Nitrox to an OOA Diver?

[Deefstes]

Shouldn't you ask to see his/her Nitrox c-card first before handing him/her your Nitrox reg? Which reminds me, I still need to get my "fart from a donkey's ass" c-card

 

[ONESPEED]

? George? As in Washington? I don't know a George.

That's painfully obvious.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Hmmm ... regarding the donkey comment ... it was something I heard at a workshop I attended a few years back. I didn't realize at the time it was a quote, rather than a spontaneous comment. Hadn't given it much thought until the topic where I posted it ... where it seemed somehow appropriate.

Now that I'm aware of the source, I'd prefer if folks would attribute it to its author ... as I will ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Cave Diver]

Shouldn't you ask to see his/her Nitrox c-card first before handing him/her your Nitrox reg?

They'll also need to analyze it and log the results in your wetnotes before breathing off of it.

 

[dewayne405]

As others have said, if and when the time comes, give them whatever they choose in the panic. My one and only experience with an OOA diver (not in our dive group) consisted of having my Safe Second nearly ripped from my BC.... Scared me dang near to death as the diver "attacked" from above... After yelling profusely at him through my reg, I finally convinced him to take the long hose and I reclaimed the Safe Second (used my pony to ascend) for its final dive/ascent...
We were in the 70-80 foot depths in a local lake. Scariest part was when we entered the water there were no other vehicles or divers in the area.
I always carry a pony for emergency air, filled with air only, yet he bypassed the yellow pony bottle with bright yellow reg, and the long hose that I was breathing on, to go for the Safe Second on my shoulder.

No matter how small a person is, when the Survival Instinct goes into Overdrive, they will take what they want, how they want...
Please just give them the reg of their choice, once they calm down, you can yell like I did, and if they are willing, "trade to get back the reg that you want". Or suck it up, dive is over anyways.

 

[Jax]

They'll also need to analyze it and log the results in your wetnotes before breathing off of it.

Note to self . . . .

 

[FritzCat66]

I love pony arguments on ScubaBoard. Even with all the splitfin and snorkel debates, I don't think any of them have ponies beat in terms of sheer variety of arguments. Let me see if I can categorize all the positions and related sub-arguments:

• carrying a pony to begin with: good idea vs. bad idea
  if carried, all dives vs. some dives​
• terminology and intent: "pony" vs. "bailout" vs. "stage"
  related: part of dive plan vs. not part of dive plan​
• capacity: 6cf vs. 13cf vs. 19cf vs 30cf vs. 40cf
  related: reserve capacity vs. ascent-only
  related: ascent with stops vs. ascent with no stops​
• backmounted vs. slung
  if backmounted, left side vs. right side
  if backmounted, valve-up vs. valve down
  if backmounted, on tank vs. on cam band
  if backmounted, bracket vs. quick-release vs. bag
  if slung, underarm or cross-mount​
• valve open vs. valve closed
  if closed, line charged vs. line not charged​
• no SPG vs. mini SPG vs. regular SPG
  
  
• first stage OPV vs. no first stage OPV
  
  
• air vs. backgas vs. some other mix
  
  
• reg clipped vs. reg necklaced vs. reg stage-style on bottle
  related: pony donatable vs. self-use only​

Did I miss any? Every one of these aspects has its supporters and detractors; what's more, if you're wrong about any one choice, You're Gonna Die^TM.

Point being, I think everything related to a pony makes it perhaps the most singularly ideosyncratic of all dive practices. I love that about ponies!

Oh, and my personal choices: pony carried on all dives, bailout-only (i.e. not part of dive plan), 19cf, ascent-only but with stops, backmounted, left-side, on cam band, with bracket, valve-up, valve on, mini SPG, OPV, air-only, necklaced reg, for me alone. Any other choices are totally crazy and indefensible.

 

[Jax]

only 19cf? You're gonna die!

 

[Cave Diver]

only 19cf? You're gonna die!

How much gas do you need to make a direct ascent to the surface for a non-decompression dive?

 

[D_B]

Great post Fritz but I really like this part

.....
Any other choices are totally crazy and indefensible.