An integrated alternate air source is an alternate second stage regulator incorporated into the buoyancy compensator's (BC's) inflator hose. Integrated alternate air sources eliminate the need for a diver to have a separate back-up regulator, or octopus, attached to his regulator first stage. Some models of integrated alternate air sources can reduce dive equipment's weight and bulk.
Divers new to integrated alternate air sources will need learn to use them properly. Emergency air sharing protocol changes when a diver switches to an integrated air source, as does the method for orally inflating the buoyancy compensator. In an emergency air sharing situation, a diver must remove his primary regulator and donate it to the out-of-air diver while switching to the integrated alternate air source. This can be tricky at first and requires practice.
Integrated alternate air sources attach to the regulator first stage via a non-standard hose connection. Usually, integrated alternate air sources are sold with a hose with the proper connection. However, divers should realize that once a regulator and BC have been adapted for use with an integrated alternate air source, they can no longer be used with standard scuba regulators and BCs. If the BC, the integrated alternate air source, or the regulator malfunction, it is likely the entire set of gear will need to be swapped out until the malfunctioning piece is fixed.
