Is there a valid reason for a pony bottle

[PfcAJ]

Interesting:
Promoting ponys bad
Promoting CESA good
Which do you think will get you hurt.

Well, almost. You missed a few details.

Pony because you can't stay with a buddy and dont take care of your gear is bad. Pushing up against depth and time limits is bad.

Those things will get you into a pickle.

 

[lowviz]

Pony because you can't stay with a buddy ...

I have no intention of staying with a buddy. I dive solo.

Your argument is only half an argument if you are willing to see solo diving as a valid form of recreation.

 

[PfcAJ]

I have no intention of staying with a buddy. I dive solo.

Your argument is only half an argument if you are willing to see solo diving as a valid form of recreation.

I dont.

 

[flyboy08]

I'm saying its fantastically unlikely if you take the time to develop good buddymanship skills and take care of your stuff.

I'm not convinced a 60fpm CESA has any added risk over any other kind of 60fpm ascent.

Such a false sense of security.

 

[Storker]

Ending up with a CESA takes 2 critical failures. You've lost your buddy, and in the 1 or 2 minutes you've spent looking for your buddy, you suffer a catastrophic gas loss.

Even if we try to tone down the hyperbole, I have to say that agree with this. Unless you agree to dive as a same day, same ocean "buddy" pair, buddy loss should be a rare incident. If you are a part of a proper buddy pair - or threesome - the probability of simultaneously losing your buddy and suffering a catastrophic gas loss should be low enough that the extra faff incurred by handling a pony shouldn't be cost-effective.

The situation would of course be different if your "buddy" isn't your buddy. In that case, you're really diving solo and should prepare for that. Which AFAIU involves a bit more than just slinging a pony.

 

[Fastmarc]

Yup, a crutch for poor buddymanship skills. If everyone is always leaving you...maybe you're the one leaving them?

So you are saying in every insta-buddy experience you've had, you were able to be a good buddy pair?

 

[Joneill]

Because almost universally (as shown in this thread) its a crutch for poor fundamental skills.

Get good.

Lol... In your mind, maybe. What a pompous attitude you convey - this thread has shown no such thing.

 

[tursiops]

So for me yea , california has some really bad divers. Not all and not divers that read scubaboard as the people that come here learn much more. But diving in CA is every diver for himself.

I'm sorry your experience in CA has been so awful. I wonder why other people don't seem to have that problem?

 

[PfcAJ]

So you are saying in every insta-buddy experience you've had, you were able to be a good buddy pair?

The vast majority. Its amazing what can happen if you have a thoughtful and thorough conversation with your potential buddy before the dive. If it doesn't line up, buddy with someone else.

If you're routinely getting separated, consider what the common factor is.

 

[lowviz]

If you are a part of a proper buddy pair - or threesome - the probability of simultaneously losing your buddy and suffering a catastrophic gas loss should be low enough that the extra faff incurred by handling a pony shouldn't be cost-effective.

I couldn't agree more.

The 'Solo Divers' forum used to be op-in and invisible. Now that it is mainstreamed, we have pony confusion in Basic Scuba Discussions.

I know that it will never go back to the way that it was but we all should be aware of this complication.