Mike Wallace wrote:

> I'll grant that the OOA diver is gonna appreciate any air that they get
> but the seacure can cause more problems when neither one of you
> really needs it. I have had and used and love the seacure, but have
> found that while it fits and works great for me, my buddies mouths
> are nothing like mine and it can be quite uncomfortable for them. I
> dive with one guy that used to use the seacure that used the full
> length mouth piece. This is way too "long" for my mouth and was
> extremely uncomfortable for me to use even in a non stress
> situation. Add a bunch of stress and it could be just enough to make
> things seriously worse. Hence, the reg that you are planning to give
> to the OOA diver really should have a mouthpiece that is not custom
> tailored to your mouth. It should be something that is more
> "universal" in fit such as the pieces that are shipped on a reg from
> the factory.

I'm with Mike on this one.  I don't have to worry about my choice of
mouthpiece because the only one that works adequately for me is the good,
old, standard, buy it anywhere variety.  I have a very strong gag reflex and
the less I have in my mouth, the better.  There is a reasonable chance that
being handed a custom, long or even confo- bite (additional retaining piece
made by USD, I think) would trigger my gag reflex with potentially serious
results in an emergency.  On the other hand, there's a chance that an
emergency would allow me to surpress that reflex.  I'd prefer not to test
this.

The issue of mouthpiece adds an interesting point to the decision on whether
to breathe the hose that will be donated.  My choice to breathe and donate
the long hose is easy since I use a standard moutpiece.  Those who find a
non standard mouthpiece, particularly one formed to their own mouth, to be a
significant advantage, should probably chose a different air sharing
protocol and configuration.  I can hardly wait to bring this one up with the
"one configuration is best for everyone" segment of the DIR supporters.

Lee