How to wear a PONY? And not look like a DORK!

[MaxBottomtime]

https://www.amazon.com/Disney-Little-Mermaid-Dimensional-Sticker/dp/B001ELF6XA

 

[Doby45]

To the OP, I just started using a pony the middle of this year and to be honest I wrestled with the same fear. Looking different from everyone else, looking like a tech wanna-be, looking like a dork. In all my dives I have never dived with anyone using a pony except for one person with a SpareAir. It's just not seen here, much less one being slung. Gosh, I'm gonna stand out.
However, for most of my diving I had a regular dive buddy. I don't now. It is necessary, so after much thought and research I decided on a AL19. I was more nervous on the 1st dive with it for the comments than the actual dive with it, but nothing. No negative comments. A few questions on what it is and why. Even a few new divers after the dive liked it and want to get one, so it seems it has got a few of them thinking at least.
My advice, don't worry about it. They won't even notice and if they do, likely not negatively. Especially at the dive locations that see them frequently. Anyway, no need to really care. Just dive with it.

I was lucky enough that my BCD at the time, a Sherwood Avid had a hip D-ring, so I could sling it and I'm happy I went that direction. With the AL19 I do not notice it at all, so with a 13cf it will be the same.

I have since changed BCD and this video below was the 1st time with this new BCD. The operator was fascinated with the BCD and shot this video. I've made a few minor adjustment since. However, it does show the pony.

I would attempt to tighten up or move the upper left attachment point higher up. That is hanging incredibly low.

Actually I see what the issue is now. You are not using the UPPER D-ring. The upper D-ring seems to have your inflator hose running through it. Move that upper bottle bolt snap to that top D-ring and you will be trimmed out nice.

 

[Fastmarc]

I would attempt to tighten up or move the upper left attachment point higher up. That is hanging incredibly low.

View attachment 496180

Actually I see what the issue is now. You are not using the UPPER D-ring. The upper D-ring seems to have your inflator hose running through it. Move that upper bottle bolt snap to that top D-ring and you will be trimmed out nice.

Hey @Doby45 ,

Yes, I agreed with your assessment when I saw the video and I have made some adjustments to tighten it up a bit. This was the 1st dive with this new BC.
It is the upper D-ring. The inflator hose is running through a rubber loop on the strap. As it is in the video it was at the default position as set by Xdeep for the Ghost (and as I have observed with the photos I've seen online of the Ghost), however I have moved it further up a few inches plus tighten up the adjustment on the shoulder straps which I felt were a bit too loose and seemed that way to me in the video. I've also tighten up the strap on the pony.
I'll see this weekend if it is better. Not sure if I'll be lucky enough to get another video shot of me though.

 

[RyanT]

@Fastmarc, an easy fix for that is to put a loop of bungee around the pony's tank valve. Then put your upper bolt snap through the bungee at the tank valve before clipping it on. That will do a lot to get that pony more streamlined for you.

 

[Fastmarc]

@Fastmarc, an easy fix for that is to put a loop of bungee around the pony's tank valve. Then put your upper bolt snap through the bungee at the tank valve before clipping it on. That will do a lot to get that pony more streamlined for you.

Ah, that's a good suggestion. I think I'll try that.
Thanks!

 

[Coztick]

@Fastmarc, an easy fix for that is to put a loop of bungee around the pony's tank valve. Then put your upper bolt snap through the bungee at the tank valve before clipping it on. That will do a lot to get that pony more streamlined for you.

Or add a slim bungee to your backplate with a small boltsnap at the end, long enough to reach around the valve and hook to your existing and still fastened upper leash.
Top leash needs to be long enough to allow the bungee to pull the tank up under your arm.
It takes very little force to lift the pony under water so expect no stretch in the bungee once underway.
The stretch allows easy rigging and access to the valve.
Now once ya got that adjusted just right, take that tank off your back and rig it the same....loose the third reg and tada...
SM Dork like me!
Look them over with the poodle jackets, and split fins, packing 10 extra lbs of lead, poor trim, issues descending, issues staying at depth, lack of spacial awareness, 45 min and they're LOA.
I wait until the dive to form any opinions on anyone.
I believe we are all dorks for embracing SCUBA.
Some just take it more serious than the standard PADI OW/AOW graduate.
Choose your path and gear and "Don't worry. Be happy." Big smile! You're going diving!

P.S. (to the op)
Do you tell the group you're diving with that you donate your primary?

Thanks, Kevin

 

[Brilig]

Side mounting the pony was mentioned early on in this thread. That's how I sling my 30 cf pony. It has a 5ft hose that runs up my left side, behind my neck with the secondary bungied under my chin. The extra hose is bungied to the pony.
The important thing is don't just hang the tank on your side and call it sidemount. Go over to the sidemount forum and see how to do it properly. Once you get it properly set up in true sidemount fashion I think you will find it a great way to carry a pony.

 

[Colliam7]

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A ScubaBoard Staff Message...

The posts related to the discussion of WHY to carry a pony, have been split off from this discussion of HOW to carry a pony, and placed in a new thread: Is there a valid reason for a pony bottle

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[Fastmarc]

@Fastmarc, an easy fix for that is to put a loop of bungee around the pony's tank valve. Then put your upper bolt snap through the bungee at the tank valve before clipping it on. That will do a lot to get that pony more streamlined for you.

I have to thank you again for this suggestion. Finally got to try it on a couple of dives yesterday and what a difference it makes. It's so nicely tucked up under me it's even more unnoticeable. Rolling onto my back below the surface to do a bubble check easier too.

 

[RyanT]

@Fastmarc, you're welcome! It does make a huge difference. It's how I was trained so it's how I've slung bottle from the beginning. Last year though, I traveled to make a dive in the Caribbean. The stage bottle they gave me didn't have a bungee chocker. If felt like I was swimming around with bricks hanging off me.