Comments about Scubapro Re-Styled Air 2, Combination Octopus/Inflator Regulator, Black/Gray:

I wanted to minimize my profile with hoses. With the underarm routing of my regulator and my console secured to my bc, I don't have any unsecured hoses to become entangled. Should my dive buddy need emergency air, I have an readily accessible air source for me and the long Sherwood Maximus underarm hose available for him to easily use. The Air2 breathes well as an octopus.

Comments about Scubapro Re-Styled Air 2, Combination Octopus/Inflator Regulator, Black/Gray:

Always in the same spot so its much more convenient to locate than an octo that could be dangling somewhere without you realizing it and get wrapped around your tank bands... >.< buddy needs help or is outta air, his octo is in your mouth and your regulator is now on your shoulder. perfectttt. no more guessing games, less hoses and best of all i got to get rid of my Zeagle inflator that always stuck. great addition to any BC, huge buttons and breathes very well for an octo.

Comments about Scubapro Re-Styled Air 2, Combination Octopus/Inflator Regulator, Black/Gray:

When you think about the Air2, you probably first think about it for eliminating hoses, and thats the exact reason I got it. Less to bring with me and one less hose/connector hanging off my first stage. It also is one less thing to get caught on reefs/wrecks.

I've dove with octo's and had no problems so the only reason I chose this as my octo is to reduce clutter.

One of the divemasters I have been diving with said, oh an Air2, I use those on all my rentals/during classes. When questioned, he explained it like this:

How many times do you have to use your octo in 100s of dives? Hopefully zero. Then he asked, where is your octo supposed to be? I said, "well hopefully clipped on right here?" and thats a breakaway clip right? that could get disconnected by anything you swim by? Your octopus isnt always where you think it will be and in an emergency you need something there.

A lot of people's first reaction when something minor goes wrong (weight belt drops) or just when you need to ascend is you deflate your BC. It is something you use MANY times, every time you dive and muscle memory knows where it is.

Then I asked this instructor if he has ever had to use an Air2. He said, only twice, but I'm glad I had it. Both times, he says, the person was out of air and panicked, ripping his primary out of his mouth. Then he was all tangled up and had he been using an octo, would have been left panicking and scrambling for it and who is to say that it didnt get detached at some point in the panic. However, he had an Air2 and was able to retrieve it.

CONS: strong purge and its very uncomfortable to use as you have to turn your head and bite down to keep it in your mouth. And I've never had to use mine.

Comments about Scubapro Re-Styled Air 2, Combination Octopus/Inflator Regulator, Black/Gray:

I got my Air-2 10 months ago because I wanted to cut down on the number of hoses. With a wireless air integrated computer and the Air-2, my rig only had 2 hoses, the LP inflator hose and the hose to my primary 2nd stage. I also hated having a dangling octo at my side. The Air-2 is well engineered and I have no problems with the quality. If I were rating the device as a regulator I would give it five flags.

The reason that I have decided to switch back to a separate octo is that I am convinced that the whole concept of an integrated inflator/regulator is not really practical as a life saving device. During an Intro to tech Class I had to do multiple drills involving sharing air and switching between my primary and secondary 2nd stages. I quickly hooked up my old Octo that day and later bought a plate and wing for the rest of the course.

One of the decisions that I made was to change my recreational rig to use some of the ideas I learned in the Tec course. I now have my octo on a 24" hose hanging around my neck on a necklace and my primary on a 42" hose with a 360' swivel that loops under my right arm so I can twist it around and give it to a needy diver. (Not quite a 7' hose but still a bit longer than a standard primary hose).

I have no problems with people who want to use an integrated inflator/regulator as long as they understand its inherent problems, and as things go, the Air-2 is IMHO the pick of the litter. I would suggest that you confine its use to open water with good visibility and that you practice out of air drills with your dive buddies especially if this is something that you do not regularly do. Surfacing with your head cocked to the left, trying to read your computer and manage the buttons on your power inflator is hard enough during practice. With a panicked diver dragging you to the surface I'll be worse.

Comments about Scubapro Re-Styled Air 2, Combination Octopus/Inflator Regulator, Black/Gray:

Having less hoses really simplifies and streamlines your dives. The Air 2 breathes just fine and is really easy to get to.