I use the atomic SS1 titanium as my octo inflator and I've never once wanted to go back. I think from a safety standpoint, having it so close where you know where it is at all times is beneficial. I see many people have their secondary octos dangling from their 1st stage and it ends of dragging on the bottom or the reef, hate seeing that.

there is no negative to getting an octo inflator, it will only make your gear more streamlined and efficient.

I had the Aqualung airsource (for 80 dives) and loved it until I tried using it. You don't want your backup gear to force you to change how you manage your ascent, buoyancy and breathing. Things can get chaotic so you want it to work like normal.

Its also a bad setup. it was difficult to dump air, it didn't breath well, the short hose wasn't flexible so I wasn't free to move my head like normal and It felt like the reg was being pulled out of my mouth. Even when looking forward i could feel it pulling.

It might work if you practice with it and if conditions are ideal but here's what I found.

I'm down at 100' and have to switch to my AirSource. My breathing rate increases because I'm scared but the backup reg doesn't breath as well as my primary, then I suck a little water in and cough a couple of times.

I'm wearing a 7mm wetsuit and ill be doing a free ascent. I can't see the surface or an anchor line so I have to keep an eye on my computer and slowly dump air while ascending. I can't turn my head to look at my computer while managing my ascent because the airsource is pulling my head to the left. I'm also having trouble dumping air because I dont normally dump air by pulling on the hose but now I have to. Suddenly the regulator gets ripped out of my mouth and I grab it and put it back in. I'll need to bite down harder to keep it in my mouth. Then I take a deep breath and suck some water it so I start coughing.......

I sold my airsource and got an octo that matched my primary. Now whenever I have to use it its exactly the same setup I dive every day so I can ascend normally without any modified techniques.

My concern is if a panicked buddy who remembers your gear setup from your buddy check knows that is a viable air source and grabs it, he gains control over your ascent rate. Not a risk I’m willing to accept to save myself the trouble of securing my hoses.

You needn’t be concerned about it changing how you manage your ascent during an emergency. If you have this configuration, simply make it your standard practice to bleed air from your shoulder dumps during all ascents. That way, not much changes when you use your octo during your ascent.

On my rec setup I run an Air 2 and love it. Keeps gear to a min and very streamlined.

Not a fan of integrated. I only used one during training and my first half dozen ocean dives though, after that I had my own gear.

I really prefer having a decent regulator as my octo for a few reasons.

First, it's tucked away in my bcd vest and therefore very unlikely to be grabbed by a panicked diver - and if they grab the one out of my mouth and are otherwise mauling me, it will be easy to just reach down and grab the octo for myself. If they've latched onto me around the shoulders it might not be so easy to get an Air2 into my mouth, for example.

Second, I want something that breathes easy. If you're having to use your octo it means something has probably gone wrong. Anything you can do to remove additional stressors at that point is helpful in handling the problem. Suddenly having to breathe off something that's not optimal can add to your stress.

Third, it's not tied into anything else. Specifically, if the octo is in use it's not affecting my use of my inflator in any way.

If you get an octo, get a good one. It doesn't have to be as good as your primary reg (mine isn't) but it shouldn't be something you wouldn't want to use on a decent rental setup either.

If you get one, actually use it occasionally! I usually spend a good part of one dive per trip breathing off my octo just for practice and to keep it in use.

but one of the shop employees recommended the Egress Octo since it's cheaper and much more compact.

I would immediate discount everything this person says. If you were looking at an XTX50 and the suggested an Egress ... they are trying to sell you shit.

​

If outside of training you need to breathe off an octo, you are already having a bad day ... why compound things by offering that person the absolute shittiest octo possible.

Also, if you ever decide to dive a twinset or sidemount ... you have matching seconds already and only need an additional first stage.

Adding here…don’t think of the octo as a backup or less important. IMO your “octo” or secondary regulator should be just as good as your primary if not the same model. As another commenter said, if you at some point move to long-hose setup you will have two identical second stages.

For what it’s worth, I have scubapro S600/G250 and MK17evos. I was able to buy everything used in great condition and probably paid about $500 total for two first and two second stages.

As many have said - if you need the octo it's already a bad day!

The XTX200 / 50 / 40 are near enough identical internally, so if you or your buddy needs that backup it's definitely as good as the primary. Not to mention you may end up using it if you go techie - I use my XTX 40 (without adjustment knob) as primary as if I donate it I've got my XTX 200 to use.

Also, although a service tech will probably correct me, the XTX service kits are common to all and fairly well stocked, I think Egress and Flight use a different kit, so the XTX may be marginally easier to get serviced or fixed on short notice.

If you're looking into buying your own gear, I'd think about one of the many primary donation styles. When you have your own gear, you can branch out from the dated rental style of regulator setups. Here are three examples and why one would chose them over the traditional setup.

https://www.tdisdi.com/sdi-diver-news/keeping-your-hose-in-line/

Regardless of which one you like, you should buy an equally high quality reg for your backup, or close to it (xtx50 and an xtx40). The idea of buying the cheapest octo because it's not used ever is just stilly to me.

I don't know about the one you're looking at, but when I bought my regulator set I bought the same octo as my primary. The only difference is that the Octo is yellow. What they're offering you should be fine, but for me the difference in price wasn't worth the downgrade.

Surf Fur. I don't get to use it much living in Florida. But when I do it is a God send.

Backplate and wing was the most life changing purchase. Other than that, my favorite piece of kit is my canister light.

A good light. Even on shallow reef dives, you can peal under coral ledges and the likes to see all sorts of things you would otherwise miss. Also, the deeper you go, the more valuable it is to bring back the lost colors.

I echo the neoprene socks. Mine go up to my calf. They give me some leg protection when I’m wearing a shorty, extra warm under of a full suit, and they make my wetsuit glide over my feet and legs. 10/10 would recommend.

I might say my hood, also. Keeps my hair under control, gives me protection against my reg hose that I route behind my neck, and it makes equalizing even easier because the water stays warmer close to my ears.

Spring straps for my fins.

My ridiculous shark SMB. The shark sits high above the water when completely inflated. Have gotten laughs and compliments from other boat captains, because it’s so easy to see.

Oh, and my GoPro set up.

Springstraps, unbeatable cost vs effect ratio

There isn't a best. Some models even come in different configurations. Everyone will have different features they prefer and different needs based on their region or travel.

Do you want something compact and light weight for travel? A Choptima is currently among the top contenders here

Do you want something with a lot of in-house testing? The AP diving cannot be beat but Divesoft is close second.

Is precision redundant solenoid control important to you? Then the poseidon and Divesoft units are your best bet.

Do you want something that the military uses? Better define which military cause some military have multiple models in their fleets.

If durability is important then you need to be specific about what parts have to be durable. Most companies have suffered problems somewhere. The Meg is usually called out for being robust but the 2.01, 2.5, and 2.7 models suffered regular problems with wiring. Problems with Molex connectors plague many units. But they can be inside really durable acetal, aluminum, and stainless housings.

How about something that's user serviceable vs company serviceable. In the US currently I don't believe there is a service center for rEvo but Hollis, xCCR, Divesoft, Fathom, AP diving, and Dive Rite all have great service options. However, the end user could pretty easily service a Fathom, themselves and maybe even others from that list.

Is conformity to a specific training agency important? JJ is the only unit available to GUE divers besides the RB80. PADI has a list of what they allow training on, it's not everything. Most agencies are this way. IANTD has a cert for just about everything, instructor quality may be an issue though.

Is sidemount important? Then the Gemini or Liberty Sidemount will fill that roll, the Gemini improving on the Sidewinder shortcomings.

They all have some unique features, usually based on fears or beliefs of the designer. Hollis with a clear canister so you can be sure a scrubber is installed or the MEG with O2 on the inhale side of the circuit because of hypoxia risks. Some features may be additional problems for certain types of diving.

I think the rebreather which could have been the most successful, with the right company backing, would have been Aurora Blue. If Michael had pushed that out the door it could have displaced unit sales from several backmount models.

There isn't a one size fits all answer to this question. You could make an excel sheet and maybe make a more visual comparison but I doubt things would show a clear winner.

It's maybe interesting to ask which is the worst rebreather currently in production? That should get people fired up.

There’s only one answer guys. CIS-Lunar MkV

I dive a rEvo because it's manual, it's easy to repair and maintain, and there's a lot of other people in the area that dive it.

The only thing I wasn't fond of was the harness, but my teacher replaced it with a hogarthian style harness, and now it's great.

Best for what????? It’s a tool, what job are you trying to do??????

The concept of “best” is quite subjective but I would be choosing between JJ-CCR, XCCR and the Liberty.

I also see lots of people diving Meg and AP units and they like them. The rEvo used to be very popular but don’t see them so much now.

I do occasionally come across an individual diving Hollis Prism but I don’t fancy it myself. I have never seen anyone in my neck of the woods diving KISS or Hammerhead or Optima.

Of course occasionally someone brings out their old Sentinel, Boris, MK15.5 etc.. but really that’s just for japes and to admire the old technology, like tinkering with classic cars.

Love your videos

wow thankyou for this beautiful video

Beautiful

I'm heading there now ☺️ I need more octopusing in my life 💖

Octopuses have been observed before keeping groups of fish around them like a little gang. They catch what the octopus chases out of hiding and guard its back. Sometimes the octopuses even "punch" the fish in their gang to keep them in line it seems. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/watch-octopuses-team-up-with-fish-to-hunt-and-punch-those-that-dont-contribute-180985134/

You are obviously an octopus lover, yes it is worth it, it is a beautiful creature with a life of its own.

What is the rough average temperature of the water you're filming these videos in?

I assume they are waiting for food?

Lionfish?

Is there very much life down there? I see pics of animals at depth but I always get the sense that life is pretty sparse at that depth

Top of the morning to ya. 🎩

Lookin’ naughty

Do you see his pupils? Bro just down there to be high ASF in peace, then someone with a bright flashlight comes around. Not cool.

I’m on the same front as you brother, I hope the threat looming over Super Earth is enough to bring in more divers from other systems, but it may not be enough. The best we can do for now is hold the line and hope that the incoming wave of cadets will be enough to drive the enemy back

I have been saying in every similar thread: "We would have been fine with a few month without Illuminate content". Just give us few month of Bugs and Bots MOs. And no Illuminates, I got tired of them during Super Earth invasion

u can dive on krakatwo we are making progress there and theres no pred strain

I feel like a lot of the squid fatigue stems from the fact that there isn’t much variety in objectives.

At least that’s why I get bored of squid missions much faster than the other factions.

Me with my ballistic shield and stun lance: I have no such weakness!

6 months ago, everybody was tired of bots and bugs.

There are only 3 enemy factions in the game. If you feel yourself getting tired then take a break from the game. It's pretty clear to me that AH are still building up the Illuminate to be a permanent threat and are trying to do so in a way that feels somewhat natural. Maybe you need to come back when they are fully established with new unit types / mission variety similar to Bugs and Bots who had a 9 month head start.