Pony and/or Octo?

[jsmith89]

I just got a 30cf pony bottle. My question is do I keep my octopus on my primary when diving with the pony?

 

[joe rock]

I just got a 30cf pony bottle. My question is do I keep my octopus on my primary when diving with the pony?

I do.

JR

 

[scuubaadoo]

Pony is for me. Especially if you have a rich mix as a deco bottle.

 

[PriusDrIVER]

It seems to be one of those religious debates with people on both sides. Each respective side thinks their method is the right way and that you are foolish to do it the other. If you check the Regulators area you shouldn't have a hard time finding the many lengthy discussions that have taken place.

Go with personal preference. Personally, I will be keeping my Air2 and then having the pony. The Air2 v octo and BP/W v BCD are other religious style debates. If you want to read the 2 views into it, i'd check the threads.

Here are a few:
http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=165643&highlight=pony+octo
http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=113120&highlight=pony+octo

 

[in_cavediver]

I just got a 30cf pony bottle. My question is do I keep my octopus on my primary when diving with the pony?

As a person who would normally advocate keeping the octo, in this case, for rec diving, either choice is acceptable. In either case, you should have enough gas in both tanks to get to the surface. One nod toward keeping the octo is that if you remove it, you either dive the pony every time or have to add/remove the octo with the pony.

Your preference on how to dive the pony.

 

[ianr33]

I dont see any reason to remove the backup reg. I mean,its not like its a big hassle carrying it or anything, whereas removing/replacing a reg because you are/are not using a pony on a particular dive would get old real quick.

And what happens if you remove the reg,give the pony to an OOA diver,turn it on and blow an O ring? You would be buddy breathing at that point.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

Ditch the Octo. It is one extra piece of gear to freeflow and get mixed-up with the pony. The third second stage is more of a liability than an asset. I however, use an AIR II with a pony, so I have three options from which to suck and only two second stages to manage.

 

[String]

Pony is your redundant air source.

Octopus gives buddy access to the bigger reserve of gas.

By not having an octo youre immediately limiting a buddy to whats usually about 25% of the total gas on a dive.

*Pony for redundant air source should NOT be included in gas calculations for dive planning.

 

[Surelyshirly]

My dive partner explained it this way to me. Taking my octo off and on left me open for posible problems of flooding at depth if it is not hooked back up properly. Not an ideal situation.

There are times when I use the pony and times when I dont so my octo goes in an octo holder, about mid BC and my pony reg is bungeed so there is no question as to which regulator is which and which is my redundant air source.

Getting used to using the bungee for my secondary (whether pony or octo) keeps things consistant

It works for me and I am fairly new to diving, so ease of use is a good thing so I can concentrate on my diving.

 

[spectrum]

Ditch the Octo. It is one extra piece of gear to freeflow and get mixed-up with the pony. The third second stage is more of a liability than an asset. I however, use an AIR II with a pony, so I have three options from which to suck and only two second stages to manage.

How do you figure that you only have 2 second stages?