Long Hose vs Standard Octo Configuration

There are two main ways to configure your regulators for air sharing: the standard recreational octopus setup and the long hose configuration. Both are valid, but they reflect very different priorities when it comes to streamlining, control, and handling stress underwater.

Standard Octo Configuration

This is the setup taught in most open water classes. Your primary second stage is in your mouth, and your alternate (usually yellow, on a ~36" hose) is clipped to your BCD. In an out-of-air emergency, you’re trained to donate the alternate.

• Universally taught and familiar to most divers.
• Inexpensive and easy to configure with rental gear.
• Sufficient for calm recreational dives when both divers are well-trained.

• Donation depends on unclipping a reg that isn’t actively in use.
• Alternates are often loosely clipped or forgotten.
• In a real emergency, a buddy might ignore the octo and reach for the reg in your mouth.

Long Hose Configuration

In the long hose setup, your primary reg (on a 5–7 ft hose) is donated, and your backup is worn on a bungee necklace under your chin. This removes ambiguity: you always donate what you’re breathing, and you always know it works.

• Clean, consistent donation protocol that doesn’t depend on locating a clipped-off octo.
• The long hose allows for better positioning — especially useful in current, confined spaces, or when surfacing together.
• Favored in cave, wreck, and technical diving — and increasingly common among recreational divers who prefer a streamlined, deliberate system.

• Requires correct hose routing and stowage.
• Needs regular practice for smooth deployment.
• Unfamiliar to many recreational divers; a buddy briefing is essential.

Usage Tips

For Standard Octo Users:

• Secure your octo using a breakaway clip, a mouth piece holder or magnetic retainer — never let it dangle.
• Test the alternate every dive.
• Remind your buddy where it’s clipped before the dive.

For Long Hose Users:

• Use a necklace for your backup that’s snug and always accessible.
• Learn proper hose routing: tucked into your belt or under a canister light/stick and across the chest.
• Practice both deployment and re-stow in a calm environment.
• Always brief your buddy if they’re unfamiliar with primary donation.

Why Some Divers Prefer Long Hose

Divers trained in both systems often move to long hose because it offers better control in real emergencies, especially when stress or poor visibility come into play. The donation is immediate and obvious — no hunting for an alternate. It also supports a more streamlined gear profile and consistent team protocols across different environments.