What form of air source redundancy?

[Divin'Papaw]

When you solo dive, what form of air source redundancy do you typically use?

 

[RonFrank]

When you solo dive, what form of air source redundancy do you typically use?

I generally don't dive solo, but I have! If I'm doing a solo dive, I use a 19CF pony, and I make sure that it's full or near full prior to getting starting the dive.

I also use this setup when on deep wrecks, or dives. This is especially true if I'm diving with insta-buddies. I would rather be solo than with an inexperienced diver on a more advanced dive.

 

[jim T.]

With singles, I use a 30 cf pony, slung where I can see if it's leaking, etc.
With doubles-just doubles for now. I am soon going to work out trim needed to
continue to sling my pony bottle for future, possible deco practice.

An H valve or Y valve is nice, but my instructor showed me how hard it can be to reach them compared with the ease of a pony/reg. (the valve(s) don't generally stick out as far to the side(s) as doubles valves...

If you're going deep, I'd recommend getting a 30cf or 40cf. (Read lots of older threads via a search). Get a 40cf If you plan on deco training in the near future. My personal opinion is anything less than a 19 isn't enough for my comfort zone on any dive.

It'll provide more peace of mind not to mention more gas. Don't forget to include time/gas for safety stops, working out the problem for a minute or so before ascending, brief entanglement in kelp, etc.

I only have 13 solo dives logged at this point so take all of this as only my opinion and do a search for "rock bottom" gas planning and pony threads.

 

[shoredivr]

No place on the poll for what I do: h_valved single, two regulators plus 30 cuft slung tank.

 

[Lone Frogman]

H valve or a pony slung

 

[texdiveguy]

Sometimes I use a set of doubles....at other times I use a large single/H-valve and sling a pony.

 

[2TH DIVR]

Didn't vote, depends on the dive.
<30' single
30'-100' single and pony (sometimes doubles)
100'+ doubles and stages

 

[captain]

Surface

 

[archman]

Surface

Ditto. But I don't solo deeper than 30 feet.

 

[Tigerman]

I stay within CESA limits if truely solo, but Im kinda looking into a pony bottle setup..