Some of you seem to have forgotten that the OOA situation I experienced was an excellent example of why a SA _or_ a Pony is an excellent choice:
I ran OOA when my rental SPG read 55 Bar.
[As I wrote, I have never used rental equipment since...]
I was at 20~22m depth.
I was diving in Indonesia, between Bali and Lombok.
I had my OW/AOW/MFA at this point.
I was diving with a newbie OW.
The currents were strong [5 knots] and we were tumbling, rather than drifting, I'd say.
Once we were down, it was impossible to gather together, but I wasted air trying to stay with my buddy, that is for sure.
So it was a heavy workload dive, and the usual "guesstimations"/'calculations' on air use wouldn't work.
The look of fear on the newbie when we first got down and the current starting carrying us off made me perversely chuckle, but I tried to stay close to him.
I imagine I had a similar look later when my OOA situation occurred.
Perhaps he perversely chuckled in return!
Needless to say, this OOA situation involved several co-factors:
faulty rental equipment,
very tough dive conditions,
a new diver as a dive buddy,
a [perhaps?] irresponsible divemaster
for choosing that location and renting sh*** equipment! [although, to admit, until the OOA situation I was enjoying the tumbling
...]
The question is, were these conditions SO rare that it is improbable that it will NEVER happen to anyone else [or, for that matter, me, again]?
Will any of you ever have a SPG problem?
Tough dive?
New or inexperienced buddy, not by your side?
Perhaps bad guiding/choice of location?
No?!?!? Lucky you.
I now am a 2Star Instructor, with CMAS, under which my rigorous training has prepared me for as much as I think is reasonably possible; I have been diving in many challenging situations, and I agree with the wisdom expressed herewithin about carrying dive insurance, having a dive plan and diving it with a well-briefed and suitable partner, with whom you've discussed all contingencies...
Nonetheless, as soon as my US$ 180 Spare Air kit arrives, I will fill'er up, strap'er on, and while not changing my dive behaviour for the worse, feel _slightly_ better that while monitoring my air usage and equipment maintenance and buddy diving methods, I will also have another backup should any of those factors come into play again for me, or for the first time for anyone with which I am diving.:cool2:
Finally, I appreciated the explanation of the screw-off pony; I think in Japan, where I live and do 90% of my diving, that due to stringent [excessive?!?] safety requirements, pony valves are sealed except for inspection, and so one cannot remove the valve. Maybe a Zen Divers member can clarify this point...
Cheers
