"Hookah" Air Breathing Hose

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Dave100456

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I am planning the build of a surface air breathing system for the usual underwater boat jobs done at 2-3m depth.

Is anyone interested in going shares on a length of suitable high quality breathing hose (8mm or 10mm ID) as I will be buying a coil?

I'm not looking to make money and you would need to take 10 or 12.5m at cost (£25-30?).

Thanks

Dave
 
I would do a bit of research before you spend (waste) your money you will find it very difficult to pull air even at a meter depth.
 
petehb said:
I would do a bit of research before you spend (waste) your money you will find it very difficult to pull air even at a meter depth.
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Indeed - this has been the subject of several long discussions around here over the years and the consensus has always been that even a very fit and strong man would be hard pressed to stay two metres down breathing through a snorkel for more than a minute or two.
 
petehb said:
I would do a bit of research before you spend (waste) your money you will find it very difficult to pull air even at a meter depth.
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I'm pretty sure he's not that daft!

"Building a system" implies more than just buying a hose and sticking it in his mouth. Obviously he has some kind of pump planned. But he doesn't need to go halves on that.

Pete
 
maby said:
this has been the subject of several long discussions around here over the years
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If it evoked long discussions then some people are apparently morons :)

Surely everyone knows you can't just make a very long snorkel and dive as deep as you like?

Pete
 
Guys the OP is talking about a Hookah where there is a low pressure pump on the surface about 40 - 60 psi and a demand regulator between the feed tube and the person in the water.

I use this system some times I also some place my dive cylinder on the boat with a long tube down to me with my demand regulator.

With this arrangement the air is forced down to the diver who only has to suck against the demand regulator differential pressure.

Like this

4ffd9c3e884bd46b229f42775ecb5147
 
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prv said:
I'm pretty sure he's not that daft!

"Building a system" implies more than just buying a hose and sticking it in his mouth. Obviously he has some kind of pump planned. But he doesn't need to go halves on that.

Pete
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The issue, then, will be pressure regulation. The traditional solution for a hose based system is to put the entire diver within a pressurised suit - no pressure differential between the inside of the chest cavity and the outside. Scuba gear contains a rather clever pressure regulator that allows the diver to stick a pipe connected to a high pressure cylinder into his mouth without risking bursting his lungs. The only way I could see this working would be if the diver was wearing a scuba mask which was coupled via the hose to a pump above water - but does that really buy you anything? You can buy a perfectly good rucksack scuba kit capable of keeping you alive under water for ten minutes for a few hundred pounds.
 
prv said:
If it evoked long discussions then some people are apparently morons :)

Surely everyone knows you can't just make a very long snorkel and dive as deep as you like?

Pete
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Well, I think everyone recognises that you can't go "as deep as you like" - the surprising thing is just how shallow the limit is!
 
Google or Youtube is your friend; type "Hookah dive system" if you've not seen the type of kit. Not all 'solutions' are safe and I would do plenty of research.

As far as a rucksack SCUBA kit goes you'd be surprised the volume of air needed when exerting yourself underwater on tasks like hull cleaning.
 
RichardS said:
Ah .... you've not really got the idea of internet forums yet have you? ;)

I'm very proud to have been born in God's Own County, as all the regulars on here know all too well, and by quoting Sandyman it should be clear who I'm putting in their place. ;)

Richard
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Thats okay and apology accepted!

You are quite correct, I haven't got the idea of forums yet. I mistakenly thought this area was for the exchange of practical knowledge and tips to do with boating for the good of all. How foolish of me not to know it was the place for public ridicule and stereotyping.

At least I now know I can't strap 50kg of lead round my waist, jump into 100ft deep water with the end of a 101 ft hose in my mouth and expect to breathe happily down there!!
 
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Been a lot of talk over various forums about Hooka systems. Some published stuff from OZ about the systems and risks, but only to ensure you do NOT hang some lead on your feet and expect to breath thu a 10mtr hose :o

Actually, there was useful info about hookas and some of the less obvious risks. I will try and find a link.
 
DownWest said:
Been a lot of talk over various forums about Hooka systems. Some published stuff from OZ about the systems and risks, but only to ensure you do NOT hang some lead on your feet and expect to breath thu a 10mtr hose :o

Actually, there was useful info about hookas and some of the less obvious risks. I will try and find a link.
Click to expand...

Without wishing to recreate the many threads that there's already been on here and elsewhere about Hookas.

I plan to use the kit to work at a depth of 2 meters. I would use SCUBA to go deeper.

We all have different attitudes to risk. Personally, I believe if you can't comfortably free dive and resurface from 2metres (and beyond) then you shouldn't be in/under the water. Indeed, I subscribe to the school of thought that if you can't swim you're taking too big a risk going out on a boat. Others will have stricter or more relaxed attitudes; we all set our own limits.
 
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Rogershaw said:
Guys the OP is talking about a Hookah where there is a low pressure pump on the surface about 40 - 60 psi and a demand regulator between the feed tube and the person in the water.

I use this system some times I also some place my dive cylinder on the boat with a long tube down to me with my demand regulator.

With this arrangement the air is forced down to the diver who only has to suck against the demand regulator differential pressure.

Like this

4ffd9c3e884bd46b229f42775ecb5147
Click to expand...


Roger, you are indeed quite correct.
One point I'm not certain on is the suitability of a standard second stage regulator when used with surface air compressor. Some Hookah suppliers state that the regulator must be a specific Hookah type whilst I've read accounts of others who have used a standard unmodified reg. Do you know I'm right in thinking that one critical factor is that the supply pressure matches the regulator?
Some Hookah systems use relatively low pressure pumps hence they can only supply to shallower depths whilst others use a 7-8 bar supply which would match std regs.
Have I got this right?
Thanks
Dave
 
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