Long hose length

[hudson]

I have a 7' hose on my right tank for mixed teams. I've gone through my basic cave training this past week and found it to be uncomfortable during sharing. I couldn't really get to be single file, I was always offset slightly to the side otherwise I'd pull the hose. It seems like a difference of about 1' in reach between BM and sidemount due to the valve location, so I'm planning to order an 8' hose.

Just wondering what your experiences were with this. Anyone make 7' work or find even 8' to be short?

[Diverlee]

I use a 7' hose. I practiced with my buddy from the 200' arrow (on the main line in Peacock) to the cavern just for practice. It was comfortable but we were side to side. Now you have made me think it through better and will try it single file. I would think I would get a 9" hose instead of and 8' so I could use it for DPV.
I think it would also depend on where you are diving. Not all areas would need single file, Thanks for bringing it up.

[Slüdge]

I would think I would get a 9' hose instead of an 8' so I could use it for DPV.

Not to hijack the thread but I can't imagine scootering without being in solo config. Have you ever been the following buddy and felt a need to stop and couldn't get the other guy's attention? You're stopped and he's already around the bend, having a jolly old time. If you've had a catastrophic gas failure and aren't carrying your own backup, you're dead.

I always scooter in "reverse buddy bottle" config - breathe the stage and save the backgas.

[SLIM]

Yes it is kind of differant then in BM but it is something ti think of HOW you are in line with the other. Yes you have lost 1 foot with the way manifolds are and with the valve of a SM tank being properly tucked under the arm pit. It is another thing about SM that you ahve to learn to work with. Geting a longer hose is not fixing it. Remmeber it is are you able to make it out from the furtherst penatraion? are you that unconfrontable yet of diving to be able to adjust your body in the water and yoru comfort of being just of to the side a small amount for most of the exit?

If you get a longer hose, to me in my opiouin, you are just using a band-aid for a skill that isnot yet there. Remember SM is more then just a configuration. What kind of system are you diving in? I can get you in a place that there is no way, I do mean NO WAY a 7 foot hose with exiting and a buddy will help.

For me, when diving in differant configs, both SM, BM, and RB's, a 7 foot hose is a standard hose, if any of us could not be able to adjust to making a slight adjustment, we then should be working more on our comfort levele at the stage we are at, or have gone to foar to fast.

If for cavern divers in some agencies a 5 foot hose is acceptabel, then a 7 should work no matter what, SM or both BM and SM, with both configs togather.

SLIM