Pony Bottle for practice

[mazeingerz]

I am a Padi certified scuba diver and planning on continuing to Open Water level. However, it's been almost a year since I did my two open water dives. I'm a bit uneasy about finishing up my last two open water dives to complete my certification having been out of the water for almost a year. Since I almost have the complete gear setup, I would like to do some practice of buoyancy control and breathing in my backyard pool which is about 8 feet deep. I was thinking of getting a 30 cu. pony bottle for practice. A local dive shop fills 30cu bottles or smaller free of charge. Approximately how long do you think a full 30cu bottle would last me at a relaxed state at 8 feet? Anybody think this is a good idea? At least the pony bottle can still be used by me later on for redundancy.

 

[Alex777]

IMHO, this is NOT a good idea and unsafe. You are not certified yet. All of your practicing should be done under the immediate supervision of an instructor.

 

[ClayJar]

Practicing with just a 30cf pony, which likely can't even be secured by your BC's tank band(s), would be considerably different than diving with a "full-size" tank. A better idea is to talk to your local dive shop to ask if they might let you get a pool session in, either with a class or a la carte. You'll be in the "right" gear to practice for your OW dives, and there'll be someone there to tell you if you're doing something wrong. :biggrin: (Remember, practice makes permanent, not perfect.)

When *I'm* hanging out in the backyard pool, I don't even bring a tank in with me. I just use a 25' hose. It's not necessarily unsafe in and of itself, but it's not really what *you* need right now. Also, whether you log it in your book or not, a pool dive *is* still a dive. After that long a layoff and only being halfway certified (our beginning divers get to do *seven* dives on our checkout trips, three in a spring and four in salt ), I couldn't recommend pool solo on a pony.

 

[spectrum]

Hooking up with the instructor that will complete your OW certification is a good place to start. Jumping in with a class for a night in the pool doing your own thing can usually be arranged. They may want to screen your skills before taking you back into OW.

Being alone in the backyard pool is not a good way to go.

To answer your question .....30 cubic feet at that depth could keep me happy for over an hour but could easilly be 1/2 or less of that for a diver with sparse experience getting reoriented. Also while having a deundant airsource is enjoyed by many it's probably premature for you do be investing in a particular size.

Pete

 

[scarefaceDM]

It is not a wise move on your part. You are uncertified and if it is practice you need...hook up with the dive shop or an instructor to help you with what ever skills you want to practice. You do not get much out of a 30 cub. If it is a bouyancy skill...a 30 cub will not cut it. You need to have the tank strapped to you BC to trim you out properly an 80cub is the choice here..

If you do know of a certified diver with more experience and not an OW certified i mean a very experienced diver...that person can help you practice...but use a full 80 to mess around and practice skills.

If your dive shop does have pool sessions then you may want to join them. There are DM'S or instructors in the pool. They should be able to guide you through some of the basic skills.

 

[fl-diver]

I realize that many of you may be instructors and have liability obligations but I look at it this question a little different than the others. First of all I would not suggest getting a pony bottle since they cost almost as much as an alum 80. Practicing in the pool with an 80 can give you a good idea of weight needed and such. Assuming you are diving freshwater obviously saltwater is different. I think the guy who practices in his pool for hours on end and gets very comfortable with his gear is going to be much more prepared than the guy who shows up after a year or even a month out of the water. I have been certified since I was 13yrs old and I am now 32 I don't even know how many dives I have but it is a lot. (several hundred at least). I still frequently get in the pool with my gear to check things out. It is a great way to practice different scenarios. (OOA, switching to octo, access to gauges, gear attachment, etc...)
I wouldn't dare say that nothing can go wrong in 8ft. of water but I would rather find out in 8ft. than in 80ft. Either way be safe and have somebody near by.
Oh yeah, having a tank around is great when you need to get in there and scrub the bottom of the pool.

 

[Nick_W]

For me it isn't a safety issue as much as its just an issue of practicing things incorrectly. Its a whole lot easier to learn a new skill than it is to unlearn bad habits, then learn the new skill.

Its not a major issue, I wouldn't worry too much either way. I'm pretty sure you'll get bored after about 10 minutes in your pool and then realize that pony tank was a waste of perfectly good beer money. No one is going to expect you to show up and be an expert on buoyancy control. As for breathing, I'm not sure how old you are, but you should have quite a few years of practice with that under your belt already.

 

[mfalco]

The shop probably wouldn't fill the pony bottle for you since you aren't certified

 

[pir8]

The shop probably wouldn't fill the pony bottle for you since you aren't certified

At least they shouldn't!!!

 

[scarefaceDM]

IT IS NOT A MATTER OF LIABILITY.

it is a matter of practicing skills on your own from which they were forgotten. The OP is not fully certified. It is not wise to practice skills unless supervised. Especially if the skills were nevermastered in the first place. Proper practice sessions require supervison from a mentor, a DM or an instructor.

I have seen OW students whom have not gotten in the water in two years to only setup there gear backwards. Tank valve facing to the back and not forward, Reg installed backwards, etc. Forgetting to attach the BC inflator and to only jump in and freak. But forgettting to turn on there AIR....... it happens. Not everyone is that crazy but you do see it.