Pony bottle vs. Spare Air?

[micklock]

I have a 19cf pony mounted to my main tank with the reg hanging from a necklace inches below my chin. Go to New Jersey Scuba Diver he has some good info about pony bottles and spair air

 

[LG Diver]

At the risk of inciting the crowd even further, my opinion is that:

- if you think you need it because you might run out of air, you need to learn gas planning

- if you think you need it in case of an equipment failure, that's what your buddy is there for.

- if you think you need it because your buddy might not be there during an equipment failure, you need a better buddy.

(I'm not even going to touch the whole solo diving thing).

 

[scubafool]

I'm choking on the KoolAid.

 

[DandyDon]

At the risk of inciting the crowd even further, my opinion is that:

- if you think you need it because you might run out of air, you need to learn gas planning

- if you think you need it in case of an equipment failure, that's what your buddy is there for.

- if you think you need it because your buddy might not be there during an equipment failure, you need a better buddy.

(I'm not even going to touch the whole solo diving thing).

So you're opposed to redundant safety equipment?

You only dive with people you know well? Wow that would kill a lot of my trips.

 

[LG Diver]

So you're opposed to redundant safety equipment?

Of course not- that's silly. I'm opposed to solving a training or dive planning problem with gear, which invariably only introduces other problems. As someone else said, you need to ask yourself why you think you need a pony bottle.

S
You only dive with people you know well? Wow that would kill a lot of my trips.

No, I'll dive with someone I don't know in conditions I feel comfortable with, often with others that I do know. I don't dive with "instabuddies" on sites that are unfamiliar to me.

 

[DiverBizz]

Originally Posted by LG Diver
At the risk of inciting the crowd even further, my opinion is that:

- if you think you need it because you might run out of air, you need to learn gas planning

- if you think you need it in case of an equipment failure, that's what your buddy is there for.

- if you think you need it because your buddy might not be there during an equipment failure, you need a better buddy.

OK, this has not happened to me but my friend(he has over 1,000 dives) shared this with me...he was doing a shallow wreck dive, buddy was right there with him, both were getting low on air (careless - they were photographing everything in sight using new equipment) when he noticed he motioned for his buddy and reached for Octo. Both were running low...diver error I know but it happens. If they had their pony bottles with them not problem but it turned out to be a race to the surface. Diver error occurs even to the experts.

 

[DandyDon]

Of course not- that's silly. I'm opposed to solving a training or dive planning problem with gear, which invariably only introduces other problems. As someone else said, you need to ask yourself why you think you need a pony bottle.

Training is good, dive planning is good, but I've known multi-card holders and dive plans that didn't go as they should. It's also good to plan for emerencies - that's why OW classes include an introduction to CESA. But OW is essentially an introduction to real learning, and it's good to improve on it.

Ever had a reg fail? I've had 2. Ever had an SPG fail? I have. Ever have a dive plan fail? I have a few. Ever screw up? I have royally. Ever seen a diver leave in/for an ambulance? I have 6.

No, I'll dive with someone I don't know in conditions I feel comfortable with, often with others that I do know. I don't dive with "instabuddies" on sites that are unfamiliar to me.

Ok for you, not for me. I'll get off of a plane in Seattle, LAX, Cozumel, Roatan, Belize, Montreal, and so forth on the ones I've done yet and dive new sites with new buddies. If you want to restrict yourself, fine - I want more from my diving live.

So, I carry a pony. Used it very little, the few times I have it was usually for others, but it is a nice piece of extra safety equipment - especially diving around newbies. It's a hassle, has annual expenses, etc. but I like having it, along with my sausage, dive lights even on day dives, Dive Alert as well as Storm Whistle, etc.

Good for everyone who does good training and planning, but please do not criticize those who would want to prepare, or at least question, more than you are willing.

thanks!

 

[fisherdvm]

I still don't know why people laugh at spare air. I'd rather see more divers with spare air than majority of them without any back up. I dove in Cancun last week with my pony tank, and the mexican divemasters made fun of me in Spanish on the first day. On my 10 dives, one new diver ran out of air under the water, and another almost ran out. On day 2, one DM told me not to take it along, and said "it causes too much drag". Which I did not really felt or noticed.

As poorly trained as our new divers, I am surprise we don't have more accidents than we could. I still think there is a place for spare air in recreational diving, unfortunately, the scubaboard community is very much against the concept.

 

[LG Diver]

Ever had a reg fail? I've had 2. Ever had an SPG fail? I have.

That's why I dive doubles

Ever have a dive plan fail? I have a few. Ever screw up? I have royally.

Sure, that why I won't dive with buddies I don't trust to catch my mistakes and keep the team on plan.

Ok for you, not for me. I'll get off of a plane in Seattle, LAX, Cozumel, Roatan, Belize, Montreal, and so forth on the ones I've done yet and dive new sites with new buddies. If you want to restrict yourself, fine - I want more from my diving live.

That's fine for you- I've got a wife and two kids and diving is a hobby for me. I want more from my non-diving life so I don't dive with people I can't trust to be there for me.

Good for everyone who does good training and planning, but please do not criticize those who would want to prepare, or at least question, more than you are willing.

thanks!

LOL- "Questioning" is exactly what I'm suggesting that anyone contemplating using a pony do. If you stop to think about what emergencies you're trying to address, and what additional complications you introduce with a pony you would realize that it's just as false a sense of security as a tiny spare air.

 

[JaxDvr]

A pony bottle clipped on like a stage bottle can be passed off if someone else needs it. This preserves your own gas and helps to ensure your own safety. I have had to hand mine off to a frantic diver whom I am sure would have used far more of my own remaining gas to allow me a good safety stop and reserve. I also like to keep 40% nitrox in a pony in case I accidentally over stay my welcome and have a deco obligation (never happened). If I have to use it for a quick ascent, I should only need a breath or two before I can safely breath from it.

My own $.02