Pony bottle vs. Spare Air?

[GrumpyOldGuy]

I think the skydiving analogy is weak. Skydivers don't have CESA, don't do buddies and sharing a parachute with a fellow sky diver is a whole lot different than grabbing your friends octo.

FYI: I do own a bailout bottle, I just don't need it with good buddies in my current dive profiles. I do follow rule number 1, although I am never mistaken for a DIR type in my poodle jacket. I don't really care if someone does use a pony/bailout, thats their gear and their business. All I need to know is how to use it if they are my buddy, part of any dive plan.

 

[peterbj7]

A friend's daughter learned to skydive and she was telling us that most of the accidents she heard about was from more experienced skydivers who didn't use a backup chute anymore because they thought they could handle any problems with chutes that became tangled.

I've never heard of a skydiver not having a reserve, except for some base jumpers who wouldn't have time to deploy it anyway. Nor do I know of any dropzone that would permit anyone to jump if they didn't have a reserve. I think your friend's daughter has it wrong.

 

[DandyDon]

A friend's daughter learned to skydive and she was telling us that most of the accidents she heard about was from more experienced skydivers who didn't use a backup chute anymore because they thought they could handle any problems with chutes that became tangled.

Funny story, doubt that it can be confirmed. If the experienced skydivers have any increased risks, it'd probly be from using different gear than newbies and students, or from not being as restricted in weather conditions allowed for diving.

In scuba diving, I can see where the most experienced diver could have less need for a pony than I: They use a lot less gas generally, having more to share if needed on a buddy save, and they'd be more proficient with self saves like a CESA. Such reasons would have nothing to do with whether I want to bother transporting my 15# pony kit tho, boarding with the extra load, climbing the ladder with an extra 15# with 60 year old cowboy knees (I still feel where that pregnant heifer got me good 20 years ago - sounded like a rifle shot when she kicked), etc.

What was the original question? Something about the cute little toy called Spare Air.....?

 

[Lowrider Steve]

Funny story, doubt that it can be confirmed. If the experienced skydivers have any increased risks, it'd probly be from using different gear than newbies and students, or from not being as restricted in weather conditions allowed for diving.

In scuba diving, I can see where the most experienced diver could have less need for a pony than I: They use a lot less gas generally, having more to share if needed on a buddy save, and they'd be more proficient with self saves like a CESA. Such reasons would have nothing to do with whether I want to bother transporting my 15# pony kit tho, boarding with the extra load, climbing the ladder with an extra 15# with 60 year old cowboy knees (I still feel where that pregnant heifer got me good 20 years ago - sounded like a rifle shot when she kicked), etc.

What was the original question? Something about the cute little toy called Spare Air.....?

Am I missing something? If you are "carrying" 15 lbs of extra weight, I would assume you would drop lead to make up for it. Are you really carrying extra weight?

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Am I missing something? If you are "carrying" 15 lbs of extra weight, I would assume you would drop lead to make up for it. Are you really carrying extra weight?

The weight mentioned for the pony is the ABOVE water weight, not the bouyancy underwater. The exact amount of bouyancy (positive or negative) and the required change in ballast would be based on the specific tank and reg, but in any case is probably small.

 

[Lowrider Steve]

Duh, my bad.

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Duh, my bad.

Completely understandable considering all that has gone on in this thread!

 

[DandyDon]

Like I said: "...transporting my 15# pony kit tho, boarding with the extra load, climbing the ladder with an extra 15# with 60 year old cowboy knees..."
[c]

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[islandguy]

First of all spare air was never made to go to 130 ft. The 3CF bottle can be used in an emergency situation from 70ft. Remember, that you do not have enough air to make a safety stop so it has to be a control ascent to the surface. No one ever wants to run out of air but it happens due to an equipment failure or a diver's mistake underwater. If you ever have to use an alternate air source, something went terribly wrong.

 

[diverDano]

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