Quote Originally Posted by Papa Bear View Post
I have three different certs for cave diving and it still boils down to know your equipment and your buddies! The equipment list of DIR conflicts #2 with # 4 and # 5. I disagree with having your long hose on your primary reg "Because you know it works" that is my air and I get the one that works! My buddy will get the spare or back up reg! We are forgetting who's air it is! It is mine and one dead cave diver is better than two. I never take my reg out of my mouth in an emergency! This is fatally flawed thinking and goes against everything basic I have learned and investigated after the fact. Your trouble "Here take this and follow me" "You set the pace" from behind me, but it is my air to manage and it is my responsibility to see that "I" get back. If you can be in control of yourself and play nice we will probably both get out! If you dive with me you know all of this and there is no surprise! You can learn more about me at twotankedproductions.com
The purpose of using the long hose as your primary is that in a true emergency the OOA diver is likely to panic and grab the reg from your mouth (as opposed to asking nicely for your octo as was practiced in OW class.) Once panic has set in you want to limit additional stressors such as swapping regs again. You should be checking your backup to ensure that it is functioning, and the smart diver will use a reg equal in quality to their primary for the backup. Carrying a cheap octo as your backup is like skydiving using a bedsheet for your reserve canopy; it just does not make sense to try to save a few dollars on life support equipment.