spare air advice

[redacted]

The logic is faulty. Out of all of the options available, several of which include safe, controlled ascents or even never even running out in the first place, the two of you are HAPPY with being bent on the surface?

How about monitoring your air supply and never running out of air?
How about properly planing the dive so you never run out of air?
How about staying close enough to your buddy that if the first two fail you have a reliable supply of air?
How about aborting any dive where you find it impossible to stay close enough to your buddy to stay safe?
How about carying a sufficient redundant air supply so that if you fail at the first three you can make a safe controlled ascent?

Instead you choose the option that you know in advance will likely end with you bent on the surface? i just don't get it.

Too bad. You were making a good point until you lost credibility with "will likely end with you bent". It is an increase of a very small risk for recreational divers. It is simply not likely.

Why is it necessary to exagerate the truth to make a valid point?

 

[ce4jesus]

agreed totally about the part of reef divers distractions. I often stare at the polyps of a gorgonian. If you know what that is, than you would know that you have to get it within about 2" from your mask to see this. it takes a second to refocus on a distant buddy let alone swim to him/her. I don't have my wife when I dive. So my buddy is whomever. I don'tknow him/her and niether do hey know me.

can you tel me why you carry two spare air vs. one? TY

One for me and one for the missus. Again, I can't reiterate enough to test out your emergency OOA plan before it happens. Like most have stated on here, Spare air is typically a complement to CESA allowing you to get to the surface during an emergency. Spare air claims to give you 57 breaths at the surface based on 1.6ltrs per breath (This is a very easy test). Mine gives me about 48 breaths at the surface. Divide the number of breaths at the surface by 2 at 33ft and by another 2 at 99ft and you'll be in the ball park of the number of breaths you'll get out of a 3.0 cu ft, 3000psi model.

 

[AuTgrDvr]

Would any of you recommend H2Odyssey Extra Air Source? I need to get an extra air source as well. If you recommend making your own, can you advise in detail about how to make and mount a system? Thanks very much.

 

[dannobee]

You'll need a pony bottle and a regulator, some line, some tubing that the line will fit in, a hose clamp that will fit the size of the bottle, and a couple of bolt snaps. I posted some prices in this thread previously, so go back a page or two. Add $20 or so for a couple of bolt snaps and the line/clamp/tubing. Some bungie/shock cord will be needed to hold the reg in place.

If you're going to wear one, rig it like a stage bottle.

http://www.technicaldiver.com/stagebottle.html

 

[SteveAD]

H2Odysseys unit is better than a spare air only in terms of capacity. A pony can be sling mounted or back mounted and used from the carry position. H2O and spare air basically put a mouthpiece on a tank. I don't know about you but I don't want to do my whole ascent with a tank on my chin.

 

[MASS-Diver]

My advice for rec dives in this range (40-90') would be to either learn how to share air with your buddy or (if you dive alone or plan on losing your buddy) get a set of doubles. All the other solutions are micky mouse.

 

[OceanicRocks]

ok I started to call around my local dive shops to get my hands on a pony... I want to look at 13 cu and 19 cu tanks. However, I am being discouraged somewhat by these dive shop owners. After telling them what this will be used for I had a guy basically tell me that its not necessary... also he said that I will have problems in the airport when traveling... I said I was planning to carry it on. but he felt that I would have some trouble. saying that it looks like a bomb. does anyone have this problem? or do most just not carry on. He also mentioned like some on this thread that my money would be best spent on a reg. set rathr than a pony. Now I'm really confused cause he even had a used 13 cu tank that he was willing to sell to me for $100 with the k- valve. He also said that it will be cumbersome not only to carry to get to the destination but also on the dive. Whats the deal? help...

 

[OceanicRocks]

H2Odysseys unit is better than a spare air only in terms of capacity. A pony can be sling mounted or back mounted and used from the carry position. H2O and spare air basically put a mouthpiece on a tank. I don't know about you but I don't want to do my whole ascent with a tank on my chin.

isn't a tank on your chin better than no tank at all?

 

[Damselfish]

ok I started to call around my local dive shops to get my hands on a pony... I want to look at 13 cu and 19 cu tanks. However, I am being discouraged somewhat by these dive shop owners. After telling them what this will be used for I had a guy basically tell me that its not necessary... also he said that I will have problems in the airport when traveling... I said I was planning to carry it on. but he felt that I would have some trouble. saying that it looks like a bomb. does anyone have this problem? or do most just not carry on. He also mentioned like some on this thread that my money would be best spent on a reg. set rathr than a pony. Now I'm really confused cause he even had a used 13 cu tank that he was willing to sell to me for $100 with the k- valve. He also said that it will be cumbersome not only to carry to get to the destination but also on the dive. Whats the deal? help...

He's pretty much right on all counts. When someone in a dive shop is actually discouraging you from buying something, that's unusual and possibly worth paying attention to.

He's correct that a pony is not necessary. I suppose a few people who travel and always dive with insta-buddys travel with them and feel more comfortable that way, but I've done a lot of dive travel and never seen anyone bring one. And I'm guessing these few people do not typically buy that pony bottle before they have bought a BC or main reg. You need a reg for the pony too. It doesn't make sense to me to buy a reg for a pony that you are hopefully never going to use, rather than a reg for youself that you will use all the time. You're more likely to run into crap rental regs than have a need for a pony.

He's also correct that it will be a nuisance to travel with. Tanks of any size are a bit of pain to travel with, some people do but not many. You need to remove the valve. And you would want to check it, as some inspectors will see it as a weapon. Might actually be the rule to check it, I forget. And weight is always an issue in dive travel.

I'd say, work on getting the rest of your major gear. If after that and some more diving you still want a pony, go for it then. And seriously, do a lot of reading on dive operators and choose carefully. Research is free. Some islands, and some hotels (AIs for example) tend to attract more of the casual divers you may be more concerned about buddying up with. Others attract more serious divers on average where you won't need to be as afraid of your instabuddy. Some operators are much better than others. Also maybe look into group trips with a local dive shops or liveaboards for future trips where you're on your own. Check here and other message boards for people going someplace the same time you are.

 

[ce4jesus]

I have to remove the top of the spare airs when I travel with them. I put celaphane over the top with a rubberband around them. It allows inspectors to peer inside and still keeps it contaminant free. I have carried them on but usually check them. I separate the reg (top piece) carry that on and check the bottles in luggage.