undrwater
Contributor
What's your reason for not slinging?
Should we get pony bottles?
- Thread starter phoenix31tt
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I'm pretty risk averse and conservative as a diver. I don't carry a pony bottle, and here is why.
To begin with, I have the tools to calculate whether the gas supply I am carrying is sufficient for the dive I intend to do. This is the "rock bottom" calculation people are talking about above. To get more information, read NW Grateful Diver's article on Gas Management. It was his lecture on this topic that changed my diving life forever. As a result, I simply don't descend with a gas supply that isn't generous for what we have planned. An example was last night . . . we met at a dive site where I THOUGHT the plan was to paddle around in 20 feet of water, looking for a specific fish. Turned out the plan was a little different; it was proposed that we go to 70 feet to explore a bottle field, and then work our way upslope and finish our dive decoing out in 20 feet of water, photographing lumpsuckers. We had brought HP80s, figuring they would be more than ample gas for what we were going to do, but with the increased depth, the relationship between total gas and rock bottom started looking iffy -- so we swapped out our 80s for a pair of HP100s we had in the truck, and relaxed, knowing we had plenty of gas for the entire dive and the required reserves.
So, since we KNOW we start the dive with more gas than we need, the only way we could end up needing to share gas would be if we had a catastrophic equipment failure. But in that case, each of us is carrying at LEAST enough gas to get both of us to the surface, and often far more than that. We also practice air-sharing on a regular basis, and do air-sharing ascents, so having to do it for real ought to be a "shrug and get on with it" kind of experience. Since catastrophic gas failure is rare -- we've had one such event in 8 years of active diving -- I'm happy that what we have is enough.
Pony bottles are great for people who travel and have to dive with unknown instabuddies, or for people who solo but don't want to use doubles. I really see no need for them otherwise.
To begin with, I have the tools to calculate whether the gas supply I am carrying is sufficient for the dive I intend to do. This is the "rock bottom" calculation people are talking about above. To get more information, read NW Grateful Diver's article on Gas Management. It was his lecture on this topic that changed my diving life forever. As a result, I simply don't descend with a gas supply that isn't generous for what we have planned. An example was last night . . . we met at a dive site where I THOUGHT the plan was to paddle around in 20 feet of water, looking for a specific fish. Turned out the plan was a little different; it was proposed that we go to 70 feet to explore a bottle field, and then work our way upslope and finish our dive decoing out in 20 feet of water, photographing lumpsuckers. We had brought HP80s, figuring they would be more than ample gas for what we were going to do, but with the increased depth, the relationship between total gas and rock bottom started looking iffy -- so we swapped out our 80s for a pair of HP100s we had in the truck, and relaxed, knowing we had plenty of gas for the entire dive and the required reserves.
So, since we KNOW we start the dive with more gas than we need, the only way we could end up needing to share gas would be if we had a catastrophic equipment failure. But in that case, each of us is carrying at LEAST enough gas to get both of us to the surface, and often far more than that. We also practice air-sharing on a regular basis, and do air-sharing ascents, so having to do it for real ought to be a "shrug and get on with it" kind of experience. Since catastrophic gas failure is rare -- we've had one such event in 8 years of active diving -- I'm happy that what we have is enough.
Pony bottles are great for people who travel and have to dive with unknown instabuddies, or for people who solo but don't want to use doubles. I really see no need for them otherwise.
lindenbruce
Contributor
Yes. All you need is a "D" ring at your left shoulder and one at the bottom left on your BC right above your hip. Now, you ARE diving a traditional BC correct? Just wanted to make sure because you mention back inflate. Which makes me think your are diving a BP/W. Most traditional BC's have these "D" rings available already so no issue there as long as your BC has them. B.
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fyi - Zeagle sells a pony bottle regulator - no tank valve needed. It also has it's own fill adapter. Envoy RaZor - Regulator Models - Regulators - Zeagle Dive Systems
OP
phoenix31tt
Contributor
don't want it to get in my way while doing photography/videography
I'm diving a BP/W so that's easy to figure for me... my wife is diving a Rear inflate so thats why i was asking, to determine if her BC can do it... i'll have to check her d-rings
bakodiver391
Contributor
I have been diving with a redundant first and second stage for many years but recently saw a first stage failure with another diver that really drove home why it's important to have another air source. This was a near new first stage on a set of doubles that failed closed suddenly. Imagine how that would feel at depth and ask yourself if your buddy is really close enough all the time for you to be comfortable with this type of failure. I dive a big single with h valve or doubles, and often have a sling tank too, so my answer is I want to have my own redundant air source.
It won't, I have been using one for over five years now with a traditional BC as I only switched over to a BP/W last year
Really you have to check? I would have thought that you would know what your wife's BC configuration would be like by now.
As a photographer you are already on your way to solo diving, when I find something that really interests me then I am 100% totally absorbed, oblivious of anything else. If I am going to spend 5-10 minutes on a subject then I check my gas first and go for it.
If you can rent various sizes of ponies try them out and work out what you need for both of you and your wife's SAC rates at the average depth you normally dive.
I am starting to get into tech diving, and the adadage of 2 is 1, 1 is none.. keeps getting jammed into my head... I dive w/ a dive buddy all the time, and mostly do a lot of diving at a local quarry and also local lakes. everyone there has pony bottles, and uses them. w/ water conditions sometimes being stirred up, and losing sight of your buddy, there have been times in the colder water where a free flow happens, and it was good that the pony was there. Also just for the peace of mind of knowing you have a extra source of air, when/if you need it goes a long way.
I am a fan of Pony's
I am a fan of Pony's
I was wrestling with the thoughts about pony bottles, too. Considered different sizes starting from Spare Airs and up to 40 cft slung bottles. I also thought about two regulator setups for single cylinders. Everything for better redundancy. Finally I opted for a radical solution and switched to sidemount, even though I dive only within recreational limits. I am happy with it, as I feel, it has solved more issues than just gas redundancy.
tplyons
Contributor
I don't dive without a pony, but less favorable conditions.
However, after my recent trip to the Maldives I dove without a pony for the first time in over a year. I felt naked.
My AL40 doesn't fit in my luggage, so I'll probably be picking up a Faber 23 for tank mounting while traveling.
However, after my recent trip to the Maldives I dove without a pony for the first time in over a year. I felt naked.
My AL40 doesn't fit in my luggage, so I'll probably be picking up a Faber 23 for tank mounting while traveling.
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