Captain Nimrod
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I dive solo in the Keys - typically 1 ATM or less.
Borrowing from Jersey wreck divers who believe (as I certainly do) that having two completely independant breathing systems is the way to go, but not wanting to go the typical deep/cold Jersey Wreck Divers set-up of twin tanks with independant stages or manifold with isolation valve, the following has been arranged and I invite comments.
Aluminum 80 and Aluminum 19 Pony clamped to eachother with first stages at equal heights. 19 Pony is to the right; a knife on the left front of BC (OMS w/Dive Rite bladder) and a 4# weight to the lower left of the AL-80 trim things just right.
Each tank has a first stage and it's own second. Black hose and reg for the AL-80 (Mares Abyss 05/MR22) and a yellow hose and reg for the Pony (Cressi Sub) which has the switch set to minimum which all but eliminates freeflow concerns yet can be breathed though not as easily as "maximum." The Cressi is clipped to the RF of the BC just to the right of my sternum where even if there was a freeflow the bubbles would be readily apparent, "in my face" so to speak.
After considerable discussions and pool drills, back-up second stage for the AL-80 was eliminated as 1) There would be no buddy to use it and; 2) my back-up was the yellow Cressi attached to the pony and; 3) one less chance for a freeflow and less stuff dangling around.
I'm going to use this set-up next week but had thought about mounting the pony inverted on the left side of the main tank and have the hose and reg coming from up/under my left arm. The thinking against such an arrangement was to keep air on right and everything else on the left.
I'll report back on how things worked when I return formt he Keys in a couple of weeks but certainly appreciate anything the brain-trust can share. Thanks in advance.
Borrowing from Jersey wreck divers who believe (as I certainly do) that having two completely independant breathing systems is the way to go, but not wanting to go the typical deep/cold Jersey Wreck Divers set-up of twin tanks with independant stages or manifold with isolation valve, the following has been arranged and I invite comments.
Aluminum 80 and Aluminum 19 Pony clamped to eachother with first stages at equal heights. 19 Pony is to the right; a knife on the left front of BC (OMS w/Dive Rite bladder) and a 4# weight to the lower left of the AL-80 trim things just right.
Each tank has a first stage and it's own second. Black hose and reg for the AL-80 (Mares Abyss 05/MR22) and a yellow hose and reg for the Pony (Cressi Sub) which has the switch set to minimum which all but eliminates freeflow concerns yet can be breathed though not as easily as "maximum." The Cressi is clipped to the RF of the BC just to the right of my sternum where even if there was a freeflow the bubbles would be readily apparent, "in my face" so to speak.
After considerable discussions and pool drills, back-up second stage for the AL-80 was eliminated as 1) There would be no buddy to use it and; 2) my back-up was the yellow Cressi attached to the pony and; 3) one less chance for a freeflow and less stuff dangling around.
I'm going to use this set-up next week but had thought about mounting the pony inverted on the left side of the main tank and have the hose and reg coming from up/under my left arm. The thinking against such an arrangement was to keep air on right and everything else on the left.
I'll report back on how things worked when I return formt he Keys in a couple of weeks but certainly appreciate anything the brain-trust can share. Thanks in advance.