For those who use a pony bottle to fill your drysuit during a dive?

[Jackknife]

What is the most streamlined way to wear it on your gear (back, on tank, bc mounted, inverted/upright, etc..), and what size of pony bottle do you use?

Do you use a DIN with first stage?

Or is there such thing as a bottle just for filling your drysuit that doesn't have a bulky 1st stage on the valve so that it is more compact and helps to streamline your gear?


I was thinking that a nice 9 cu. ft. pony bottle with a somehow integrated, compact 1st stage would be nice for my dry suit. Is 9 cu. ft. enough for one dive, or multi-dives?

If you guys know of any, I'm in the market for one.

I will obviously be using my main tank already for breathing and filling my bc.

Give me your experiences with diving in this manner. I don't see myself using argon only because I feel for the type of diving I will be doing should not require me to go to such extremes, expecially for this gas that is inconvenient to get.

 

[Dryglove]

I dont dive trimix so i dont really have a need for a argon bottle or drysuit bottle. But the few people that i do know that use one have theirs rigged like this http://homepage.mac.com/samilaine/PhotoAlbum7.html

 

[Jackknife]

6 cu. ft. pony even, inverted and with apeks din ds4 reg. Very interesting.

 

[RICHinNC]

IMHO i dont believe in anything less than a 13 cuft bottle. Mounted very easily on bc (and easily switched from bc to bc)
with a ponease bottle mount
(www.sea-lutions.com/ponease)
with valve down so i can easily reach to shut down in case of free flow.

wear SeaQuest Pro QD with integrated airsource to cut down on one reg

 

[O-ring]

AL6 inverted, DIN valve (mine is OMS), attached to the BP with a loop of 2" webbing and a bungee loop at the bottom.

I use a standard first stage with an inflator hose and an OPV. You will need an OPV since there is no second stage on the reg to vent excess gas in the event of a freeflow...you can get them for about $15.

I can get a weekend of diving out of an AL6 with no problem. That being said, I do not use much gas in my drysuit - just enough to alleviate squeeze.

 

[Jackknife]

Where can I find out more info on this?

 

[O-ring]

Jackknife once bubbled...
Where can I find out more info on this?

http://www.diveriteexpress.com/drysuits/argon.shtml

http://www.scubaboard.com/t23092/s19ca2222cd244f385d28029ddf548c73.html

 

[ericfine50]

Al 6 inverted with a DIN Valve (Thermo) attached to the Waist Strap with a loop of wedding (Wreck Style DIR -http://www.divetekadventures.com/TechnicalARmounts.htm) Standard DUI hose. Argon or Air used to inflate suit.


Eric

 

[Jackknife]

RICHinNC once bubbled...
IMHO i dont believe in anything less than a 13 cuft bottle. Mounted very easily on bc (and easily switched from bc to bc)
with a ponease bottle mount
(www.sea-lutions.com/ponease)
with valve down so i can easily reach to shut down in case of free flow.

wear SeaQuest Pro QD with integrated airsource to cut down on one reg

What exactly is this "SeaQuest Pro QD with integrated airsource to cut down on one reg"? Where can I find out more information on this?

 

[jonnythan]

Jackknife once bubbled...
What exactly is this "SeaQuest Pro QD with integrated airsource to cut down on one reg"? Where can I find out more information on this?

It's a BC that has had an inflator/regulator installed on it. Basically, in the name of eliminating a hose, you have the backup regulator integrated with your BC power inflator. Keep in mind that this regulator is connected with a quick disconnect and that the apparently only way to vent gas from your BC as you ascend while your buddy has an OOA and breathes from your too-short primary hose is to yank on it.