Attach a Spare Air to a ScubaPro Hydros?

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grtday

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Location
Katy, TX
# of dives
500 - 999
Any suggestions on the best way to attach a Spare Air to my new SCUBAPro HydrosBCD?
Thanks to all in advance!
 
For the money you spent on a $900 BC and a helicopter rescue cylinder, you could have gotten a useful backplate/wing, large tank and a couple of boat trips.
 
Pray tell....why?

You'll find that there are some pretty strong opinions here on ScubaBoard about the kind of gear you should be diving. Backplate/Wing combinations have a big fan following here. For substantially less money than a hydros, you can have a modular system that works just as well, if not better than the hydros. By modular, I mean that you can replace the bladder or wing for a lot less money than buying a new BC.

There are several threads debating the merits of a spare air. If you read through them, I think you'll find that most folks think that it is woefully inadequate for an actual OOA emergency (I happen to agree). For the same money you can buy a decent sized pony tank and regulator. On top of it, you'll have a more reliable system.

I hope this was helpful for putting the previous comments in context.
 
Now about a way of attaching the spare air:

I saw there are multiple holes in the monoprene backplate from the Hydros. Maybe you could rig it to the side with bungees through those holes? (A Little bit like some people would mount their argon to the backplate).
Although I'm not sure how well the monoprene backplate holds up with constant friction from bungees moving.
argonstrap_backplate.jpg

Or maybe velcro it somewhere in the back on your tank where you could reach it with your arm?
 

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If you have a 3 cu ft spare air, have a look at the Zeagle Spare Air pocket Spare Air Pocket

The original 3 cu ft Spare Air holder is not secure and the pony can fall out. If you use the original holder, make sure that the pony is secured with some sort of leash.

Use the hydros travel waist strap (the one without the integrated weight pockets). Weights placed in the trim weight pockets behind the BC will give you better trim.

If you use the travel waist strap, you can secure the pony to your left shoulder and waist D-rings.

Hopefully your Spare Air is the new 6 cu ft model, but I have no experience of that.
 
For the money you spent on a $900 BC and a helicopter rescue cylinder, you could have gotten a useful backplate/wing, large tank and a couple of boat trips.
Perhaps so....
However, the SpareAir has given me 9-11 breaths coming up from 100 ft. I find it small and compact, hence very convenient as life support...maybe I should not use “life support” and “convenient” in the same sentence. Didn’t know about the 6 CF....I’ll get one at DEMA.
The Hydros really rocked in comfort, fit, and quality. It smelt like dicing without a BCD. You should give it a dive and see for yourself!
 
I found a Spare Air to be a useful piece of gear when I carried it, certainly much better than no additional air. Nowadays I carry a 19cf pony but when I had the SA I mounted it so that the neck was around the right shoulder D ring and the base was clipped to a lower D ring, keeping it pretty much in line with the right shoulder strap. Never got in the way, didn't even know it was there.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/perdix-ai/

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