I've made a number of CESAs, and on another occasion, dropped a 30# weight belt and I never shot out of the water like a Polaris missile. Closest I came was buoyant ascent training in sub school, but the concept was to ascend from depth as fast as possible.
Hi Bob (again):
You were USN. I was raised by an Naval Officer and fighter pilot. We fished for pelagic fish offshore while I was a kid (100 nm offshore). I went to various survival, firefighting schools, and Damage Control schools. I learned about the 100 sailors on Forrestal who did not do buddy checks and did not know to double check the OBA cannister to make sure it was 100% engaged in the OBA. Do you remember that little clip at the bottom that had to be engaged properly? I do because I had to do it correctly in total pitch black darkness before going into the smoke filled compartment and hanging out for 15 or 30 minutes.
My dad knew we were fishing offshore with other people on their boats. He made a point of informally training us in survival. He was worried about us being lost at sea. His response was to push us into the water in winter and make us swim and practice getting our shoes off and using our pants for floatation. We learned the value of a Stearns Vest when operating vessels at sea while everyone else was asleep.
And then I became a tug skipper.
Here is my point:
Have you and I been trained to a point that "panic" is
not one of our primary responses? I keep reading that I will use ungodly amounts of gas if a "real OOA" situation occurs. "You know, you will suck that 13cf pony down in 20 seconds if your OOA is a real situation--son, you better sling a 40..."
I feel that, you (Bob DBF), react well in SHTF situations. I doubt you would use 1/3 of your 19cf pony in a real OOA situation.
Is it your nature, or your training, or both?
Do you actually
slow down and work methodically to resolve an issue?
The statement, "slow is fast" isn't a cliché, is it?
The size of ones pony or SA is a personal decision. A man/woman has got to know his limitations (that is a profound statement--it should be in a movie!).
cheers,
markm