is streamline as possible,
had seen lots and lots of diver, especially those with rental gear, had their octo come off from attachment, spg hanging and swing freely underwater,
also it look ridiculous to have big loop of hose going sideway out, for traditional rubber hose as it can't bend well those hose length is needed, but with today miflex hose which is so flexible do you really need 70cm+ hose for primary ?

there is nothing stopping people wearing a secondary octo on a necklace , it doesn't need to be dragging along , or neglected , it is close should you need it by yourself , its visible for your buddy to take, ...

I see pros and cons for both systems ... long hose donate is deff beneficial in close or confined spaces, which I believe was its roots of intended use .. every other argument about for and agains seems a little weak ...

Do you dive with a pony bottle on a single tank?

I've been an instructor for a year. I've been a diver for 5 years. I've never entagled a hose. Maybe I should do more cave diving.

How people and divebases in general can still not understand that this the most sensical and safe way to dive
and really makes jacket- and sport-diving equipment obsolete, makes me speechless.

And I'm writing this fully aware, that I don't have a single divebase or buddy near me who can rent DIR-gear.

Great video!. There are two more items you could have mentioned. First, and I explain this to my rec students after they've mastered traditional air sharing, is that a truly panicked out of air diver will probably NOT ask you for air. In all likelihood this person is going to come from out of nowhere and take what they know is air...your primary. I teach tell them not to fight for it, but to use their own octo. And secondly, a traditional octo or safe second stage is typically does not have the same ease of breathing that the primary does. This also can exacerbate an already bad situation.Where as on a long hose configuration both regs are designed to be used primaries. .
Thanks and keep the vids coming

The longhose and wing setup is the most logical, safest set up in diving. Why do people disagree with it? They don’t understand it and are unfamiliar with it.

Fantastic. Strongest support for a DIR/GUE setup is the scenario of a panicked, desperate out-of-air diver ripping your primary reg from your mouth - and you having your octo/backup reg sitting below your chin ready to use. Hence the long hose on your primary reg - human behavior says that’s the reg your going to have take (or hopefully pass to the panicked diver)

This is advanced diving that would turn away many people to the sport because it requires more training. I was trained by an ex navy diver in 1990 who advocated short hoses because if you lost the second stage it’s easy to find. If someone panics and grabs your second stage out of your mouth the long hose could creat a problem if that diver tried swimming away with your reg. Your diving with advanced divers who are trained better than the divers I see. I dive alone on the Rhode Island shore for that reason. Bottom line is that The training is just as important than the equipment.

Regarding the back plate, my Zeagle stiletto fits me like a glove and I could add a crotch strap but don’t need one.

I haven't been diving very long in comparison but to me this is just a bash on inexperienced divers and contains little to know information on the title. I have never heard of an agency telling divers to just press and listen for air coming from their octo. That to me is very misleading and a ridiculous statement. Assuming you have to be a technical diver to have the want to check your octo is clearly misleading. Each setup very much has their place and to me that should have been what was focused on. Your equipment is just as susceptible to the elements as anyone else and I ask. When you see these divers with all the dangling equipment what have you done to educate them?

1. It's a different technique, not a religion. 2. You can get in trouble with either system if you aren't trained or you don't function check your gear on every dive. 3. High drama is the enemy of safety.

Would there be any disadvantage in having the long hose stuffed in a bungee cord on your right side of the wing rather than swung around? That way it won't slide down your shoulder or get in the way of the inflator hose or anything?

Do you clip down or tuck in your long hose on your hip/harness when it goes down from the first stage?

I appreciate the advantages of a long hose set up but I wouldn't make the switch unilaterally. I have a regular dive partner and unless both people are comfortable with and understand the procedures - don't change your set up.

Great explanation of the differences with both bc's and hose set ups I went this way nearly 20 yrs ago when i got into tech/cave diving i never went back to a conventional setup it just didn't work for me and my wife followed suit as it made her feel as though everything was easier to access.

Can you comment on the use of an angled joint for a long hose second stage setup? I am guessing it might interfere with handing off the second stage to an OOA diver.

Alec Pierce Scuba
Tech tips: long hose, is it for you?

What he was saying is, that if you are a “normal” less experienced diver, it is best to keep things simple, and use the standard that most Dive centres use all over the world.
I fully understand what you are saying, and agree on many of the things you say, but to some degree, he has a point and I have great respect for Alec Pierce and his huge amount of knowledge and experience.
Back in the days, when most of us still was an itch in our fathers balls, he already had a lifetime of experience in the Diving industry.

Huh, learned something about the existence of wing systems. After about 20 rec dives, and always messing about with BCD jackets moving underwater, that seems like a much improved solution. Not to mention much, much simpler and cleaner in its organisation, making for easier troubleshooting. The tips on the longhose configuration is also very welcome. Thanks!

Achim, here is the direct question no one asked: Should rec divers use the long hose?

How do I get in touch with ISE? I have been on your web site and their is no msg link. I am looking for a ISE trainer. I am very interested in technical diving and want to be trained by the right people.

I've been teaching diving for over 20 years and as a cave diver I use a long hose on all my courses. I teach my students the Padi way however explain why the long hose set up is better. My main worry is when they're diving in the real world. Rec and tec have become closer and the opportunity of them diving together is becoming more common. This should be delt with on the dive briefing, however they are normally poor at best. In an emergency where's the octopus?

Arrogant tech divers!

Wie das wohl war als Auftriebswesten, Manometer und zweite Regler eingeführt wurden?
Da wird es wohl auch Leute gegeben haben, die lieber über den Grund krabbelten und den Flaschendruck erspürten.

Is there a standard length for the long hose when used with the primary, or is this personal preference? What is the recommended or most common length of the long hose? Thanks for any replies.

Good video. I use an air2 (combined BCD inflator & Occy) on the rare occasions I dive my jacket style set up, which means the primary reg needs to be donated if situation arises.

Ever since I started cave and sidemount diving, and learnt benefits of 2m (7ft) primary set up Ive switched my recreational set up to a long primary. provided excess hose is stowed in a today manner it’s a great functional set up.

Achim, hope I haven't mis-spelled your name. I have a question. What are your thoughts on using longhose setups on your safe second as opposed to the standard long hose rig?

Fantastic video - Thanks a lot for the information.