Pony Bottle / Spare Air

[Jonnyspecial]

As usual, interesting reading.

I monitor my air usage and know my limits. I've never had an OOA situation by my own doing...

However, once, when diving in Bali, Indonesia, my rental SPG read 55 bar and actually had - ZERO!!! - at 20m depth. I had to do a CESA, singing all the way to the surface [or was I swearing F***!!!!!!!!!!! - I can't remember].

The tank was a bit light in addition to the SPG failure.

I wish I'd had a SPARE AIR or a PONY - either would have been nice, with of course, the option of a 3 @ 5 safety stop had I been in possession of a larger pony.

Then I thought, I'll never use rental gear again. So I haven't. But what if...
Having been in that situation, training kicked in, but it was a wakeup call.

Traveling [meaning by air] makes owning a pony useless, as no airline will let you check in a pressurized tank. Which leaves the Spare Air. [Doesn't apply if your area is local...]
I travel around Japan, Asia and the Pacific for my diving.

Do I wish the SA was larger? Yes.

Do I recognize it might give me only 1.5-3 minutes at shallower depths rather than deeper depths? Yes.

Do I recognize it does not replace dive planning, monitoring one's SPG, knowing one's SAC rate, or good buddy diving? Yes.

Do I understand my resting - working - panic SAC rates will differ and I need to train with the SA in order to develop competency? Yes.

Finally, did I recently order one as a last resort, travel-friendly back-up for the worst case scenario, since the price was right and I made an informed decision? Yes.

I also have a liveaboard boat purchase planned and I think the SA will come in handy for hull cleaning and prop clearing, etc, but that is not necessarily a "dive" issue, except a lot of boat owners pay divers to do this cleaning/clearing....

Cheers

 

[muddiver]

On an American flight you will have to depressurize and open a SpareAir as well, so your argument is moot about not being able to check a pressurized cylinder on a flight.

If you see filling it at your destination as a problem then get a trans fill whip. Problem solved.

 

[muddiver]

Leave the damn pony to the little kids to play with, this just boils down to who the heck is so wreckless that they need a pony tank for insurance, can they not plan their own dives? Just use a damn h or y valve, or dive doubles, and plan your dives, and you will find no use for a damn pony or spare air....

H valves, Y valves and doubles are not standard in the part of the country where I live.

Go crawl back in that cave your swam out of and play with your cookies.

 

[Chris12day]

Traveling [meaning by air] makes owning a pony useless, as no airline will let you check in a pressurized tank. Which leaves the Spare Air. [Doesn't apply if your area is local...]

Cheers

Jonny,

My understanding is that if you take off the regulator and tape over the top, you can take an unpressurized tank with you. I am purchasing a 19cf pony for travel. I, like you, travel a great deal, approximately 150,000 miles a year. I do not have most of the lugguage travel restriction, so I travel with all of my gear. I will be bring my new pony with me to the Great Barrier Reef this July.

Thanks

 

[idocsteve]

In the case of recreation divers what can happen is the diver places the pony in their mouth thinking it is the primary

I can't imagine a diver who could manage to insert an entire pony bottle into their mouth.

My exwife's mouth is probably big enough but she doesn't dive.

 

[Deep-6]

My exwife could probably handle a 20cu, but thats not why were divorced.

Anyway, It's good you went with the pony bottle especially if you have any plans on diving overhead enviornments. Better margin of safety.

 

[idocsteve]

My experiences with a pony bottle and a Spare Air

I started with a Spare Air and took it with me on any tropical dive trip. It was reassuring to have it there but I never lengthened a dive or pushed the limits just because I knew I had the backup supply of 20-30 breaths at depths of between 40-80 feet...and that's key. Do NOT change your diving attitude and allow yourself to get careless because you've got the backup. If you do, then you negate the benefit of any redundant gas supply no matter how big or small it is.

That much said, yes, 20-30 breaths is better than none, a controlled ascent beats an emergency ascent anytime, but if you're going to do it, then do it right. Or at least, "better". As discussed the cost differences as far as the initial purchase are very slight, although a regulator servicing and tank inspection will drive up the costs of a pony over time but it's not going to bankrupt you, not if you have money to spend on diving in the first place.

When I started diving in the NorthEast I got myself a pony bottle that straps onto my single AL80, and I started taking it with me even on shore dives and out of state diving trips. It's not much more cumbersome to carry although it weighs more than the Spare Air. At times I dove with both, but the Spare Air has been sitting in the closet more and more and I think it's time to throw it up on Ebay.

 

[NC Wreck Diver]

Hi Chris:

Like the other responses that are listed below, I am not in favor of the Spare Air System. It will give you some margin of safety in shallow water diving, but from my investigation of the system, it was designed for helicoptor pilots who have to ditch in the water. Typically, they are in a situation that is close to the surface, not under 2 or more atmospheres of water. The other problem I see with a Spare Air System is that when you run out of air, panic sets in. Believe me, it happens to the most experienced divers. Chances are you can drop the Spare Air. Now, instead of going to the surface, you could dive for the unit, taking you away from the one place you need to be........on the surface.

I just upgraded my pony bottle from a 17 Cu. Ft. to a 30. I am mounting it on a sling, and I definately will dive with the valve on, not closed. Once again, panic will hinder you from turning that valve on. Don't let anything get in your way to save yourself. It's imperative to be self reliant with your redundant systems. Have your back up regulator loosely hung around your neck for instant reach.

I understand about costs too. There is no price barrier on your life. Scuba is a fun sport, and very safe. Just use your head, preplan your dives, watch your main SPG constantly (I have a laynard for mine) and you will never have to use your redundant system. I only dive with doubles after seeing an ugly accident.

Safe diving to you.

 

[Lorenzoxs]

As a new diver (18 dives), I bought a SA because I think that taking a breath or two during an emergency ascent beats blowing bubbles, humming, singing , or cursing on the way up. I plan to practice using it and working through emergency scenarios, but I hope (and especially plan) on never needing it.

I have enjoyed this thread, especially the folks who suggest dual tanks as a solution to OOA emergencies, but I do have a question: Why has no one suggested a submarine as the logical next step in the single tank/ tank plus SA/ tank plus pony/ dual tank progression? Of course, then we can discuss emergency escape procedures for when the hypothetical sub is torpedoed or attacked by Orcas....

 

[Tanked]

As a new diver (18 dives), I bought a SA because I think that taking a breath or two during an emergency ascent beats blowing bubbles, humming, singing , or cursing on the way up. I plan to practice using it and working through emergency scenarios, but I hope (and especially plan) on never needing it.

I have enjoyed this thread, especially the folks who suggest dual tanks as a solution to OOA emergencies, but I do have a question: Why has no one suggested a submarine as the logical next step in the single tank/ tank plus SA/ tank plus pony/ dual tank progression? Of course, then we can discuss emergency escape procedures for when the hypothetical sub is torpedoed or attacked by Orcas....

interesting first post. Welcome to Scubaboard my friend.