I will be making an annual trip to Maui to visit relatives, who are non-divers, and won't have a dive buddy along. (Staying with the folks, so it's just me.) I've gone out on boats and will continue to do so, but I want to do some shore dives, and plan on doing them solo. I'm considering buying either a pony bottle, or tank bands which I could use to dive independent doubles. Are these my only options for redundancy? (I've already ruled out the Spare Air for my needs.) Anyone travel with a pony bottle, or rig independent doubles with rental tanks? These would not be tech dives; just easy ow down to a max of 70ft. Places I've dived before. Any thoughts?
Pony bottle or independent dbls?
- Thread starter sumguy
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If not "tech" diving I prefer using a pony - you can also just pass that to a buddy in trouble. It's also a lot quicker than banding up - mainly just a hassle getting the holes in the right place then switching regs every 50 bar.
I have travelled with my pony as well - just crack the valve in case customs think you look dodgy and want to look inside - but that was in Europe, don't know how it would go down in the US.
Enjoy
Jonathan
I have travelled with my pony as well - just crack the valve in case customs think you look dodgy and want to look inside - but that was in Europe, don't know how it would go down in the US.
Enjoy
Jonathan
trymixdiver
Guest
Sounds like a reasonable solution if your traveling. However, most BC's cant handle 2 tanks, you may need a back plate and travel wings. I should know, i had rigged independant 80's for that same reason and the BC broke during a dive. it was not fun finishing the dive holding my independant 80's. i will just say it was below 130' and before i realized i was mortal. i now use a the proper equipment and mental attitude.
independant doubles requires you to monitor your air supply alot more than you normally would.
Andy
independant doubles requires you to monitor your air supply alot more than you normally would.
Andy
How about a stage rigged 19cf or 30cf slung on the left?
Lost Yooper (or someone else) should be along any minute here with a link to photos on how to rig a stage...
But basically there is a strap or doubled cord that goes from the neck to a clamp on the lower portion of the bottle with a boltsnap at the curve of the neck and the other at the tail of the cord. These snap into the left chest D ring and left hip D ring. The bottle carried thus with its reg charged but turned off and the second stage and hose secured to the bottle by rubber straps is out of the way, ready to go, easily monitored, easy to turn on, and not the snag hazard a back mount pony presents.
Check out my profile picture and you can make out the 40cf deco bottles Shane and I are carrying rigged thus.
But basically there is a strap or doubled cord that goes from the neck to a clamp on the lower portion of the bottle with a boltsnap at the curve of the neck and the other at the tail of the cord. These snap into the left chest D ring and left hip D ring. The bottle carried thus with its reg charged but turned off and the second stage and hose secured to the bottle by rubber straps is out of the way, ready to go, easily monitored, easy to turn on, and not the snag hazard a back mount pony presents.
Check out my profile picture and you can make out the 40cf deco bottles Shane and I are carrying rigged thus.
Lost Yooper
Guest
Here's a link showing how to rig a deco/stage bottle:
http://www.bentleytech.com/cave/stage/index.html
I would go with a 30 or 40 and just take it easy. Use the rule of thirds for shore dives and don't rely on your pony to bail you out. This should be a last ditch option. Does your BC have a D-ring on the left shoulder and on the left waist somewhere?
Mike
http://www.bentleytech.com/cave/stage/index.html
I would go with a 30 or 40 and just take it easy. Use the rule of thirds for shore dives and don't rely on your pony to bail you out. This should be a last ditch option. Does your BC have a D-ring on the left shoulder and on the left waist somewhere?
Mike
JamesK
Contributor
You asked about traveling with ponies, so I can answer that. I work for Delta Air Lines, (I am not in customer service, so no "I hate that airline" stuff please) and can tell you what our policy is. You can check tanks in as baggage, as long as there is less than 40psi in the tank. That way you do not have to empty it completly and risk water inside the tank.
I have the ever-popular-on-ebay Zeagle Ranger, but sometime in the future I will be gettting a backplate and harness. I agree with you LY on using the rule of thirds when solo; I plan on never using the backup, but want it there, just in case. I was leaning toward a 19cf bottle, since anything bigger is going to take up that much more room in my luggage, and I'll be staying relatively shallow.
I guess the independent doubles are out; too much work.
So, why is stage-rigged better than a pony for what I'm doing? Not trying to open a can of worms, here, just want to know. I figure I can mount a pony to my Ranger using their system, and have its second stage below my chin. It doesn't look like it would present any more of a snagging problem than doubles.
Has anyone used the Ranger with a pony, using the Zeagle straps? And could I stage rig the bottle on my bc?
I guess the independent doubles are out; too much work.
So, why is stage-rigged better than a pony for what I'm doing? Not trying to open a can of worms, here, just want to know. I figure I can mount a pony to my Ranger using their system, and have its second stage below my chin. It doesn't look like it would present any more of a snagging problem than doubles.
Has anyone used the Ranger with a pony, using the Zeagle straps? And could I stage rig the bottle on my bc?
Once... a long time ago...
It work exceptionally well...
Quite relaxing in fact...
I had mounted a 19cf pony along side my tank (back mounted) and had the pony's second stage over my shoulder on a necklace.
Of course I had to turn and leave the pony on even though this meant that I could lose the gas inadvertantly... just couldn't reach back there to turn the valve by myself.
Anyway... I drop off the boat into a ripping current and made my way to the bow using a sissy-line that extended from the back of the boat to the anchor line.
When I arrived the sissy-line became firmly entangled in my pony/tank interface which functions as a very effective line trapping device.
This allowed me to relax in the current firmly held by by the sissy-line & anchor line. Eventually the rest of the crew arrived at the anchor line and after catching their wind prepared to descend.
I was well rested and quite relaxed and just before the last guy went down I called him to come over and un-hitch me. No one else ever knew and I don't think this guy understood either
First and last time I ever back mounted a pony....
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