pony or spare air?

[penitent1]

Why would you buy a redundant air source when you don’t have a primary air source? Get your basic gear first (regulators, computer, whatever) and learn how to use it. After that you can consider what extra equipment you want to get.

For now I rent air tanks. Our local dive shop doesn't rent pony bottles or spare air. If I need redundant air for safety then I have to buy one of these options. On another thread some people were saying that all you need to do is look at your pressure gauges and manage your air. I wish it were that simple and nothing ever broke...

I will think about what everyone posted.

 

[SIUegyptiandiver]

ok, ill admit, i have NOT read all 4 pages on this subject....BUT if you NEED redundant air source with less than 25 dives.....quit now.

You are not tech qualified, you possibly have not been taught how to use dive tables and you most likely do not have a dive computer.

That being said, get all your basic gear first, get in at least 50-100 dives then decide for your self what, if any, redundant air supply you need.

If you cant make an alum 80 last for at least 1:30 in a pool, then wait until you can before you worry about redundant air sources.

Just my $0.02 worth

 

[noreastDIVER84]

I found the pony bottle to be cheaper than the spare air, and I am using an AL40 as a pony. But I already had a spare reg to go with it.

 

[SIUegyptiandiver]

If you are diving split fins they are more effiecent and you use a flutter kick which will move you faster and you will use less air than the kick glide method of using the outdated old school paddle type fins.

LOL wow now I know im a old fart.


I use Farallon Fins circa 1983. I can tell you that I will do better on air consumption than many, many divers using the kick-glide and frog-kick technique. I have no doubt that newer fins are the wave of the past-future, but I can also testify that equipment has less to do with air consumption than diver confidence and comfort.

My fins are short, squat, stiff and powerful and I would no sooner trade them in on a pair of $150 fins than I would waste that same money on a redundant air source...just sayin

Safe diving!

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

^^ I believe the post you meant to quote was made in jest He has me going for a second with the $50 snorkel and the micro-tears in the wetsuit requiring yearly replacement. Then duh...it was a funny

 

[Chugwhump]

^^ I believe the post you meant to quote was made in jest

Eee..Yup.

Chug

 

[SIUegyptiandiver]

Well there are many factors to consider..

If you are diving split fins they are more effiecent and you use a flutter kick which will move you faster and you will use less air than the kick glide method of using the outdated old school paddle type fins.

A quality streamlined snorkel will decrease your hydrodynamic resistance in your diver slipstream which is why you can expect to pay more than $50.00 for a quality snorkel.

Over time your wetsuit becomes worn and begins to get micro-tattered on it's surface also causing resistance in the water. You can not feel it with your hand or see it with your eyes but it is there which is why every season you need to buy a new wetsuit and throw the one from last year away.

Of course all of this can be compensated for with the proper application of hefty bags.

^^ I believe the post you meant to quote was made in jest He has me going for a second with the $50 snorkel and the micro-tears in the wetsuit requiring yearly replacement. Then duh...it was a funny

LOL i chalk it up to 2 things:

not reading the entire post

and narctimers disease

ty for pointing out my ignorance!

 

[phillybob]

Sling a pair of AL 80'S. That'll do ya !!!

 

[krawlings]

You now do what make you feel COMFORTABLE . Not for me; not any one on this board . It is about you. It is what makes you safer .. Way all the ways you dive (deep,shallow, solo not recamended' ...) then make the choice as to what will make you a safer diver and a better buddy. GOOD LUCK

 

[Dr Wu]

I think that having an extra source of air would make me feel a whole lot safer.....

How does "feeling safer" have anything to do with actually being safer?

I wish it were that simple and nothing ever broke...

You have less than a dozen dives and are already dismissing advice from people who have been instructors for decades.