#askmark Hey Mark, longtime fan of your videos. Thank you for all you do for the scuba community! My question is regarding alternatives to the traditional octo and the primary donate setups. I'm honestly not a fan of the long hose primary donate as I don't like having extra stuff around my neck and on my chest, but would still like to have a longer secondary to share gas with a panicked diver in a recreational setting if needed. However, I also want to keep the whole setup nice, tidy and streamlined because I dive in an area with strong currents, wrecks and also dive a DPV quite often, so flappy snag hazards, as you call them, are a big no no. I've seen some instructors with a long octo hose looped a couple of times and clipped on their side that they can just pull and extend when needed, do you think that's a good idea or should I just try to get used to the primary donate setup? Are there any other options that you can share? Thank you

i use a quick release retractor . several brands out there. clip on and off when setting gear. zipped in and out of the way while diving , always in the same spot , zip out to check , let go and zipped in , back and out of the way. ps i use an air integrated dive computer but prefer analog backups :)

Omg. I never realised you could put it through the hole behind the BCD pocket. I need to try that. Thank you! For the octo I bought a funny animal, I think the manufacturer is Oceanarium.

Hi mark, did you find the hse course added to your current diving skills at all in any way? Would there be any crossover skills-wise into recreational diving ? I figure low viz, rescue drills etc would all count for a lot, but still curious. thanks

#askmark hi Mark. I dive 7mm wetsuit with Mares XR Rec Trim. I have 2 sets of trim weight pockets on the tank cam bands. And 2 Mares standard weight pockets on the waist strap. Recently I moved to a long hose configuration and I use a pony bottle so the strap is getting pretty crowded because the weight pockets are massive and I cannot use them as hose retainers so I added a hose retainer bar as well. I am looking for solutions to have the weights without taking all the space. My current weight distribution is 4lbs top trim pockets. 8lbs middle trim pockets and 6lbs in my waist pockets for a total 18lbs. So I need a solution for the 6lbs (2.7kg) on my waist. I am thinking of swapping the tank adapter from aluminium to stainless steel but that wouldn’t replace the whole weight. And swapping the backplate for 6mm stainless steel changes the whole ergonomic of the XR rec trim. So any solutions for attaching weights closer to my back without sacrificing all the space on my waist strap. Thanks

Hi! #askmark Mark! Firstly, thank you very much for your videos, they are very helpful in all ways!!! I have a question for you: My Instructor always recommends to me to get Akuana's regulator. I already have the BCD from Akuana, following his recommendations and being able to give it a good test before buying, and I am very happy with it. But now the time has come for me to get my regulator and I am struggling to find any kind of review online for Akuana regulators. but, for my instructor, is usually his go-to brand. Is the one that he has being using for many years and he insists that I should go for it, even though he knows that I am ready to make any investment for my diving gear, as long as I buy quality and long lasting. We have a good relationship, and we often go on diving trips together, so I don't think he is trying to convince me to get any benefit from it, I suggested to get Atomic or Scubapro but he really believes that Akuana is my best option. Have you ever tried Akuana? Ever heard of it? I have a few things from them and I am very happy with each of them, but it doesn't seem to be a very popular brand to research about. Thank you very much!!!

I tuck mine under my waist belt of my plate

When I rented bcds I'd just tuck it under the waistband. Easy.

I guess the scubapro hydros pro has a few D-rings, if not, it's quite easy to add one. I also got a boltsnap in my SPG, it makes it so much easier, it's also useful, if you carry your bcd with the cylinder around.

ISE has a video about attaching bolt snaps with line if you don't want to use a ziptie and want a suggestion on how to tie the line to the bolt snap: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h57CoI2KdtZ4ZpY pretty straightforward.

#askmark Hi Mark! I took my open water in 2015 did some dives but life came and time got away, so didn't dive anything until now. Have done 10 dives this summer and love to be back in the water. I've signed up for a ssi advanced diver course combined with a nitrox course. My question is therefore what is your recommendation for how to be best prepared for the course, and do you recommend anything a do / train on before the course since it's so long ago since my open water. Like DSMB wasn't a thing back in the days.

I am going to say drop the SPG and use air integration instead. Thats exactly what I did. As long as you carry spare battery for the transmitter, you wont have a problem.

Which size hose is better-26 inch or 32 inch?

zip tie the spg to a single ended bolt snap, and clip it at any clip point on your bcd

#askmark I asked that before earlier today: I'm thinking about getting a backplate and wing setup. I like colored stuff, so I looked on amazon and fpund a colored aluminium backplate and a harness set with colored d-rings. The backplate has no ratings (1-5 Stars). Is it safe to buy such stuff on amazon or should I stick to the known scuba brands?

#askmark I'm thinking about getting a wing and backplate setup. Because I like colored stuff, I looked on amazon and found a blue aluminium backplate and a harness set with blue d-rings. Is it safe to buy this kind of diveequipment on amazon or should I stick with the known scuba brands?

If you struggle getting in to tight gloves or tight legs use a dab of waterbased lube to make things glide easier. More environmentally friendly than using plastic bags or shampoo.

Hi Mark, getting into the RIB after diving is getting harder for me I’ve never been able to pull myself up and turn and sit … it’s like the beached whale for me 🤣🤣 I’m 70 and think as you get a little older top body strength starts to go … like your videos 🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

12:13 This goes both ways. I'm a guy but i'd love purple or pink gear but all that i can find are made for women. Sometimes it doesn't matter but a lot of gear made for women are designed for female bodies and are uncomfortable otherwise. It's really frustrating.

Thanks for this review! Could you please do a review of the Fenix 8 Garmin next?

a small suggestion about getting lost; why not paint the name of the boat on the bottom of the boat or some sort of graphic or symbol? this may be helpful if you are around a lot of other boats? do dive computers have a gps feature? sort of light a way point that is your starting point?

I'm booked on the Junk in January

02:48....Diver fail!😂 She's not going to see much without her mask!

Hi Mark exactly it perfect vid,bang on i do the same thing springs are not what they used to be in emergency i stretch out the plunger spring normally a fast fix for on site i carry a kit normally but didnt have a new spring the seal is normally ok i found its normally the spring

Where did you get that spanner tool to remove the inflator button

#askmark what's the reason for a "no glow" rule. And I'm throwing in another question. How would you route the regulator hose if you have a pony as a bail out / separate bottle and mouthpiece on a regular setup and a long hose setup? 🇧🇻

Just got off my first live aboard which was in sea of Cortez with Mexico live aboards it’s gonna be hard to beat that trip 5 star food for every meal and dpv diving with sea lions I even saw an elephant seal that’s right a frickin elephant seal scientists/marine biologists were there studying him and figuring out why he’s so far from home…. He was bigger than a compact car

EARS: get an IST Pro Ear Dive mask and thoroughly test it (snorkeling through your depth max) before your trip. (the one-way valves MUST work well) It keeps the water OUT of the ear canal and greatly improves equalization I have no affiliation and have used the Pro Ear for decades - brilliant also, insurance should cover theft, loss, too. Use the wet-deck's fresh water rinse to keep your drying towel and ALL clothes as salt-free as possible

love the thought but its a rough watch, Really shame as i reacon it would have been an interesting watch

I think you need to work on this, portrait video is a pain for anyone not on a phone and the audio is impossible to hear. Maybe to talk to the people that have recorded the ones in the UK, as they seem to have done a much better job.

Do I need to say ..failure point.

Thank u so much for sharimg, I’m about to buy my fist backplate and this video just help me a lot with all my questions, thank u again and great content, cheers

Can you please do a review on Avatar 102 Airon drysuit, there is not a single video on yt. Thank you

Very nice review. Which one works better for bearded guys like us in your opinion ?

Congratulations and good luck

Congratulations on your paternity leave, enjoy your time. Looking forward to listening to the podcast on your return. I haven't dived for a number of years due to various reasons but always look forward to hearing the current scuba news.

Bit late to this video. One comment on breathable materials, if the surface of the material is wet either in the water or wetted out, ie liquid has not beaded off then it won't breath. Same for any areas or dirt or contamination. So same as your walking boots and jackets, you'll need to keep the material clean, and free from oils (interior can pick body oils up in sweat very easily), and maintain the waterproof coating on the outside in order to maintain breathability. Keep up the excellent work.

The ratings must be off lol I’m in a 7mm semi dry in 75+ drysuit for anything colder

How is the Heart Rate sensors? Do it give the right information

The "I've done it all" diver. You know the one, you go on a dive trip.while on holiday and there's always that one person that feels the need to let everyone on board know how "experienced" they are, while at the same time complaining loudly about "inexperienced" divers, the state of the dive boat/company, how all other training agencies are inferior to theirs...😡 Does my head in!

Well I got pleasantly surprised that you drive a Volvo, nice job Mark!!!

#AskMark Can you do a review video on Halcyon BCD’s and/or alternative options? Have you already done a video like that?

18:54 leaking 1st stage... 😂😅 bad o-ring. My biggest struggle is to not suck the bottle too fast. 🥹

#askmark Hey Mark, I hope it is all good with you, I would like to know if you can do a review on the new Avatar 102 airon. I don’t find much videos with more detail from the suit and showing them like you do on the gear review. Thanks a lot

Hello, great and informative video. Could you perhaps also make a video about the Mares Flexa 5/4 or comment your opinion on this wetsuit? Thank you very much!

Is it any different in design/panel shapes compared to the previous regular neoprene Everflex?

Anything below 20 feels very drysuit to me.... I have never understood wetsuit warmth ratings.

You bring up a good point. Cars now come with Key Fob. How do you protect it from Damage or Theft while Diving? I have been fortunate to dive places where families were nearby.

Hello, I bought a scubapro definition 5mm wetsuit several years ago. From this experience I will never buy a back zip suit from any manufacturer. From the first dive I have never once been able to zip it up or down myself. Every time I have to ask someone to help me. I am going to replace it with the new Waterproof W8 5mm suit that has a front zip.

13:34 That is exactly the BCD i have 😎