Bail-out bottle question.

[Narcd_dvr]

A tank-mounted pony can't be turned on during the dive so it has to be on the entire time.

Rachel

Sure you can! You just invert the pony and voila, you can reach the valve That said, you may have to get a longer hose. This configuration addresses the issue of the second stage free flowing and running out of air.

To the OP, if your 2nd stage leaks air, there's a high probability that the 1st stage gets flooded. This has happened to me twice already. On both occasion, I charged my pony reg and didn't realize it was leaking air until the end of the dive, by then, the reg got flooded. Hope this helps.

 

[charlesml3]

The first stage of your back gas is about 1 inch from your head. Not the case with your pony. Could you hear it anyways? Maybe, but I can see mine and it is no different from deco /stage bottles in configuration so I have no gear changes.

The real bonus for slinging the pony is the ability to pass it off to someone else to use in an OOG situation.

Yea, I can hear it. I can also see the valve by looking under my right arm. I'm not sure I really see how handing it off is all that necessary. If someone is OOG AND I'm too low for them to use my Octo, then we're both headed up. They just take the 2nd stage from my pony, grip my BC and up we go. It's easy.

-Charles

 

[syntaxerrorsix]

If someone is OOG AND I'm too low for them to use my Octo, then we're both headed up. They just take the 2nd stage from my pony, grip my BC and up we go. It's easy.

-Charles

There lies the gain. I can pass off an OOG diver my pony and not have them drag me to the surface or beat me to pieces in their panicked state.

I can hand off the bottle, let them compose themselves at a safe distance and then escort them up.

BTW it is not easy, actually quite stressful when it isn't training and the other guy is scared for their life.

 

[naedward81]

Now I have been reading this thread since it was started, and to me it all seems personel preferance. Am I correct? When I get there I will sling it, as I want to go that direction of stages and decos.

my .02

 

[syntaxerrorsix]

Now I have been reading this thread since it was started, and to me it all seems personel preferance. Am I correct? When I get there I will sling it, as I want to go that direction of stages and decos.

my .02

You are correct. No matter how you swim it, redundant gas supply is a good thing, doubles, ponies, twin hookahs, or mermaids with large cup sizes pushing air into your lungs in case of an equipment failure. Train with what you have and decide for yourself what works best. Some even like diving with Teams or Buddies

 

[ianw2]

Just curious here, I assume you dive a single tank? Why do you need a 'pony bottle' ? Your backup gas is in your buddy's cylinder if you have do your gas management properly. If you really need more gas you should be diving doubles. Proper gas management eliminates the need for a 'pony' bottle. Just an idea.

And an excellent idea it is, too!

However, I DM frequently. It occurred to me on one of the audit dives, that I was in the water with an instructor who was watching his students and students who were somewhat watching their buddies. I was watching the instructor and the students. No one was watching me!

I wear my pony bottle during classes as a reliable source of redundant gas.:14:

It also gives the instructor something else to share with the students and, IMHO, sets a positive example of safety thinking for the students (and some instructors).

A tank-mounted pony can't be turned on during the dive so it has to be on the entire time.

Au contraire, mon amiee! I have my 19CF pony bottle mounted upside down on the right side of my single on my back. It is mounted with a unique system custom manufactured by a guy in San Diego. I can easily reach the valve.

The reg (Conshelf XIV used by my late “Uncle” Roy (Mowan) Master Chief US Navy is hung from a D-ring on my BC. In short, Roy STILL has my back!

A two pounder in the left trim pocket or in the left ditchable pouch on my BC is a perfect balance for the tank.

Sure you can! You just invert the pony and voila, you can reach the valve That said, you may have to get a longer hose. This configuration addresses the issue of the second stage free flowing and running out of air.

BINGO!!!

You are correct. No matter how you swim it, redundant gas supply is a good thing, doubles, ponies, twin hookahs, or mermaids with large cup sizes pushing air into your lungs in case of an equipment failure. Train with what you have and decide for yourself what works best. Some even like diving with Teams or Buddies

Another BINGO!!!


Ian

 

[charlesml3]

There lies the gain. I can pass off an OOG diver my pony and not have them drag me to the surface or beat me to pieces in their panicked state.

I can hand off the bottle, let them compose themselves at a safe distance and then escort them up.

BTW it is not easy, actually quite stressful when it isn't training and the other guy is scared for their life.

Why would they be any more likely to "compose themselves" at a distance? I've seen a couple of panicked divers and the first thing they needed was someone there with them, not someone pushing them away.

Clearly you're well bought into this idea of slinging a pony. I have no real preference, but the reasoning I've heard so far just doesn't hold up.

-Charles

 

[syntaxerrorsix]

Why would they be any more likely to "compose themselves" at a distance? I've seen a couple of panicked divers and the first thing they needed was someone there with them, not someone pushing them away.

Clearly you're well bought into this idea of slinging a pony. I have no real preference, but the reasoning I've heard so far just doesn't hold up.

-Charles

For one, my safety is paramount to their safety.

Secondly I have not "bought" into any idea. This is how you transport additional bottles for staging and or decompression (unless you have another idea?) like I have stated so it clearly "holds up". Therefore there is no change to my gear or how I dive. The bracket that holds your pony to your main bottle is typically used for an argon bottle for dry suit inflation.

Of course if you never plan to do any diving that requires additional gas or dry suit inflation from a separate source your choice may be more appropriate if your comfortable with it. I certainly won't tell you how or what to dive. As long as your good to go with your rig, go dive it

 

[Meng_Tze]

Why would they be any more likely to "compose themselves" at a distance? I've seen a couple of panicked divers and the first thing they needed was someone there with them, not someone pushing them away.

The panicked divers I saw grabbed me and either wanted me to come down with him to the deep end, or play bobble-de-bob at the surface. But I have only experienced this twice, so I am not an expert at this.