Best type of Pony Tank setup?

[Sean326]

I would NEVER let my kids ( or god forbid their friends) use scuba or spare air unattended and you may want to reconsider Spare air as a pool toy. ( I am not trying to slap you around here it's just really scary to me)

where in my post did I ever say they were unattended????

Like I said above I feel they are way more likely to get hurt by running around the pool and diving in. (we do have rules against it but kids push rules)

I can't believe I'm having this conversation on scuba board. If you want absolute safety stay in bed. We have all put aside our absolute safety to pursue a thrilling, interesting but very dangerous pastime. Over my 39 years I have been a fireman, paramedic, skydiver, a Harley owner and I still play ice hockey when I have the time. Fun yes, exciting yes, but safe No way (talk to my doctors).

We all accept different levels of risk in our lives. My wife has said our kids must wait till they are 13 to be certified so until then, if they want to be scuba divers like their Dad and Uncles they have to do it in a pool. When they are in the pool playing they are always surrounded by rescue divers, AOW divers, paramedics etc.. (myself and my brothers)

I worry more about my kids getting on the school bus in the morning...

 

[DA Aquamaster]

My mom was extremely over protective and had me convinced I was going to drown and I ended up with a major fear of the water. I just decided one day that I was not going to be the last kid to graduate from the YMCA tadpole class as I figured that kid would be a real loser. So I got gutsy and when I did not drown as was direly predicted, I never looked back. Mom's fretting was still a pain in the butt so i found it was far easier just to sneak off and go swim in the river than to have her wathc me in the pool. If she would have ever found out she would have had a stroke.

I think kids are very capable of doing scuba related things with proper supervision and instruction. It is a great way for them to avoid or overcome basic fears of the water and builds confidence, responsibiity and self esteem. It also keeps them off the couch and away from the Playstation.

I would not apologize for anything Sean.

 

[Sean326]

I would not apologize for anything Sean.

Thanks DA Aquamaster, no apologies here.

 

[Dive Source]

Originally Posted by sean 326..where in my post did I ever say they were unattended????

I didn't realize you were always in the pool with them when they were using the spare air. My apologies if my post was offensive sean as it was not my intent.

The facts about the dangers of compressed air are true and I posted this for everyone to read who are possibly new to the sport or not aware of it.

Perhaps I am a little over zealous on this point as I have heard this story before from people who didn't care as much as you obviuously do and let their children use scuba as a toy.

 

[Snowbear]

well... the deep end is about 8 to 9 ft. and they have been playing with my scuba stuff since they were babies, the spair air is just a real mini scuba tank. I guess theoretically you could have a problem but i think you would have to work at it. IE.. lay on the bottom take a breath so full that it actually hurts then go up without exhaling...

Hopefully you have taught your kids not to hold their breath and ascend from ANY depth...

Embolism from 6'

 

[landfish]

so i read all the reasons not to carry a pony bottle and it still makes no sense to me?
i am reading that it is better to save money,carry less weight, then it is to have a alternative air source!
am i reading this correct?

 

[DA Aquamaster]

so i read all the reasons not to carry a pony bottle and it still makes no sense to me?
i am reading that it is better to save money,carry less weight, then it is to have a alternative air source!
am i reading this correct?

Yes, there is a segment of the diving population that feels redundancy is bad for you. I don't really get it either but I think it involves the idea that if you have a redundant air source you will make bad decisions and cut into to the safe reserve you would otherwise maintain with your primary air supply. Personally, I think stupid divers make stupid decisions with or without a pony bottle along for the ride.

A related argument is that a pony bottle may not be adequate and you are better off with doubles (with an isolator manifold of course).

And finally there is the minimalist argument that if you don't have it along you do not have to maintain it and it will never fail on you. I assume these would be the divers who leave the spare tire at home to eliminate the risk of it going flat on them.

A lot of the arguments make sense in the proper context, but the proper context often seems to get lost somewhere when people apply the argument to a different type of diving.

If you are solo diving or diving with an insta buddy, a pony makes a lot of sense as long as you know how to use it and respect its limitations.

 

[landfish]

as someone stated here in the north east you have to have a redundant air system to get on any boat.
in reality when you go wreck diving here you are solo diving and I am sure there can be good dicussions on that!
I like the story about the spare tire you can apply that directly to the pony bottle.
would you leave your spare tire at home?
why have one takes up to much room,
extra cost?
and you might just let the tires wear longer on the car knowing you have a spare!
how does that sound?

 

[pipedope]

so i read all the reasons not to carry a pony bottle and it still makes no sense to me?
i am reading that it is better to save money,carry less weight, then it is to have a alternative air source!
am i reading this correct?

This is not really a simple question.
The question is not, "Is an alternate air source a good idea?" The question is, "What is the safer diving configuration for the dive I am doing now?"

If you are diving with a buddy you have an alternate air source.

If you are in shallow water with direct access to the surface you have an alternate source.

If you are deep, or in an overhead invironment you need a serious alternate gas supply. This is the relm of doubles AND buddy teams.

Now the window where a pony is a real advantage is getting pretty small. Deep enough for a pony to be usefull but not so deep that you are already in doubles. The pony is not a good choice for ANY overhead or confined space diving.

With all of this you might want a pony anyway so pick one that will be usefull now and later in your diving. A 30 or 40 CuFt rigged as a stage can be used as a pony, a stage and/or as a deco bottle.

If there is not a real reason to need a pony then you are safer without it. It will always be an entanglement hazard. It will always add weight and complication to the dive. It will probably get you in trouble more often than it gets you out of trouble, unless you are WELL trained and practiced in the carry and use of it.

Bandaid solutions don't work. That is, you can't just hang on a pony bottle and say, "Well, now I have a redundant gas supply so I am more safe."
It is just not that simple.

 

[Uncle Pug]

Pony Bottles can be psychological enablements for the untrained, unskilled, unthinking, unprepared and/or unsure.

Spare Air provides the same in a much smaller package.