Hose routing the DIR way

[MATTBIN]

I have recently purchased a 5' primary hose. I also have a pony, so I intend to necklace the secondary from my main via a rubber strap thing/bungee and route the inverted pony's hose under my right side clipped to my pocket area as its for my use normally, but could be deployed if it really goes belly up.

Whats the DIR view on this?

Matt

[And]

<font color='#0000FF'>Hi

Matt, would you have a picture? My first reaction is that, as your pony is mounted on your right, and also clipped on the right, it will interfere with you deploying the long hose. I know the five foot hose goes right under your arm (I use one when on holiday) but when horizontal, underwater, it may not work quite right.

Is this using a BC or BP/Wing ?

Andy

[Dominic]

TBH, the DIR view is - use a single or a twinset, there's no room for a pony.

If you want one anyway (and why not?) then the DIR way would probably be to side-mount it rather than back-mount, so that would place it on your left.

Since you mention a pocket, I assume you're on a jacket, so you might not hve the D-rings to do side-slinging. Hmm.. could you move the pony to the left? That's where I put mine when I used a pony &amp; stab jacket..

[MATTBIN]

Andy this is where we diverge slightly over DIR, I have the long hose over my right shoulder, conventional style, as it is stowed down the main cylinder using bungee cord. I appreciate that it cannot be re-stowed easily and will be wrapped around my neck after/if it is returned to me by my buddy, however I am assuming that if it is deployed the dive is over and we will be surfacing, therefore stowing will only become an issue once we are out of the water. I am using a BCD rather than wing, you are correct the pony is on the right.

Matt

[malcolm smith]

I love ponies when on a single cylinder. Side mount pony on left, loop reg over back of neck and necklace under chin.
Have main reg on long hose as normal. OOA, main reg from mouth donated, 2ndary reg for me under my chin as with twins.
Perhaps not ideal having 2 hoses round back of neck, but it still works in OOA.
Ideal would be twin 7s, but I only have 12s.
Harness etc, the same for twins as for singles.
Cheers, Malcolm.

[MATTBIN]

Dom
I tried it on the left back mounted inverted, didnt like it at all as the valve is difficult to open/shut in the event of a free-flow, also it gets in the way of other kit i.e. console, torch etc. So I need it on the right, tried side-mount hated that too.
Malcolm where do you mount the second dv from the main cylinder? I assume you have the pony wrong way up i.e. valve at the top?

Matt

[And]

<font color='#0000FF'>Hi Matt

Given what you've said so far then there is no DIR solution. Donating air via the Hog loop is central to the whole kit config.

The Hog loop is used for a number of reasons;

1. Speed. You can immediately donate air and the hose unwraps easily from your body. Bungeeing the hose means more resistance and therefore more hassle. You just cannot guarantee that it will deploy the way you intended. What seems great at the surface might not work underwater.

2. A bungeed hose can kink as it is likely to be stowed like that for dive after dive after dive.

3. Part of DIR is a modified SDrill. Last thing before the dive we check that the hose is free and can be donated. Not practical with a bungee as you may need help restowing. Just the hassle of this means that it will end up not being checked.

4. A hog loop is more streamlined and creates less drag. Not significant I know but still...

Have you tried both ways Matt, and tried the Hog Loop donating and receiving ? I know it might be a pain because of the BC but with a five foot hose it should simply go straight under your arm. You should try it. You will see it is a lot easier. Move your HP gauge and Drysuit inflate to the left.

If you are adamant that its not for you then the best place to look for a different solution is Kevin Gurr. He had an article in 990 about his kit and he uses a bungeed hose.

I've left the pony situation because yes the standard answer is you don't need a pony or you need twins. That was never going to give you the answer you wanted. I also suspected a BC so sidesling might be difficult depending on the BC.

Hope that helps

Andy

[Dominic]

I know! Get a Buudy jacket, hook the pony up to the jacket via the suicide bottle fitting, and use the autoair as the pony reg.

Not quite DIR, perhaps... but I think WL is right in saying there is no DIR solution if you're using a bungeed long hose.

Have you considered not having the second DV on your primary, and just having the long-hosed primary and the pony DV? There's no actual need for an octopus with a pony - if the air in it isn't enough to get you to the surface if your buddy goes OOA, then why are you using it to start with?

[Lanny]

I agree that there is no DIR solution to your dilemma Matt - you really need to be diving a backplate and harness with your long hose. &nbsp;Also, although a 5ft hose is acceptable for single tank dives, I find the 7ft hose preferable and tuck it under my waist band for my single tank diving.

Incidentally, have you tried a dive with a pioneer single tank wing? &nbsp;You don't know what you are missing. &nbsp;If you fancy a go and you happen to be on the South Coast sometime, you can have a go with mine for the princely sum of a couple of pints of non-DIR Guiness. &nbsp;I dive twins in the UK so my single tank aly backplate and pioneer tend to gather dust between foreign trips.

Best,

[MATTBIN]

Andy
The dry-suit and hp are on the left, part of the reason for not wanting the pony on the left.

Dom, I understand the argument regarding no second dv on the primary but feel happier with one as if the primary dv on the main goes belly up you could still continue the dive and IF the pony didnt work you'd still be able to get to the surface (gas permitting) without buddy breathing off the primary dv. I know belt and braces but thats me!

Guys
OK so there is no DIR solution, never mind, perhaps some other time.

Matt