Do you actually see people diving with pony bottles?

[uncfnp]

Mine is twice as big as his. 6L or 40c.f. I fly around Indo but I have not taken it back and forth to the US, at least not yet. Yes, it's weight, and yes, you have to pay. More importantly there are delays in making this extra payment. PITA for sure. Maybe I should just bring a sling and sling an extra AL 80 as some people suggest.

- Bill

Do you stay at each location long enough to make buying and reselling an option if smaller tanks are not available to rent?

Its easy enough to rig and sling an 80, just a lot of unnecessary bulk and weight and may case some trim adjustments.

 

[Jack Hammer]

Mine is twice as big as his. 6L or 40c.f. I fly around Indo but I have not taken it back and forth to the US, at least not yet. Yes, it's weight, and yes, you have to pay. More importantly there are delays in making this extra payment. PITA for sure. Maybe I should just bring a sling and sling an extra AL 80 as some people suggest.

- Bill

Hey Bill, that's what I've done before. I just rigged up an 80 and carried it like a stage while diving single tank BM. We used that setup for some penetration dives to add redundancy. Pretty quick and simple, no trim issues, basically feels the same as carrying a stage or deco bottle on a tech dive.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Can two Al 80s be used in sidemount? (I'm sure steel tanks are preferred, but I ask because I know little about sidemount.) If so, wouldn't that be a good solution for the air-traveling diver who wants to dive an Al 80 with a stage or pony or whatever? I have seen sidemount used in Cozumel, presumably by people with this mindset.

 

[boulderjohn]

Can two Al 80s be used in sidemount? (I'm sure steel tanks are preferred, but I ask because I know little about sidemount.) If so, wouldn't that be a good solution for the air-traveling diver who wants to dive an Al 80 with a stage or pony or whatever? I have seen sidemount used in Cozumel, presumably by people with this mindset.

It happens every day in the caves on the Yucatan mainland.

 

[uncfnp]

Can two Al 80s be used in sidemount? (I'm sure steel tanks are preferred, but I ask because I know little about sidemount.) If so, wouldn't that be a good solution for the air-traveling diver who wants to dive an Al 80 with a stage or pony or whatever? I have seen sidemount used in Cozumel, presumably by people with this mindset.

Absolutely. In fact its the standard tank for “Mexican” SM. I tried it recently with the razor system. I found them much easier to manage and had greater mobility in the water.

 

[Lorenzoid]

So it seems to me that if multiple tanks is your answer to the rec dive redundancy issue, and you're traveling by air and want the convenience of renting tanks, then sidemount is your answer.

Sidemounting the ubiquitous Al 80 seems almost as convenient to me as a pony if you're already looking at a 40cf pony. For all I know, it's actually easier in the water than having a slung pony.

I am in the camp that uses my buddy for redundancy rather than a pony, but if I were to instead decide that my redundancy will come from having two tanks, I'm certain I would be a sidemounter and use sidemount on every dive, whether at home or in a distant location, so long as the dive op doesn't object. Indeed, if all of us demanded sidemount for redundancy, dive ops would be forced to cater to it. If redundancy on a rec dive is as critical as we say it is, then maybe the standard configuration that should be taught in OW by all the agencies should be sidemount?

But back to today's reality--and this goes back the nagging question I had when I last participated in this thread pages ago: If you feel you a need for two tanks, then why not face up to the fact and just consistently dive two identical tanks in a conventional sidemount (or backmount) configuration, using the well-established procedures that go along with those configurations, rather than trying to couch the other tank as a "pony"? (The mention in a previous post of an 80cf "pony" is what caught my attention and prompted me to chime in again.) I am in the camp that values consistency and proven procedures, though I noted the comments upthread about consistency, muscle memory, etc. Sidemounting would address all that.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Can two Al 80s be used in sidemount? (I'm sure steel tanks are preferred, but I ask because I know little about sidemount.) If so, wouldn't that be a good solution for the air-traveling diver who wants to dive an Al 80 with a stage or pony or whatever? I have seen sidemount used in Cozumel, presumably by people with this mindset.

Yes, I've used AL80's in sidemount both in freshwater (caves and Great Lakes) and saltwater (Red Sea) ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[2airishuman]

Sidemounting the ubiquitous Al 80 seems almost as convenient to me as a pony if you're already looking at a 40cf pony. For all I know, it's actually easier in the water than having a slung pony.

You can also backmount one AL80 and sling the other, or dive independent backmounted doubles, which is what I would prefer to do if I were going to dive two AL80s and did not have access to a twinset.

If you feel you a need for two tanks, then why not face up to the fact and just consistently dive two identical tanks in a conventional sidemount (or backmount) configuration, using the well-established procedures that go along with those configurations, rather than trying to couch the other tank as a "pony"? (The mention in a previous post of an 80cf "pony" is what caught my attention and prompted me to chime in again.) I am in the camp that values consistency and proven procedures, though I noted the comments upthread about consistency, muscle memory, etc. Sidemounting would address all that.

I would not characterize sidemount as having more "well-established procedures" than is the case for slung cylinders. Sidemount has come a long way but there are many different configurations individualized to each diver. While I am not a sidemount diver, I do not believe I would want to use sidemount for all my dives since I am comfortable with backmount cylinders and find it more straightforward to enter and exit the water fully assembled than in pieces. It is, in any case, a more substantial transition to switch from backmount to sidemount, than it is to add a pony to a backmount configuration.

 

[uncfnp]

So it seems to me that if multiple tanks is your answer to the rec dive redundancy issue, and you're traveling by air and want the convenience of renting tanks, then sidemount is your answer.

Sidemounting the ubiquitous Al 80 seems almost as convenient to me as a pony if you're already looking at a 40cf pony. For all I know, it's actually easier in the water than having a slung pony.

I am in the camp that uses my buddy for redundancy rather than a pony, but if I were to instead decide that my redundancy will come from having two tanks, I'm certain I would be a sidemounter and use sidemount on every dive, whether at home or in a distant location, so long as the dive op doesn't object. Indeed, if all of us demanded sidemount for redundancy, dive ops would be forced to cater to it. If redundancy on a rec dive is as critical as we say it is, then maybe the standard configuration that should be taught in OW by all the agencies should be sidemount?

But back to today's reality--and this goes back the nagging question I had when I last participated in this thread pages ago: If you feel you a need for two tanks, then why not face up to the fact and just consistently dive two identical tanks in a conventional sidemount (or backmount) configuration, using the well-established procedures that go along with those configurations, rather than trying to couch the other tank as a "pony"? (The mention in a previous post of an 80cf "pony" is what caught my attention and prompted me to chime in again.) I am in the camp that values consistency and proven procedures, though I noted the comments upthread about consistency, muscle memory, etc. Sidemounting would address all that.

FWIW. True SM is more complicated then simply slinging a pony. It is a completely different system (not the best word but what I could think of at the moment) then single tank BM, not just an added piece of gear. It involves near gear, new procedures and a good deal new muscle memory. Doff and don is more involved and boat entry and exits can be more complex as well.

But if two al80’s is the equipment of choice traveling, then yes, SM is “probably” the best option.

 

[MichaelMc]

But if two al80’s is the equipment of choice, then yes, SM is “probably” the best option.

I think the question was if you are traveling and want self contained redundancy, might sidemount be easier than bringing or sourcing a pony, especially if an AL63/80 might be the only 'pony' that was available at the destination. If you're experienced enough that the transition to sidemount is not very hard.