Evolution Of The Safe Second - Scuba Tech Tips: S19E01
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- Back in the "stone age", before Safe Seconds became standard equipment, risky "buddy breathing" was the only help for "out of air" divers. Alec covers the evolution of Safe Seconds, from the first octopus to todays specialized regulators.
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1974 Working as a dive master at Anythony's Key Resort, Roatan, Honnduras. During a YMCA instructor institute Tom Mount (Miami Dive Officer) introduced the octopus regulator concept. We immediately adopted it. He also introduced being a gentleman. Remain at 10 -15 feet to allow the guests to exit the water. Huh. We called it a "can't hurt to decompress a little". PADI calls it a safety stop.
That was a looog time ago. Funny how we have to label/name every step of diving today but back then it was just “waiting for divers to exit”. Thanks for sharing.
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Hi Alec. Some of my early regulators only had one port for the second stage, Later I found one of these with a 1 to 2 port adaptor or splitter, not sure if that was for the safe second or a bcd inflator. Now they have a few extras. The simplest safe second was that "AIR BUDDY" you showed us in another video, always enjoy the history of an idea. Its a good thing that Kevin is such a good sport.
take care Owen m
The "Air Buddy" was a very simple idea but quite effective. Since Kevin is the editor, if he left it in, he's OK with it. Thanks Owen.
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Love the history, Alec. Thanks!
There's a lot more history of this to come!
Thanks for your all advices
My pleasure!
Then came the totally redundant system to save yourself if needed. The pony bottle.
A good option for those who need it and regularly practice using it.
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That picture on page 124, the buddy breathing technique is what I learned as well. Fun times.
It’s interesting how skills have changed but we still look back with fun memories.
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I am surprised you haven't talked about the Hogarth Long Hose setup, as there is a history of divers panicing and stealing the primary of the dive buddy. I have been diving this way for a couple of years and it seems to work great and people know what the setup is. No one can steal my other regulator as it is bungeed around my neck.
He did, it got deleted because it had... issues.
I think primary donate should be taught in the Open Water course. Doesn't need to be a 7 foot long hose. That could be added in more advanced courses.
@@jeffconley6366every decent organisation teaches you primary donate. So why add long hose afterwards if you can do it right from the first time?
I did a long hose a ways back but mixed up the reg to donate and got told off properly. There are real experts on long hose with lots of videos to learn from.
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👍😎🤿🇵🇭! Thanks Alec I always enjoy learning about the history of scuba!
Glad you enjoyed it
In fact, the octopus is a dedicated second stage .
we can say that its operation and its function remained the same, only its configuration have been adapted for its specific job.
As you say, the best way is to maintain its design as simple as possible as it will much less used ( I hope so ) than the main second stage.
As I always dived on a budget, I always used a standard second stage as my octopus.
An inetresting point you mentionned is that the octopus hose is about 6" longer than the one used on the main second stage, it is an imprevement that I'll do to my main regulator for the next diving season
very good topic
excellent video
Thanks Jacques.
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I have been using a side exhaust as my safe second.
That's fine, but make sure it is still a true second stage.
Tank You för bringing upp such important issue!
I think one part of Your "cenario" is missed. In a situation where my buddy is i n dire need of air, he or she will grab my second witch I use. It's visibly giving me air.
So my safe second has about 7-8" of hose and hangs at my chest. In case of emergency I give my second stage away and grab the octopussy.
It don't matter witch system is used as long as all divers is informed about how everybodys dive rig is set up.
Good points especially practice and knowing your gear.
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When I did my OW Dives, We used Shop Equipment. My Buddy had this Mini Octopus. He hands it to me. I had to flip it over to see which side was up. Which it didn't have. At least my Genesis Prana is the more Traditional Style. My Aqua Lung Omni has a Slot to push the hose (Octo) through. Holding the Reg close to my body.
Thanks for sharing.
How about a comment regarding the regulator built into the BC inflator with NO safe second? You give the buddy your regulator and take over the BC second stage.
Look for my video on that exact subject. Search my Tech Tips playlist for ‘safe second’, you will find it.
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It only works if the failure is in the secondary. Recently I was diving rented gear in Cozumel with my daughter. Her primary failed at 100 feet. She tried the “safe secondary” and got nothing. She was about 30 feet from me and immediately swam to me. I wasted no time and put my main in her mouth to let her breathe, and grabbed my octopus so I could breathe. We made a nice, slow ascent together. Training to remain calm in emergencies is everything folks!!
Training and practice is a great benefit. Glad you both showed calm thinking and were safe.
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This only works in open water, recreational driving.
I tend to disagree, rare because you have so much common sense, but I'd argue it a different way. I know there's a thing to have the lightest possible alternate air source and people buy the simplest possible second stage, or even the execrable regulator integrated with BC inflator, just to save weight in the carry-on bag or on the grounds that it never gets used. But if someone is going to grab my regulator it is going to be an emergency and everyone is going to be stressed. I want that reg to breathe just as well and reliably as my main one. That means it will be to the same high spec and if the venturi and cracking pressure are already set the receiving diver doesn't have to touch them; he can still just grab it and breathe.
Certified in 1975. Spent lots of time practicing buddy breathing. It’s great we have safe seconds now but I still think buddy breathing should be taught. So should ditch and don. Not skills you would expect to use but helps a diver get familiar with their gear.
Same, but in 84. Lots of buddy breating practice. The newer idea of not teaching BB makes sense actually. The practice of doing BB is inherently unsafe, as in a out of gas situation the oog diver is often panicking and it can easily turn into a fight for your life to get your reg back. Teaching everyone to use AS is alot safer as the oog diver isnt naturally going to go for your primary, they will instinctively go for the AS as it's what they have done hundreds of times in training
Training to buddy breathe won’t cause more panic in an out of air situation. Both should be taught
I believe buddy breathing is long past its usefulness given todays training, gear and divers with longer gaps between dives. In the Rescue course we teach not to become a second victim so with safe seconds, both have air which reduces situation stress so a safe ascent can be done.
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All said, I would rather dive with a partner when we both have a safe second and has also practiced the skill of buddy breathing rather than both having a safe second and never even tried buddy breathing.
…mmm 🤔…. And just who decided that it now needs to be called the “SAFE SECOND “ … but but but WHY would you ever need one because everyone has a handy Dive Computer that tells them how much air they have ! 😅😅🤣🤣🤣🤣
I believe the Certification agency NASDS (merged with SSI) was the first to use the term Safe Second. And incorporate the use of in their classes.
@@jeffconley6366 and they decided that a BC is now a BCD = how cute
There are several reasons for having to share air, including equipment failure or delayed ascent due to dealing with a problem such as an entanglement. And human beings do make human errors. Especially at the lower-experience end of the recreational diving community people will occasionally fail to monitor their gas consumption and NDL. It happens! The ability to share gas allows them to fail safely and learn rather than becoming an I-told-you-so statistic.
A safe second is better to have than a computer telling you you're out of air. A
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter so that you can also suck on a "SAFE SECOND" to confirm that YES = you are out of air and your well trained dive buddy is moving away to take a few dozen more photos of a fish that is quickly swimming away from him