Should we get pony bottles?

[drbill]

When I dive with a buddy, I don't want them too close since there is a good chance they will silt up or otherwise spoil my video (although a dive buddy with skills like those from GUE training would most likely not be a problem). One exception is when I'm diving with my son as I tend not to video much when I'm with him.

This is one reason I rely less on a buddy (if I'm not diving solo) and more on my pony (which I mount to my main tank rather than sling so it is out of the way of my filming).

Good buddy skills just do not seem to be well ingrained in many of today's divers unless they have had excellent training and experience.

 

[DaleC]

For recreational dives under the depth one is comfortable doing a CESA from, the desire for a RAS is inversely proportional to the trust one can place in a buddy, along with an assessment of environmental/operational considerations. What I would like is for the stigma attached to carrying a pony to be removed. It does not necessarily mean you are a poor buddy or unable to plan dives (any more than someone using doubles on a rec dive).

If diving vintage gear below CESA depth I do.
If diving solo below CESA depth I do.
If diving with a trusted buddy I don't.
If diving below CESA depth with an unknown buddy I do.

I find a pony to be a very valuable tool that is portable and transferable between rigs. In that case, though my primary equipment may change, my RAS (and my learned use of it) remains constant. Bailout response should be an unconscious act. I like not having to think about where in the water column my reserve gas is located and calculating whether I should swim towards it or the surface.

 

[PfcAJ]

@ TSandM, Not so sure I entirely agree with part of this statement.

Sometimes remaining with your teammate is more than just "dive skill" and "planning". Any number of factors can result in unintentional separation from your teammate even if the divers are very skilled. At that point the question becomes who is prepared mentally as well as equipped to abort the dive alone. I have known some great divers to get separated during dives where visibility changed mid dives.

That pony offers are redundancy that does not involve another diver's back who may be separated, lost, incapacitated etc. etc.

I do agree that slinging doesn't get in the way of photography or fishing.

Standard dive protocol (by the book, guys. Calm down) is to look around for a minute then head for the surface.

If you get separated, meet up at the big air tank in the sky. I don't really see why you need to invest in a 2nd reg and tank (and all the associated maintenance and hassle, even if minimal) for 60 seconds of what should be rare separation.

 

[rx7diver]

Standard dive protocol (by the book, guys. Calm down) is to look around for a minute then head for the surface.

If you get separated, meet up at the big air tank in the sky. I don't really see why you need to invest in a 2nd reg and tank (and all the associated maintenance and hassle, even if minimal) for 60 seconds of what should be rare separation.

PfcAJ,

You've summarized the SOP for what a recreational open water diver is to do if he/she notices that he's lost his buddy.

Suppose you suffer an out-of-air emergency and then you notice that you've lost your buddy. If you can't do a safe CESA from where you are, then you're in real trouble--unless you have a pony bottle or similar.

Safe Diving,

rx7diver

 

[PfcAJ]

Seems a little far fetched to me. 2 somewhat major issues back to back, AND you can't CESA? I'd say that if we're going down that road, your pony bottle probably disappeared and gremlins sunk the boat while you were diving.

But hey, if you wanna drag extra stuff along rather than focusing on basic dive skills, go nuts.

 

[flots am]

Seems a little far fetched to me. 2 somewhat major issues back to back, AND you can't CESA? I'd say that if we're going down that road, your pony bottle probably disappeared and gremlins sunk the boat while you were diving.

Which two? OOA and lost your buddy? Both come from "not paying attention" and go together like cheese and burgers.

"Can't do a CESA" isn't generally an entrapment or environment problem, it's a skills problem. For someone who probably hasn't done a real CESA from depth since certification (or ever, if I understand PADI's current requirements), grabbing a reg from a pony bottle is much safer.

flots.

 

[PfcAJ]

Wait, so the solution to a)losing your buddy b)running out of gas and c)getting trapped (all at the same time) is a pony bottle?

Seems legit.

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

I dive with pony's often because I solo whenever possible or get an insta buddy when boat rules won't allow. Someone diving solo without redundant is behaving in a risky manner unless they keep shallow IMO. I have never run out of air or low on air, but Mr. Murphy is alive and well.

When I dive with good buddy's I don't hesitate to skip the pony unless we are diving really cold water (<45F) where free flow is possible or low vis conditions where buddy separation is more likely.

 

[BUDMANOK]

Wait, so the solution to a)losing your buddy b)running out of gas and c)getting trapped (all at the same time) is a pony bottle?

no but the one thing you can count on is that humans have flaws and make mistakes. (no disrespect intended to those whose skills far exceed mine )

 

[rick00001967]

I can hang around 10 minutes at 15' with 30cf bottle.

i don't think this can be right. you must be short changing yourself. my 6cf bottle lasts 6 or 7 minutes at 15 to 20 feet.