I fly to most of my dive destinations so a pony bottle is not going to be an option for me.
Sure it is. I either stuff the 19cf pony in the carry on with my regs, computers, mask and lights or check it.
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I fly to most of my dive destinations so a pony bottle is not going to be an option for me.
You're right. It's not specified. I'm just at a loss to come up with another idea of how a reg could last 30+ years if it's balanced, empties the tank entirely, regularly being flooded with salt water every dive. Seems like a hassle. When I use to breathe a tank down to nothing when a tricky j-valve would bite me I was glad for the couple warning breathes. Just freshwater, but still saved me a ton of rebuilding. I just figured they might be similar to me in that way.I missed where it was posted that they were breathing from unbalanced piston regulators?
..regularly being flooded with salt water every dive.
Sure it is. I either stuff the 19cf pony in the carry on with my regs, computers, mask and lights or check it.
can you elaborate?Though I'm getting away from the muscle memory argument these days.
Yes and no. Yes you can carry a pony or scuba tank on a commercial aircraft, but TSA regulations require the tank to be unpressurized and the valve removed. For me, it is not an option because that process is too much of a PITA, especially since I have never needed one, or have seen anyone carry one in the environments I typically dive. I do not dive solo, so I consider my buddy's tank to be my "pony bottle" should an emergency occur.