Sean326
Contributor
Big-t-2538:To points 1 and 2...I assume that you practice this often enough to feel comfortable handing off the pony in an emergency?
Yeah I do practice a lot, Zeagle has a great setup. Very secure yet easy to remove.
Big-t-2538:Have you planned how deep you can comfortably go with the pony and have that pony provide gas during the entier ascent?
Based on my experiments at about 100' (and posted on the board)
Yeah I currently have a 3cuft (spair air) which I have posted about often and is totally useless, my kids use it as a pool toy.
I also tried a 6cuft pony, this will get you to the surface but with no safety stops and no loitering.
My 19cuft offers time to solve a problem, a safe ascent to a safety or deco stop and a leisurely return to the surface.
Big-t-2538:I don't see how carrying a pony does not introduce an entanglement issue as opposed to not carrying it.
Well.... I don't have a pic but honestly you can barely see it, granted I am a big guy 6'1" and 280# but the tank is zipped into a holster behind my rt arm and under my rt wing. It really does not stick out any further than my wing.
Big-t-2538:And lastly, the way you have your pony affixed to your rig, how do you monitor the pressure in the po itself?
I have a pony bottle spg on the first stage, it's just the size of a dime.
When I first get suited up I crack the valve and see that it is full then I re-close the valve. Zeagle has it rigged valve down so I can see the spg during the dive just by looking down at my rt waist and pulling the tank toward me.
That way I can see during the dive the reg is still pressurized. If I need it myself I just pull the reg and open the valve. If I need to pass it off I just unzip the holster and pass the whole thing to my buddy through a porthole etc.
I know that some folks say I should leave the valve open but it's a judgment call, I feel better with tank sealed and taking the 1 second to turn it on rather than having the valve open for the possible loss of gas. To date the reg has always been pressurized after the dive, so I guess I could leave the valve open but still I keep it closed.