Really? I certainly believe you, I just find that surprising given how widely you've dived. The majority of my boat diving has been in the Great Lakes, NC, and Southeast FL. In those three areas I typically see them on every single charter, and I'm not talking about my own pony bottle. Most are back mounted AL19/20/30s and the rest are slung AL19/20/30/40s. A few may be smaller. When I dive in Palm Beach and Jupiter it is exceedingly rare for me to be the only diver on the boat with a pony bottle. There are almost always 2-3 or more other divers with one.
In Florida I dive farther south, in the Pompano Beach area. Evidently I am blind, because I honestly don't see them there.That I get. I don't do that type of diving. I was surprised that John rarely saw them because I know he does alot of diving in the locations I mentioned.
EDIT: I forgot to include the rest of the quote:
Although I have come close to where you dive in Florida, I don't actually dive there. I have never dived the Great Lakes or NC. Thus, no, we don't dive in the same places.The majority of my boat diving has been in the Great Lakes, NC, and Southeast FL.