Zeagle Octo Z II Review: One Fewer Hose, One New Procedure

Combines the octopus and the BCD inflator, which cleans up the rig and changes how you donate air.

Specifications

Specifications above come from Zeagle's published specifications. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.

What it does well

• It removes a hose. A conventional rig has a primary, an octopus, an inflator hose and a gauge on the left and right; combining two of those meaningfully reduces what can snag.
• A balanced inflation valve gives finer control over fill rate, which matters for buoyancy control on ascent more than most divers expect.
• Fittings that rotate under pressure mean you can place the unit where it sits comfortably rather than where the hose dictates.
• The rinse connection is a genuinely thoughtful detail. Rinsing the inside of a BCD is the maintenance step most divers skip, and connecting a hose directly makes it a two-minute job.
• The corrugated hose disconnects, so it stores with the regulator rather than staying attached to the BCD, which is easier for travel.

Where it falls short

• It changes your out-of-air procedure. With an integrated inflator you donate your primary regulator and switch to this, rather than handing over an octopus. That is a trained skill and it should be practised with the buddy you dive with.
• In an out-of-air situation you are managing buoyancy and breathing from the same device, which is more task loading at exactly the wrong moment.
• A single failure point now affects two functions. A free flow in this unit is also a problem with your inflator.
• Not every dive operation is familiar with the configuration, and a buddy who has never seen one will not know what you are handing them. Brief it before the dive.
• It ties you to a hose length and a routing that suits an inflator rather than an octopus, which some divers find less comfortable in the mouth.

What owners report

Integrated inflators have a long history and divide divers consistently. Owners like the clean rig and the reduced snag potential; critics point out the added task loading during exactly the emergency the device is meant to serve. Both positions are correct and the deciding factor is whether you will train on it.

Our octopus versus integrated inflator comparison works through it properly, including the buddy briefing issue that catches people diving with strangers. The short version is that an integrated inflator is a good choice for a diver who dives regularly with the same buddy and practises the drill, and a poor choice for someone who fits it and never thinks about it again.

Whatever configuration you dive, it is serviceable equipment. An integrated inflator is both a second stage and an inflator and needs servicing on the manufacturer's schedule by an authorised technician, exactly like a regulator. Our maintenance guide covers what you can do and what a technician must. Nothing on this page replaces training. Dive equipment is only as safe as the diver using it, and every item here assumes you hold a current certification appropriate to the diving you are doing.

Who it suits

• Divers who want a cleaner rig with fewer hoses to manage.
• Regular buddy pairs who will practise the donation drill together.
• Anyone who finds the standard octopus routing awkward.

Who should skip it

• Divers who mostly dive with strangers on charters, where an unfamiliar configuration adds risk.
• Anyone who will not practise the procedure it implies.
• Divers who prefer a redundant second stage that is entirely separate from buoyancy control.

Alternatives worth considering

Keep reading

• Octopus vs integrated inflator
• Jacket vs back-inflate BCD
• How to choose a scuba regulator
• Scuba gear maintenance guide
• Cressi MC9-SC Compact Pro review
• Mares Journey 3.0 BCD review
• Best scuba regulators

This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.