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Gear Bag:
Zeagle’s
New!
Octo-Z
I’ve been a fan of combination second
stage/power inflators since they first appeared
on the market. No matter how carefully I
stowed it, the octo’s three-foot-long hose
always seemed to find a way to snag on
something at the wrong time. Combining the
octopus with the inflator not only eliminated
a hose, it also kept the regulator up out of
the silt and placed it prominently on my chest
where it was easy to reach, and always right
where I expected it to be.
For almost six years, my combo unit of
choice has been the Zeagle Octo-plus. It served
me well, was highly reliable and breathed
with reasonable ease. My one pet-peeve
with the unit, and I am sure there are others
who will agree, was the relative difficulty of
orally inflating the BC. With the Octo-plus,
the user was required to place his lips on a
small circular valve that was rather difficult to
reach, and hard to maintain a seal.
Well, this year, say goodbye to Zeagle’s Octoplus
and hello to their “New” Octo-Z. Unlike its
predecessor, which had a unique shape, the
Octo-Z more closely resembles other combo
seconds such as Atomic’s SS1, Dive Rite’s new
RiteSource, and Sherwood’s Gemini. All of which
follow Scubapro’s former second generation
design for their Air II.
The Octo-Z even utilizes
the same High Flow model
quick disconnect favored by
Scubapro and Atomic. Same for
the positioning for both inflate
and dump buttons, which are
finished in contrasting colors to
distinguish one from another.
The biggest improvement,
however, is the Octo-Z’s ability
to orally inflate the BC through
the Octo-Z’s mouthpiece.
The Octo-Z is housed
in a rugged, fiberglassreinforced
polymer housing. Air
management is handled by a
newly-designed, lever-actuated
poppet valve with an adjustable orifice
that makes it better suited for the rapid
inflation of large bladders. Anyone who
has worn a large steel tank or a heavilyweighted
BC will appreciate this capability.
From a performance standpoint, the
Octo-Z is on par with other premium combo
regulator/inflator rigs. That is to say it won’t
breath as easily as your primary (something
you don’t want anyway, as this would cause
free flow every time you jumped into the
water), but it will certainly deliver a welcome
full breath of air at most any working depth.
There’s one more feature that makes
Zeagle’s redesign very enticing. Instead
of going the traditional route, with the
corrugated air hose held secured to the
regulator by means of a zip tie or clamp,
Zeagle cleverly incorporated a garden hose
type threaded fitting that allows the Octio-Z
to be removed and reattached as easily as a
hose nozzle.
Flushing the BC’s air cell with fresh
water is as simple as unthreading the BC’s
corrugated hose from the Octo-Z, threading
it onto your garden hose, and turning the
water on (low). Being able to quickly and
easily remove the regulator from the BC also
simplifies your annual overhaul. How many
times have you taken your reg in for service
but forgot to bring your octo/inflator with it?
www.underwaterjournal.com June/July 2007