Zeagle Quick Deploy 6.0 cu ft bail-out bottle

[Doc]

It has an adaptor that allows it to be filled from any yoke filling station.

My point exactly. Why something extra, new, and bothersome?

 

[RonFrank]

I dove with a 19CF pony attached to my AL80 using Zeagle pony straps this past weekend. Buoyancy and trim was a non-issue. I thought I may need to offset weight for trim, but I did not. I was diving my BP/W, and just shaved off a couple lbs from my weight belt.

The Zeagle pony straps worked great, and it's hard to beat the price.

IMO 6CF is better than nothing, or spare air, but I agree with Rick, why bother. I chose a 19CF bottle because I plan to travel with it. 30CF would have been more gooder, but I think I would leave it at home when push came to shove!

Keep in mind if you are in an emergency, then your breathing rate is likely going to go up, potentially dramatically, and that 6CF is rather tiny.

Here was my 19CF kit cost:

19CF pony and MKII first stage, Zeagle Straps (ScubaToys) (116+50+25) = 191 + ship (tank shipped free) so call it $200

Oxycheq Octo = $50

I need to pick up a pressure gauge, but I can dive it without one. So for $250 I have a working pony setup with a reg that is not just adequate, but down right good! Breathing off it at 80F was close to my primary setup (Zeagle DSV/ZX)

 

[Soggy]

Worthless volume of gas. About all it will do is allow you to run out of gas twice. Get a reasonable size pony or, better yet, a competent buddy.

 

[RonFrank]

You suggest a larger bottle, but a bottle bigger than this would be too bulky to carry all the time. If you're not carrying it all the time, it's not doing you any good.

Heh, I dive with guys who ONLY dive doubles (well at least locally), and they may dive an AL80 as a stage bottle just for practice on top of that (thinking you you CharlieO)!!

Suggesting that a 19CF pony is TOO much to carry is kinda a joke. I purchased one, and plan on traveling with it. If I do have an equipment failure on my primary First stage (I have NO plans on running OOA, and have never come close) then I want a bottle that is going to get me to the surface at a safe/normal ascent rate from ANY rec depth.

A 6CF is certainly enough to get you to another diver which could also save your life. Is it enough to get you to the surface... maybe....

 

[Rick Murchison]

... DCS is better than drowning. ...

And neither is better than either. Carry a bigger bottle
Rick

 

[Rainer]

And neither is better than either. Carry a bigger bottle
Rick

Exactly. Why the OP thinks this is a choice between two poor options is beyond me when solutions to BOTH issues exist.

 

[fisherdvm]

This thread is deteriorating to the same level as the CESA thread - one tech diver said that he does not want to ever see me take up tech diving... because I thought there was a place for CESA in dive education.

Why don't us recreational divers just not die?? Cause we enjoy diving too much, and have no desire to lug a 30 cu ft pony tank.

 

[Rainer]

we ... have no desire to lug a 30 cu ft pony tank.

An AL30 is what, 12# out of the water, -1# full in the water? If you can't "lug" that, you need to hit the gym, not the keyboard.

 

[fisherdvm]

There is more here than just the poundage. Spirit airline, as I understand, is going to charge for EVERY checked luggages. I think it is like 10 bucks for the first one, then 100 bucks for every second one.

Gone are the day when you can pack 2 full suit cases to 75 lbs... It is now just 50 lbs.

One of this day, they are going to charge passengers by weight.... I better shed them pounds, eh?

 

[Soggy]

I've already done the math. I think you're missing the point. I'm not assuming a conservative ascent. If you're in a bad enough situation to need to use the bail-out bottle, you won't be worried about maintaining 30fpm on the way up. 60 fpm would be used. And you sure wouldn't worry about a safety stop if you didn't have the air for it. DCS is better than drowning.

Why would you allow yourself to get into that situation? If you are going to carry 6 cft, just carry a more reasonable volume. 6cft is pretty much useless.

You suggest a larger bottle, but a bottle bigger than this would be too bulky to carry all the time.

Why is it "too bulky?" A 40 is barely noticeable, so a 19 would be pretty much non-existent.