The long hose has a second advantage. If you're ever getting into wreck or cave diving, the long hose is long enough for your buddy to breathe off your second stage and follow behind you. This is especially important if he needs to follow you through passages the aren't big enough to go through side by side.
#askMark Does a primary donate need to not be the yellow regulator colour? Can you change the colour of the purge button/exhausts on XL4+. I can find anywhere that sells them
Good question, the colour of the 2nd stage doesn't matter. Most divers will use a standard black 2nd stage but, mainly for cosmetic reasons. Yellow 2nd stages are essentially the same but, they're often set up to be harder to open the valve and need a technician to adjust them. Can you buy replacement purge covers? Yes but, they're often deemed an internal part that must be fitted by a technician. If you ask your local Apeks Service Center they should be able to get one in for you but, they will probably insist on fitting it for you.
ASKMARK# I appreciate that some, but not all, divers need and/or use necklaces. What can you suggest as an alternative ‘quick release’ system to carry the ‘occy’ or secondary stage securely prior to a dive buddy or another group diver requiring air? Would a ‘Nite Ize’ S-Biner - Stainless steel Microlock suffice or simply use either a marine grade bunji strap with a fixed/non sliding clasp (as used on tonneau covers) fitted around the air hose on one end, and the other to a S/S clip on a BCD, or a large double-ended snap clip with one end able to contain, but not compress, the air hose and the other end connected to a ‘D Ring’ on a BCD or webbing strap? Your thoughts? Regards, GeeMac
You can use a boltsnap, O-ring and zip-tie to make a quick release system. It can be a little fiddly to explain but, pop the O-ring through the eye of the boltsnap. Thread the zip tie through the two sides of the O-ring and then zip tie around the hose somewhere secure. That way you can snap the 2nd stage to a D-ring but, if somebody yanks it the O-ring will break free. Or if you have time just un-clip the boltsnap.
@@geemac44 what's wrong with the classic fold the hose and stuff it in the octo-pouch of the BCD? No clips, streamlined, quick release, pretty-much standard.
Not sure how to ask. If primary is on a necklace and has an unstoppable free flow like freeze from ice diving. Which totally happens. Bubbles in your face would be an issue.
Sure, but you can always remove the freeflowing 2nd stage over your head or close the valve. A freeflowing 2nd stage is going to be an issue wherever it is but, you can take it off quite easily if you need to.
I didn't post this one on an AskMark video so I don't know if it might have been missed, or maybe it was just too long, or maybe it's just a stupid question (in which case just feel free to ignore this as a duplicate and I'll happily continue on knowing I'm still an idiot, as usual :D)... #ASKMARK Thanks, as always, for the great videos. One of the best resources out there I've found so please keep up the great work! My question has to do with breathing (something it seems to me is another bit trait of pro divers, particularly as it relates to buoyancy). Most of the agencies talk about breathing "normally" or taking deep, steady, breaths and/or exhaling fully, but it seems to me this very much skips over why we need breath control and, in particular, using breathing for buoyancy control. I've watched many dive videos and if you count how long a particular, professional, calm, neutrally buoyant and in trim diver breathes in versus breathing out even those can be vastly different (and not at all which I would think of as a normal, calm, breathing cycle). For example sitting here calmly now I may breath in for, say 4 seconds to maybe 40 or 50 percent of my lung capacity and exhale for another 4 seconds with a pause for another second before inhaling again. While not always consistent I often see where it would appear a diver might be somewhat consistently breathing in for 5 seconds and then breath out for all of maybe 2 seconds while staying perfectly still in their buoyancy and trim. Is there something I'm missing as to why that might be the case instead of a steady rhythm? I would further note that normal breathing doesn't use our full lung capacity. At the bottom of my breathing cycle I can force exhale more air from my lungs (and sometimes do when getting under from the surface or to lower my current depth a bit) and breath a bit more shallow to change depths. Conversely at the upper end I could sip in more air than a full breath would consist of, although I don't see too many reasons for doing that and it has the potential for being a bit dangerous as you are likely ascending in that case and wouldn't want air expanding in the lungs like that. When trying to get neutral since my normal breathing cycle is at the lower end of lung capacity should I be aiming to be neutral while breathing in that range of my lungs, or should I aim for breathing more in the middle of my capacity instead to give extra "room" to exhale more to go deeper if needed? I rarely see any discussion, at least not on most videos on buoyancy or any of the training I've seen or even in the Perfect Buoyancy class I've had with SSI that really talks about the in-depth details of lung capacity and vast range we have in how we breath and how to optimize that for diving, only what I had noted above and that we can use our lungs as our primary BCD for maintaining buoyancy. Well if it's a primary tool why don't we see more details about how to really use that tool?
@@ScubaDiverMagazine Yes, I've been tracking your content (great stuff!) so I was aware. I just wasn't sure if you looked at all videos for that hashtag or just the AskMark ones is all. No worries and my apologies, then, for the duplicate. (I was also hoping there might be some experienced divers in the community that might respond as well, but none did, hence my thinking maybe it was just a dumb question on my part :D)
@@zarlorz There's always a delay in the change of depth with a change in buoyancy. That's why you need to add or release gas from your BCD in small increments. The same is true for breathing. In order to change your buoyancy through breaths you should exhale more and hold it in order to descend. You should inhale more and exhale slower to ascend. You can use your breathing to move over small obstacles, but if you're using your breathing to ascend or descend, don't forget to dump or add gas to your BCD to control that ascent or descent, and always blow bubbles when you're ascending.
Anything that can be a snag hazard should be able to be cut away. If you're using a necklace, you should use a bungee or a silicone prefabricated one that you can cut with a line cutter. There are necklace kits that you can buy, or you can just make your own. I had a silicone necklace, but after a few dives I bought the Apeks necklace kit (for my Apeks regulator). I also bought a ScubaPro reusable zip tie, but couldn't get it to work on the Apeks, so ended up using a regular zip tie. That could also mean that the Apeks necklace kit may not work on other brands of regulator. The Apeks necklace kit gives you two options for tying the bungee. I opted for the adjustable variant in the back of the neck. That way I can make it longer or shorter depending on the gear I'm wearing.
#ASKMARK...This has nothing to do with regulator necklaces. A question has been bouncing around my head for a while. Why don't dive computer manufacturers add a demo or simulation software to dive computers? I would think, after adjusting all of your settings and screen preferences; layout, color, data, etc. that being able to view them in dive mode would be helpful. In my case, my 13 year old is getting his OW currently and I would love to be able to show him a simulated dive screen to explain all of the data and allow him to familiarize himself with it. I think this is a great opportunity to add more safety for new divers. It can't be too difficult to add this option into the software? Have you ever heard of an argument against this or why it's not commonplace? Thanks Mark.
I would love it if dive computers had a demo mode. So many divers would ask questions about symbols on dive screens and you can only explain through the small pictures in the manual. I think it's mainly down to extra programming costs. There was software called DivePAL a few years back that would simulated some dive computers but, I don't think I've seen a modern version.
There are some downsides to a primary donate, but the advantages far outweigh it. The major downside is that a primary donate isn't color coded in yellow, so it may not be easy to identify in an OOG situation. Another is that students may forget to clip it off when getting out of their BCD, and it's dropped on the boat deck or in the sand.
@@bloodymarvelous4790 I’d suggest the major problem is that both divers don’t have a regulator and can’t breath at the same time. For inexperienced divers that could be a massive issue.
The long hose has a second advantage.
If you're ever getting into wreck or cave diving, the long hose is long enough for your buddy to breathe off your second stage and follow behind you. This is especially important if he needs to follow you through passages the aren't big enough to go through side by side.
There’re silicon “quick release” necklaces available (Cressi) that you can use for your octo 👌🏻
#askMark
Does a primary donate need to not be the yellow regulator colour? Can you change the colour of the purge button/exhausts on XL4+. I can find anywhere that sells them
Good question, the colour of the 2nd stage doesn't matter. Most divers will use a standard black 2nd stage but, mainly for cosmetic reasons.
Yellow 2nd stages are essentially the same but, they're often set up to be harder to open the valve and need a technician to adjust them.
Can you buy replacement purge covers? Yes but, they're often deemed an internal part that must be fitted by a technician. If you ask your local Apeks Service Center they should be able to get one in for you but, they will probably insist on fitting it for you.
How long is the hose for the necklace regulator?
ASKMARK# I appreciate that some, but not all, divers need and/or use necklaces. What can you suggest as an alternative ‘quick release’ system to carry the ‘occy’ or secondary stage securely prior to a dive buddy or another group diver requiring air? Would a ‘Nite Ize’ S-Biner - Stainless steel Microlock suffice or simply use either a marine grade bunji strap with a fixed/non sliding clasp (as used on tonneau covers) fitted around the air hose on one end, and the other to a S/S clip on a BCD, or a large double-ended snap clip with one end able to contain, but not compress, the air hose and the other end connected to a ‘D Ring’ on a BCD or webbing strap? Your thoughts? Regards, GeeMac
You can use a boltsnap, O-ring and zip-tie to make a quick release system. It can be a little fiddly to explain but, pop the O-ring through the eye of the boltsnap. Thread the zip tie through the two sides of the O-ring and then zip tie around the hose somewhere secure.
That way you can snap the 2nd stage to a D-ring but, if somebody yanks it the O-ring will break free. Or if you have time just un-clip the boltsnap.
@@geemac44 what's wrong with the classic fold the hose and stuff it in the octo-pouch of the BCD? No clips, streamlined, quick release, pretty-much standard.
Not sure how to ask. If primary is on a necklace and has an unstoppable free flow like freeze from ice diving. Which totally happens. Bubbles in your face would be an issue.
Sure, but you can always remove the freeflowing 2nd stage over your head or close the valve. A freeflowing 2nd stage is going to be an issue wherever it is but, you can take it off quite easily if you need to.
I didn't post this one on an AskMark video so I don't know if it might have been missed, or maybe it was just too long, or maybe it's just a stupid question (in which case just feel free to ignore this as a duplicate and I'll happily continue on knowing I'm still an idiot, as usual :D)...
#ASKMARK Thanks, as always, for the great videos. One of the best resources out there I've found so please keep up the great work! My question has to do with breathing (something it seems to me is another bit trait of pro divers, particularly as it relates to buoyancy). Most of the agencies talk about breathing "normally" or taking deep, steady, breaths and/or exhaling fully, but it seems to me this very much skips over why we need breath control and, in particular, using breathing for buoyancy control. I've watched many dive videos and if you count how long a particular, professional, calm, neutrally buoyant and in trim diver breathes in versus breathing out even those can be vastly different (and not at all which I would think of as a normal, calm, breathing cycle). For example sitting here calmly now I may breath in for, say 4 seconds to maybe 40 or 50 percent of my lung capacity and exhale for another 4 seconds with a pause for another second before inhaling again. While not always consistent I often see where it would appear a diver might be somewhat consistently breathing in for 5 seconds and then breath out for all of maybe 2 seconds while staying perfectly still in their buoyancy and trim. Is there something I'm missing as to why that might be the case instead of a steady rhythm?
I would further note that normal breathing doesn't use our full lung capacity. At the bottom of my breathing cycle I can force exhale more air from my lungs (and sometimes do when getting under from the surface or to lower my current depth a bit) and breath a bit more shallow to change depths. Conversely at the upper end I could sip in more air than a full breath would consist of, although I don't see too many reasons for doing that and it has the potential for being a bit dangerous as you are likely ascending in that case and wouldn't want air expanding in the lungs like that. When trying to get neutral since my normal breathing cycle is at the lower end of lung capacity should I be aiming to be neutral while breathing in that range of my lungs, or should I aim for breathing more in the middle of my capacity instead to give extra "room" to exhale more to go deeper if needed? I rarely see any discussion, at least not on most videos on buoyancy or any of the training I've seen or even in the Perfect Buoyancy class I've had with SSI that really talks about the in-depth details of lung capacity and vast range we have in how we breath and how to optimize that for diving, only what I had noted above and that we can use our lungs as our primary BCD for maintaining buoyancy. Well if it's a primary tool why don't we see more details about how to really use that tool?
I've been away on a HSE course for a couple of weeks and I'm still catching up on #askmark questions. Bear with me...
@@ScubaDiverMagazine Yes, I've been tracking your content (great stuff!) so I was aware. I just wasn't sure if you looked at all videos for that hashtag or just the AskMark ones is all. No worries and my apologies, then, for the duplicate. (I was also hoping there might be some experienced divers in the community that might respond as well, but none did, hence my thinking maybe it was just a dumb question on my part :D)
@@zarlorz There's always a delay in the change of depth with a change in buoyancy. That's why you need to add or release gas from your BCD in small increments.
The same is true for breathing. In order to change your buoyancy through breaths you should exhale more and hold it in order to descend. You should inhale more and exhale slower to ascend. You can use your breathing to move over small obstacles, but if you're using your breathing to ascend or descend, don't forget to dump or add gas to your BCD to control that ascent or descent, and always blow bubbles when you're ascending.
Dangerous snag risk around neck? Is there a proper way to tie?
Anything that can be a snag hazard should be able to be cut away.
If you're using a necklace, you should use a bungee or a silicone prefabricated one that you can cut with a line cutter.
There are necklace kits that you can buy, or you can just make your own. I had a silicone necklace, but after a few dives I bought the Apeks necklace kit (for my Apeks regulator). I also bought a ScubaPro reusable zip tie, but couldn't get it to work on the Apeks, so ended up using a regular zip tie. That could also mean that the Apeks necklace kit may not work on other brands of regulator.
The Apeks necklace kit gives you two options for tying the bungee. I opted for the adjustable variant in the back of the neck. That way I can make it longer or shorter depending on the gear I'm wearing.
Cressi and others make a breakaway necklace. Just yank to get free.
#ASKMARK...This has nothing to do with regulator necklaces. A question has been bouncing around my head for a while. Why don't dive computer manufacturers add a demo or simulation software to dive computers? I would think, after adjusting all of your settings and screen preferences; layout, color, data, etc. that being able to view them in dive mode would be helpful. In my case, my 13 year old is getting his OW currently and I would love to be able to show him a simulated dive screen to explain all of the data and allow him to familiarize himself with it. I think this is a great opportunity to add more safety for new divers. It can't be too difficult to add this option into the software? Have you ever heard of an argument against this or why it's not commonplace? Thanks Mark.
I would love it if dive computers had a demo mode. So many divers would ask questions about symbols on dive screens and you can only explain through the small pictures in the manual.
I think it's mainly down to extra programming costs. There was software called DivePAL a few years back that would simulated some dive computers but, I don't think I've seen a modern version.
And the reason that long hose/primary donate is frowned on by some agencies... the poor explanations.
There are some downsides to a primary donate, but the advantages far outweigh it. The major downside is that a primary donate isn't color coded in yellow, so it may not be easy to identify in an OOG situation. Another is that students may forget to clip it off when getting out of their BCD, and it's dropped on the boat deck or in the sand.
@@bloodymarvelous4790 I’d suggest the major problem is that both divers don’t have a regulator and can’t breath at the same time. For inexperienced divers that could be a massive issue.
Really? Is that even a question? Necklace is the answer.