How do you mark your stages?

[JeffG]

If its a pony (or used like a pony), why bother marking it at all.

If you run out of gas...you're going to check the mod label on it before using it? LOL

 

[Doc Harry]

CO2 retention can potentiate an ox tox hit (as well as increase the effects of nitrogen narcosis.)

I still frequently encounter caVE divers who are essentially skip breathing to increase there pentration in a cave and/or decrease their SAC and/or not be the guy who turns the dive on open circuit which results in elevated CO2 levels due to the decreased ventilation and exhalation of the CO2 produced by the diver.

I would be the guy who always hits "thirds" first, but I don;t skip breath.

 

[Doc Harry]

Just to throw a wrench in.

With a 14cuft bottle is marking the pO2 of air (190') the way to go? Would a diver get into more trouble thinking a pony that size is adequate for the depth?
Not a criticism of you Doc, just a thought in general.

That was one of my un-asked questions, why I thought marking a 14 stage bottle with 190 seemed silly. So how should I mark the bottle?

MOD based on pO2? END? Depth? Volume?

Or should I even mark it at all?

Thanks for the input, I should sell the damn stage bottle because I never use it anyway. If I need more gas I have my twin HP 130s.

But I am thinking of taking it to Cozumel and other rec diving sites just to a little extra air on hand. I was thinking of how to mark it for those uses since it is small enough for travel.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I can't make up my mind how I am going to mark my stage bottle.

I have a 14-cubic foot stage bottle for soloing. I fill it with air.

Since pO2=1.4 at 190 feet for air, should I mark it 190 even though I'd never go that deep on air?

What do you do?

I sling it under my left arm and go diving. If I need to use it, I sure ain't gonna be checking the bottle for MOD markings first.

Why put MOD on a bailout bottle? If you need to use it, that means you've just lost access to your back gas. So who cares? And if you're gonna exceed the MOD of air on an AL14, you've got way bigger issues anyway.

You're asking the wrong questions ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[ucfdiver]

I'd mark it 100ft. That way if you're at 130, and have no air, you'll know to drown instead of getting narc'ed.....makes as much sense to me as carrying a buddy bottle that isn't good at your max depth!

Seriously, why mark it?

 

[Doc Harry]

Why put MOD on a bailout bottle? If you need to use it, that means you've just lost access to your back gas. So who cares? And if you're gonna exceed the MOD of air on an AL14, you've got way bigger issues anyway.

You're asking the wrong questions ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Okay, I'll stop obsessing about the stupid little cylinder.

Appreciate your input, I couldn't figure out what to do with it.

I'm gonna take your advice and not mark MOD on that thing.

Thank you.

 

[Doc Harry]

I'd mark it 100ft. That way if you're at 130, and have no air, you'll know to drown instead of getting narc'ed.....makes as much sense to me as carrying a buddy bottle that isn't good at your max depth!

Seriously, why mark it?

You're absolutely right. Thanks for the input. I don't know why I couldn't figure that out on my own. My original question seems kinda silly now. I guess it highlights how utterly pointless these little stage bottles are, really.

By the way, are you interested in buying a 14-cubic foot cylinder, fairly new condition, with a genesis DIN/K valve, just had an annual VIP last week, 3 years left on the hydro?

 

[Doc Harry]

Great news!

My lonely, unemployed little AL14 cylinder that I never use and fussed about has finally found a new purpose in life - I mounted it to my double 130s, introduced it to ARGON, and gave it a new job.


It seems very happy now.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I love happy endings ... so getting back to your original question, you should mark it ARGON ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[BEM]

I put a 3 inch strip of duct tape on my 19 cuft pony with:
the tank pressure;
the date filled.

MOD - not needed as - if the tank is being used, I'm on my way up (or I'm in BIG trouble)
% O2 - I don't fill it with nitrox, (see my comments for MOD).