How many non-tech divers carry a pony bottle?

[vanDavid]

I'm not a tech diver and don't plan on going down that track but I like the idea of having an alternative air source instead of an alternate air source. Nice to be more self sufficient.

I don't have a pony bottle yet but it's going to happen soon - it's going to be either a 20 or 30 cu ft bottle.
Who else out there either has one or is in the process of picking one up?

Anyone out there with a pony bottle who removed their standard alternate regulator? I guess if you did you'd never be able to dive without the pony.

cheers

David

 

[Cathan]

My guess is many more non-tech divers use pony bottles than tech-divers. Why? Because tech divers are much more likely to be using doubles and larger (al80) stage bottles as the source of their "back-up" gas. Small/mid-size bottles just don't provide much of a safety net in deco or overhang diving.

 

[Jason B]

Tech divers do not use pony bottles.
They may use a stage bottle (to extend bottom time) or a deco bottle (to accelerate deco). But they don't carry pony bottles (which are used for bail out).

 

[dtkachev]

I am not a technical diver, but I am pretty sure that they never use pony bottles. It is often for people to have pony bottles as a "bail out", which I believe is dangerous is it prevent people from having proper gas management. I think the main rule or piece of advice that I know is the following: always make sure to have enough gas in your main gas supply for you and your buddy to return to the surface safely following normal ascend procedures.

If you rely on the pony bottle, you may forget about proper gas management and planning, and the pony bottle may not be enough for you or your buddy to return to the surface from a deep dive (100 ft and deeper) when you will have to ascend slowly to provent any risk of decompression sickness. You can find a lot about proper gas management online, one of the most conservative ones, is to have 2/3 of your gas supply as the point of return, which means you will start your way back to the surface. It is one of the most conservative and is not always necessary, but it will ensure that both yourself and your buddy will have enough air supply to safely return to the surface, without any rush, as any kind of nervousness will increase your gas consumption, and I am sure you understand what that may imply in the worst case scenario. Be safe. Enjoy diving. Make sure to plan it properly. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

 

[Meng_Tze]

I'm not a tech diver and don't plan on going down that track but I like the idea of having an alternative air source instead of an alternate air source. Nice to be more self sufficient.

I don't have a pony bottle yet but it's going to happen soon - it's going to be either a 20 or 30 cu ft bottle.
Who else out there either has one or is in the process of picking one up?

Anyone out there with a pony bottle who removed their standard alternate regulator? I guess if you did you'd never be able to dive without the pony.

cheers

David

As stated here, tech divers use gas management rules, redundant systems and stages/deco to provide the gas needed for the dive.

But to answer your question directly. I would not remove my alternate (octo) reg since if you have a (primary) second stage failure, and still have good gas in the tank, you just also lost access to that supply of gas. Carrying a pony is personal preference and I would advise to think about scenarios and plan for those:

second stage failure, but access to gas in tank (i.e. first stage and valve okay)
First stage/valve failure, no access to gas in tank.

What do you give your buddy? What do you use? What about gas planning? What do you carry a pony for?

 

[vanDavid]

Just to clarify, I'm a conservative diver and I watch my air, depth and dive time like a hawk. I'm not looking for a way of relaxing my current level of vigilance , I'm looking at increasing my margin of safety. I can't see any negatives in carrying an alternate air source.

 

[normisan]

The set I I have used and seen a lot for non-tech diving with a pony bottle is a 7 ft primary, with a shorter secondary attached to their right side or similar to tech type diving bungeed around the neck (some will do this with the pony bottle instead and have the back up attached to the left side). In the event your buddy needs air he would take your primary and you would switch to your back up or buddy breathe (only option if you remove back up). It is really up to you and there is a lot of different opinions.

 

[Meng_Tze]

Just to clarify, I'm a conservative diver and I watch my air, depth and dive time like a hawk. I'm not looking for a way of relaxing my current level of vigilance , I'm looking at increasing my margin of safety. I can't see any negatives in carrying an alternate air source.

No negatives in principle no, but also practice deploying it.... and be aware of changes in configuration and possibly drag, which leads to higher RMV.

 

[vanDavid]

I have thought of the increased drag and configuration issues.

No negatives in principle no, but also practice deploying it.... and be aware of changes in configuration and possibly drag, which leads to higher RMV.

 

[sharkattack]

I was carrying a sling bottle (AL80) for my bottom mix along with my single HP PST E8 119. I'm using doubles now but it was the same concept. Will still cary a sling for deco 50/50. If your going to carry a pony may as well go big and sling it. It realy isn't that cumbersome. You may find that if your going to carry that, why not go doubles. Most people who dive doubles do it for the lazy factor ie: don't have to change over cylinders.

My wife carrys a sling but is switching over to doubles after a pool skills session this weekend. Just a thought.