Preferred mix in a pony

[Mack Diver]

This seems as good a thread as any for this question / poll. What mix do most prefer for a pony bottle? That is assuming that the user is Nitrox certified. Since the pony is typically a "bail Out" bottle to be used in an emergency situation, do you want a 32 or 36 mix to lessen the nitrogen? Or, since it is just for a few breaths to get to the surface, do you just go with good ol compressed air?

 

[markfm]

Air -- pony means the dive's over, I don't sweat nitrogen buildup in that phase. It also makes it a lot simpler for fairly frequent topoffs (practice).

 

[jeckyll]

Yup.

Really, if you are bringing it as redundancy, and in case you end up having a problem, you need to be able to breath it at your max depth, if not deeper.

And it may be more than a few breaths. After all, given that you are planning for worst case, if you're on a dive where you'd rather be able to make a safety stop, it's nice to do that in comfort. In some circumstances it would also be much preferable to make the upline.

I better stop now

 

[fire_diver]

Always air in a pony. Anything else and I'm using it as a stage or a deco bottle.

FD

 

[Jimmer]

If I'm intending to use it for reducing my nitrogen load, I'll put 40% or 50% in it for my safety stops. But that is planned, if it's being used for redundant backup, air is fine by me.

 

[markfm]

Oh, my -- actually several constructive comments without a random bash against ponies.

 

[ianr33]

If I'm intending to use it for reducing my nitrogen load, I'll put 40% or 50% in it for my safety stops. But that is planned, if it's being used for redundant backup, air is fine by me.

How do you get a 50% fill with an AOW card? (assuming your profile is up to date)

 

[Nemrod]

Nitrox in my buddy bottle,regardless of my back tank.

There was this same thread a few weeks ago but it may have gone into the black hole of netherland with the crash.

N

 

[Jimmer]

I've been going through the Advanced Nitrox book for a while, just haven't written the exam and got the card yet. Instructor doesn't have any problem with me using 50% since I'm in the middle of the course, but I don't use O2 or anything like that since I'm not doing deco, I just use it to help "clean up" a little on the safety stops, and to get used to gas switching for when I take my deco procedures course.

How do you get a 50% fill with an AOW card? (assuming your profile is up to date)

 

[jeckyll]

If I'm intending to use it for reducing my nitrogen load, I'll put 40% or 50% in it for my safety stops. But that is planned, if it's being used for redundant backup, air is fine by me.

How much difference does that make to your nitrogen loading?