Pony vs. Doubles -- Philosophical Difference?

[Peter Guy]

In my short diving career I've met many people who dive with, and swear by, a pony bottle but who swear at diving with doubles -- likewise I've met many who dive doubles but "would never" dive a pony.

Is there a "philosophical difference" behind the use of a pony vs. the use of manifolded doubles? If so, what is the difference?

This thread, of course, has absolutely no practical value at all -- but I was just wondering.....

 

[micklock]

With a manifold you can shut a post down if you have a freeflow and still have access to the air in both tanks.

 

[Kern]

I don't really have a philosophy on this, just some personal preferences.

I only wear a pony on rare occasions & only on NDL dives. I wear it slung under my left arm. In this position I find it's out of the way, easy to access & pass off if required. I don't like attaching a pony to my tank, or anywhere else but under my left arm for that matter.

I only use doubles for deco dives. I still wear at least 1 pony under my left arm depending on the dive. Of course the pony has a hot mix & is now called a deco stage.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

My answer consists of questions: If the pony bottle has enough gas to get me to the surface safely and the single tank is large enough to do the dive, then why risk getting hurt with wrestling with doubles, especially on a small dive boat?

My new 149 cu-ft single tank provides me enough gas to do 2 or 3 no-deco dives in the 100-120ft range, do I need to carry more gas?

I own more than a dozen tanks, who needs the added expense of manifolds and doubles?

 

[Gombessa]

Having only dived doubles and never a pony, my view is admittedly skewed. But my guesses about pony advantages are about the "flexibility" they offer--e.g., you dive as you would normally dive singles (many singles divers see doubles as a completely different kind of diving) and still have redundancy, you can use the pony with rental tanks or with any kind of single-tank you have access to, you can travel with it more easily, and chances are it's a bit lighter than diving a typical doubles set. You can also leave the pony in your car if you decide not to use it, or hand it off to another diver in the water. You also don't have to get familiar with the arcane functioning of an isolation manifold. Am I missing anything big?

 

[micklock]

I went diving yesterday with twin 40cft ponies.

 

[String]

Twinsets have their uses but are a pain in the arse for shallow clambering over rocks shore dives where the gas contained in a pony it more than enough to get you out of jail.

A manifold twinset is good where that isnt a factor and PROVIDED the user can shut down a valve quickly enough - i see a LOT of people who can't which defeats the whole point.

Independent twins are another option.

 

[gcbryan]

In my short diving career I've met many people who dive with, and swear by, a pony bottle but who swear at diving with doubles -- likewise I've met many who dive doubles but "would never" dive a pony.

Is there a "philosophical difference" behind the use of a pony vs. the use of manifolded doubles? If so, what is the difference?

This thread, of course, has absolutely no practical value at all -- but I was just wondering.....

I think this is a loaded question. Given the phrasing of the question I suppose the only people who should respond are those who swear by a pony while swearing at doubles however no one in that category is responding. I've not personally met anyone who uses a pony who has a problem with those who use doubles. Many who do use ponies under some circumstances also use doubles under other circumstances.

There is a philosophy, as you are aware. that uses doubles and does have an issue with those who use ponies but I've not heard of the reverse therefore I think that this is a loaded question.

 

[DaleC]

Someone who subscribes to a "philosophy" may prefer one over the other but, is there really a philosophical difference between the use of either? We shall see if "something" pokes it's head out from beneath the bridge.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

In my case I found that moving up to indepnedent doubles from a 30 cu ft pony only added about 15 lbs in total weight. Made more sense to me to have the extra gas and extra flexibility of two full size scuba tanks.

Not long after that I went with manifolded doubles. Personally I dive them about 95% of the time. On pretty fish boat dives, I'll take one set of doubles and use half on one dive, half on the second dive and not have to worry about changing tanks. I also have the option of setting them up in the back of my vehicle and just carrying the whole thing on the boat so gearing up is much more consistent and controlled, especially if the boat is on the small side.

The only place I would rethink that would be on dives where I would have to climb up or down extensive rip rap or a rocky beach or when diving out of a very small boat where getting doubles aboard could be problematic.

Larry