AL40 for redundancy diving single tank on deeper dives.

[mainedvr]

My wife and I have been talking about using an AL 40 as a redundant air supply on some of our deeper dives. Not as stage bottles only for emergency. Have dove doubles and have a set but some boats just too small or not welcome for doubles. We dont want the bracket or anything like that on our tank but to sling it on the side seems the way we want to go. Any do's or donts? when getting tanks or rigging the bottles.

Thanks

 

[PfcAJ]

Your buddy is your redundant supply. No need for a pony.

 

[Reku]

As long as you stay near your buddy and maintain good communication you wouldn't ever have a use for a pony.

Out of curiosity how deep are we diving?

 

[Festus]

I can count on my pretty little pony. some so-called buddies get distracted by shiny object. My wife doesn't dive so I'm at the mercy of Neptune when it comes to buddies.

 

[Reku]

I can count on my pretty little pony. some so-called buddies get distracted by shiny object. My wife doesn't dive so I'm at the mercy of Neptune when it comes to buddies.

for sure - if he was diving with randoms I would suggest a pony but I'm assuming his wife won't abandon him lol.

 

[decompression]

Calculate rock bottom and see if you need a pony or not.

 

[The Chairman]

I use a small bungee around the neck and hoses and don't clip off the second stage. I also use an elbow on the second stage. Dive Rite makes an awesome harness, albeit a pricey one. Clip the bottom to your lowest D-Ring and then clip one to your chest D-Ring. Charge the cylinder so water doesn't back up into the second stage, but leave it off until you need it. If it's truly bail out for emergencies, just use air. That way you can breathe it at all depths.

 

[uncfnp]

My wife and I have been talking about using an AL 40 as a redundant air supply on some of our deeper dives. Not as stage bottles only for emergency. Have dove doubles and have a set but some boats just too small or not welcome for doubles. We dont want the bracket or anything like that on our tank but to sling it on the side seems the way we want to go. Any do's or donts? when getting tanks or rigging the bottles.

Thanks

For some bizarre reason pony bottles are a very passionately debated topic on SB and to some size does matter. Many recommend the 40's but for most it is massive overkill, especially for female divers. Your wife might be better satisfied with a 13 or 19 cf tank.

As for slinging, I use this version with a few minor adaptations...

DIR-diver.com - Stagebottle rigging

Fill it with nitrox or air. Most just use air but I whip mine so it is usually a blend of my most recent tanks. Sling on right or left. I use left.

 

[The Chairman]

Your wife might be better satisfied with a 13 or 19 cf tank.

Great point... Elena likes a 30.

 

[mainedvr]

As long as you stay near your buddy and maintain good communication you wouldn't ever have a use for a pony.

Out of curiosity how deep are we diving?

With in rec limits and conservative. sometimes 100-120ft, and my wife and I stay close but never know when you may get pushed off a wreck or whatever, just a belt and suspenders thing. Its not an issue most times cause we dive alot of shallow reefs and what not but you never know when you may get seperated or just need the back up to the back up.