Looking for Configuration Advice

[mahjong]

I dive an LP95 and a rear-mounted 19 cf pony. Off the pony I have a 2nd stage, which I clip to my right shoulder D-ring. Off the main tank I have my primary 2nd stage and I use an Air2, with a 22" corrugated hose (and a Dive Alert). All this is on a BP/Wing setup with simple continuous harness. I do mainly cold drysuit diving, usually below 100' (but I stay within rec limits). Also, I'm mainly a solo diver.

Question: Do I need the Air2? Does it matter if I only have my primary coming off my main tank?

Frankly, I don't like very much the long corrugated hose--it tends to be a bit cumbersome to deal with when diving. If I lose the Air2, I will install a shorter hose and standard inflator.

Looking for any configuration advice anyone might have.

Thanks, Mahjong

 

[H2Andy]

hmmm...

if you clip your secondary, you may not be able to get to it on time. why not
bungee it around your neck? if you don't like that, put it on an octopus holder
(don't like them)

can't opine on Air2

but since you are diving solo, you may want to have a real second tank/separate
first stage option and dive doubles or get an 80 or above tank and sidemount it. you will have independent first stages that way.

i wouldn't count on the 19cf bottle for much.

 

[OneBrightGator]

Interesting scenario... you could...

-Get a shorter corrogated hose.
-Lose the AIR2 and add a bungie backup (what I'd do).
-Lose the AIR2, but you need to make sure you're carrying enough spare gas to get yourself or your buddy from the surface in your pony.

Are you set on this setup and just looking for solutions to this problem or looking for general suggestions on your setup?

Why wouldn't you trust a 19 cu. ft. pony bottle Andy?

 

[H2Andy]

Why wouldn't you trust a 19 cu. ft. pony bottle Andy?

if i have a total OOA situation at depth (the only reason i'd carry a pony bottle),
i would like to have a lot more air than 19 cf

it's not so much that i don't trust them, but that there are (to me) better (bigger)
alternatives

 

[Atticus]

For recreational diving I use a bp/w, long hose, and bungied necklace. If I feel the need to carry additional gas for handling an emergency I use an alu40 which I rig as a sling bottle. This puts it in front of me where I can leave the valve turned OFF until I'm ready to use it.

I'm not a big fan of the Air2.

 

[Atticus]

if i have a total OOA situation at depth (the only reason i'd carry a pony bottle),
i would like to have a lot more air than 19 cf

it's not so much that i don't trust them, but that there are (to me) better (bigger)
alternatives

At an RMV of 1.0 and an ascent rate of 30fpm it takes about 8cf to ascend from 100' to the surface. That leaves 11cf for your safety stop. At 1.5cfm (RMV 1.0 * 1.5ata) that gives you just shy of 8 minutes.

Personally I use a 40, not a 20, but it doesn't seem like a totally unreasonable choice.

Let's not even start on the buddy in a bottle debate (groans).

 

[H2Andy]

Personally I use a 40, not a 20, but it doesn't seem like a totally unreasonable choice.

well, to be clear, i never said it was unreasonable.

but if i am going to lug the pony around anyway, why not get a bigger one?

also, it would have the effect of extending dive time if you include it as
part of your rock bottom calculation

 

[OneBrightGator]

if i have a total OOA situation at depth (the only reason i'd carry a pony bottle),
i would like to have a lot more air than 19 cf

it's not so much that i don't trust them, but that there are (to me) better (bigger)
alternatives

Not pickin' on ya, but if you do the calculations you'll find that a 19 cu. ft. pony is just right for no-deco dives. A bigger tank might give you a nice warm fuzzy feeling, but it isn't needed and since he's already setup, why bother?

Careful on extending those rock bottoms, as you now have your gas split between two sources.

 

[H2Andy]

nope, no picking felt

as to the rock bottom, i was analogizing to planning a dive using two
independent singles.