what applications would you use of a pony bottle

[Teamcasa]

... Remember the old J-valve? It had an internal pressure valve which would constrict air flow at (I think) 800psi, and then you could flip the lever down and get the extra 800 "reserve". It was supposed to work like a "built in" pony bottle. Problem was, people were likely to rely on that reserve, and incorporated it into their dive plan. This could have disastrous effects when some realized that the'd forgotten to flip the lever up before the dive, and when the air flow restricted, they were actually out of air, not at their reserve stage. I once had a J-valve tank, but I never used it as such.

Yes. When we used the J-Valves, we did not have SPG's and the restriction let us know it was time to surface. They were NOT intended to be a built-in pony, just a reminder that your air was low.

Frankly, I don't get all of the rancor over the use of a pony. I could care less if a diver decides to use it or not. One thing is certain however, should I find myself suddenly OOG and my buddy hands me the reg attached to his pony, I'm not going to refuse it; and neither would anyone else.

 

[rhwestfall]

One thing is certain however, should I find myself suddenly OOG and my buddy hands me the reg attached to his pony, I'm not going to refuse it; and neither would anyone else.

I just might.... 'cause hey, what would my friends think of me then???????

 

[--tom--]

Chris K.: I like the way you believe that only reason for a redundant air source is because the diver isn't monitoring air consumption.

I personally have a broader view of how & what things can go wrong.

 

[Drewski]

Ok just curious since as I said its something I never got into. How exactly is it slung? Ive seen the tank mounts and distant photos of them hanging under the arm but how do you mount it for say?

Here's a video with some examples. This is POOL diving, just messing around, and my out take reel before ya'll start...

[vimeo]8432508[/vimeo]

 

[Max Speed]

Pony bottles are just another piece of expensive gear the industry is trying to tell you that you need. make the last 1000PSI of your primary tank part of your "gas plan", and you'll be fine.

I wish I lived in a world without mechanical failures...

 

[Dr Wu]

I wish I lived in a world without mechanical failures...

True. It is unfortunate when pony bottles fail.

It's foolish investing what little time you have in an emergency on a mechanical solution rather than follow the procedure you were trained for.

 

[FritzCat66]

It's foolish investing what little time you have in an emergency on a mechanical solution rather than follow the procedure you were trained for.

Agreed. Those with an SDI Solo cert diving our pony are indeed following exactly the procedure we were trained for. So I'm totally with you on that; we should all dive within the parameters of our certifications.

 

[Chris K.]

Chris K.: I like the way you believe that only reason for a redundant air source is because the diver isn't monitoring air consumption.

I personally have a broader view of how & what things can go wrong.

Like what? - I'm not trying to be a smart**, just asking.
And no, I'm not saying that at all. I'm only saying that if you plan right, you won't need to have a bail-out. A pony may give you a - false - sense of security, and you may push the envelope more than if you didn't have it. What could possibly go wrong that your pony could bail you out of, and your regular supply couldn't?
1. Entanglement
I used to work as a diver on a fish farm, and the risk of entanglement was not only real, it was almost guaranteed. We trained for this by getting used to taking off all of our gear under water and untangling ourselves. No panic. We had no BCD's and no "octo" - just more stuff to get tangled with. I'd rather carry two knives instead of a redundant air source.
2. Failed second stage
Never heard of it. The modern reg will free-flow before it will seize. If a free-flowing reg will rob you of your air supply, then you have not allowed enough of a reserve for a safe ascent. Ipso facto, poor planning.
3. Failed fist stage
Never heard of it happening. Could it? But then so could your pony, especially if you rarely - or never - use it.
4. Out-of-air
WHY???
5. Buddy Out-of-air
N/A . Don't dive with a buddy. Mind you, I still have my "octopus" attached, but that's only because it's "there", not because i have plans for it. I had two "buddies" run out of air before, one almost drowned both of us because he panicked and went for my reg, the other I had my octopus for. Saved HIS bacon, not mine.
6. Overhead environment, penetration, etc.
Totally different story, but even then I'd rather set up stage bottles, dive twins or whatever...
7. Get lost, caught in a current, lose a fin, lose your weights, pop the air bladder in your BCD, lose you mask, pop a valve...
None of these would be helped by a redundant air supply.

What else could go wrong that a bail-out bottle would save you?

 

[oneshotshooter]

I sling a 30 cubic ft stage bottle. It comes in handy for filling lift bags under the ice when recovering treasure! less chance of freeflow. I also use it for deco when diving my doubles.

 

[Teamcasa]

<snip> What could possibly go wrong that your pony could bail you out of, and your regular supply couldn't?
1. Entanglement
I used to work as a diver on a fish farm, and the risk of entanglement was not only real, it was almost guaranteed. We trained for this by getting used to taking off all of our gear under water and untangling ourselves. No panic. We had no BCD's and no "octo" - just more stuff to get tangled with. I'd rather carry two knives instead of a redundant air source.

OK, If I ever dive in a fish farm, I'll take that advice.

2. Failed second stage
Never heard of it. The modern reg will free-flow before it will seize. If a free-flowing reg will rob you of your air supply, then you have not allowed enough of a reserve for a safe ascent. Ipso facto, poor planning.

I have. I've witnessed it first hand and the diver did make a safe assent but then again he was only 50' deep and at the beginning of his dive.

3. Failed fist stage
Never heard of it happening. Could it? But then so could your pony, especially if you rarely - or never - use it.

Sorry, I've had this happen to me. (Rental tank + plugged tube)= Suddenly OOA. Buddy was near by so no issue but what if my buddy was not so close by? As we were sharing his gas, I was thinking, hmmm, maybe a pony would have been handy right now.

4. Out-of-air
WHY???
5. Buddy Out-of-air
N/A . Don't dive with a buddy. Mind you, I still have my "octopus" attached, but that's only because it's "there", not because i have plans for it. I had two "buddies" run out of air before, one almost drowned both of us because he panicked and went for my reg, the other I had my octopus for. Saved HIS bacon, not mine.
6. Overhead environment, penetration, etc.
Totally different story, but even then I'd rather set up stage bottles, dive twins or whatever...
7. Get lost, caught in a current, lose a fin, lose your weights, pop the air bladder in your BCD, lose you mask, pop a valve...
None of these would be helped by a redundant air supply.

What else could go wrong that a bail-out bottle would save you?

Here's my question to you. You are diving a nice wreck in SoCal, 100' deep in cold water and after 40 minutes you suddenly find it necessary to make that sawing motion under your chin and your buddy just went inside the wreck, expecting you to follow and does not notice your ever increasing need for gas.
Fortunately for you the guy next to you notices your pending panic and shoves his spare regulator in your face and you greedily suck in some live giving air. But, you soon realize that this life saving regulator is attached to a pony! The horror! So you'd one, spit it out, chastise your life saver for using such a stupid diving gimmick and that if he was a real diver he'd NEVER have a pony tank - or - thank him for the gas, go on ScubaBoard and continue to bash pony tank divers.