Lately, the flame-festival de jour has been the Spare Air vs Pony vs true redundancy debate. Just the mention of Spare Air in a thread title has been enough to evoke a ghoulish spectator response, making one peer within the thread, because they seem to inevitably degenerate to name calling and insults.
Usually, these two quotes (although baldly put) seem to polarize the two camps:
Something thats been lacking is some understanding... understanding of what generated these thoughts in the first place.
The Spare-Air dismissers
Its a generalization, but the majority of posters Ive seen in this camp are generally very experienced. They have extensive, precise training, and routinely dive well beyond the No Decompression Limits, or, under a hard overhead barrier.
These divers have experienced the visceral enormity of what overhead-restricted means. There is nothing like your first deco dive, and arriving at your 10 stop (usually cold and tired); and while looking at the surface, realizing the sudden finality of how you can NOT go there without grave peril. Such a short distance but, forbidden, and 10 minutes away. This first experience is forever life (and viewpoint) altering. Mine was 30 years ago, and I remember it as if it was yesterday.
Even the most experienced, 20-year worldwide recreational diver cannot understand this shattering change in viewpoint. They may understand it intellectually but not in their gut. This is truly something that has to be experienced before it is understood.
Thus, these divers think in terms of true redundancy. If a procedure will not give them a 100% chance of waiting out that 10 stop, then it isnt worthy of use. Commonly heard is Two is one, and one is none. The thought of relying on thirty breaths in the overhead environment is ludicrous, and that forever-hardwired thought process spills over into the forum discussions.
The Spare-Air supporters
Again, its a generalization, but the majority of posters in this camp either have extensive recreational experience, or, are very low time in the sport.
The ones who are very low time have been let down by the educational process in diving today. Air shares and emergencies are, for the most part, covered and drilled just enough to pass the final (all too soon) skills exam. These skills havent been drilled and covered until they are second nature. Plus, they do not have the finely-honed buddy awareness that would support resolution of an emergency. Thus the low-time diver has no innate confidence that the air-share will really work, and they want something that gives them a warm fuzzy. Thirty breaths is better than none, and so they look to the Spare Air.
The experienced recreational diver is the exact opposite. They have the time in the water to be calm and handle practically any issue. To these seasoned divers, thirty breaths is more than enough to resolve a problem and make it to the surface in a leisurely way. Given the questionable skills of an insta-buddy, and small size of a Spare Air, it is for them a compact answer for self dependency.
The Spare Air is a tool. Every tool has advantages and disadvantages. There are situations that I would consider one myself, and many where I would not, but my decision would be made on my needs.
All the best, James
Usually, these two quotes (although baldly put) seem to polarize the two camps:
Something thats been lacking is some understanding... understanding of what generated these thoughts in the first place.
The Spare-Air dismissers
Its a generalization, but the majority of posters Ive seen in this camp are generally very experienced. They have extensive, precise training, and routinely dive well beyond the No Decompression Limits, or, under a hard overhead barrier.
These divers have experienced the visceral enormity of what overhead-restricted means. There is nothing like your first deco dive, and arriving at your 10 stop (usually cold and tired); and while looking at the surface, realizing the sudden finality of how you can NOT go there without grave peril. Such a short distance but, forbidden, and 10 minutes away. This first experience is forever life (and viewpoint) altering. Mine was 30 years ago, and I remember it as if it was yesterday.
Even the most experienced, 20-year worldwide recreational diver cannot understand this shattering change in viewpoint. They may understand it intellectually but not in their gut. This is truly something that has to be experienced before it is understood.
Thus, these divers think in terms of true redundancy. If a procedure will not give them a 100% chance of waiting out that 10 stop, then it isnt worthy of use. Commonly heard is Two is one, and one is none. The thought of relying on thirty breaths in the overhead environment is ludicrous, and that forever-hardwired thought process spills over into the forum discussions.
The Spare-Air supporters
Again, its a generalization, but the majority of posters in this camp either have extensive recreational experience, or, are very low time in the sport.
The ones who are very low time have been let down by the educational process in diving today. Air shares and emergencies are, for the most part, covered and drilled just enough to pass the final (all too soon) skills exam. These skills havent been drilled and covered until they are second nature. Plus, they do not have the finely-honed buddy awareness that would support resolution of an emergency. Thus the low-time diver has no innate confidence that the air-share will really work, and they want something that gives them a warm fuzzy. Thirty breaths is better than none, and so they look to the Spare Air.
The experienced recreational diver is the exact opposite. They have the time in the water to be calm and handle practically any issue. To these seasoned divers, thirty breaths is more than enough to resolve a problem and make it to the surface in a leisurely way. Given the questionable skills of an insta-buddy, and small size of a Spare Air, it is for them a compact answer for self dependency.
The Spare Air is a tool. Every tool has advantages and disadvantages. There are situations that I would consider one myself, and many where I would not, but my decision would be made on my needs.
All the best, James
