Recreational Pony Bottles, completely unnecessary? Why or why not?

[Celt]

I realize that. But if dependency for air is good, why not ensure dependency for other things as well?

I’m not saying it’s good, I’m saying that’s how it works

 

[Celt]

Then why do we let students clear their own masks? Would they not be safer if they needed their buddy to clear it for them?

Why does Fundies team diving teach valve drills? Wouldn't they be safer if they needed their buddy to do that?

I’m trying to imagine someone else trying to clear my mask and it isn’t pretty. But a buddy could shut down a leaky valve I suppose.

 

[Celt]

A need that can be eliminated by using a redundant air source whatever type they choose.

Yep it’s called solo.

 

[MichaelMc]

I’m not saying it’s good, I’m saying that’s how it works

I’m trying to imagine someone else trying to clear my mask and it isn’t pretty. But a buddy could shut down a leaky valve I suppose.

And yet GUE, who are all about tight team diving, teaches divers to handle gas emergencies themselves, to not be dependent on their buddy for that immediate need.

I think self-reliant buddies and solo are different. As is one buddy self-reliant but the other one not.

 

[grf88]

Yep it’s called solo.

Just because you are self sufficient on air does not mean you are necessarily solo. You can still choose to buddy dive for other security reasons that don't need for the buddies to be joined at the hip.

 

[grf88]

And yet GUE, who are all about tight team diving, teaches divers to handle gas emergencies themselves, to not be dependent on their buddy for that immediate need.

They are usually first to decry the use of a pony by those that choose to use them. You figure it out.

 

[grf88]

Yep it’s called solo.

So everybody that chooses to use a redundant system is solo. I am sure that there are many who use doubles or sidemount would be surprised to hear that.

 

[Lorenzoid]

It may provide a reason for carrying a redundant air supply of which a pony is an option. How many insta-buddies do you believe would be proficient at an air share especially if there was a large buoyancy swing from thermal protection. I have taken over the air share responsibilities for a buddy pair that were struggling.

Sorry--I lost you there. If I understood that article, it was suggesting a future in which self-sufficient or solo diving was taught as the norm, and I understood it to imply that would include carrying a pony.

 

[grf88]

Sorry--I lost you there. If I understood that article, it was suggesting a future in which self-sufficient or solo diving was taught as the norm, and I understood it to imply that would include carrying a pony.

I am suggesting if people realized there were shortcomings with the buddy system they might like to be more self sufficient in the one thing they need the most and need the fastest.

 

[Lorenzoid]

I am suggesting if people realized there were shortcomings with the buddy system they might like to be more self sufficient in the one thing they need the most and need the fastest.

Right--that's what I believe that article was suggesting.

My take on all this is that for recreational/sport diving, instead of us throwing up our hands in acceptance of the supposed inevitability of lax buddy procedures--which is the position that article took--we could do more to promote tighter buddy procedures among divers who don't want to go all "self-sufficient"/"solo" for relatively benign diving.