Pony bottle or independent dbls?

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Originally posted by sumguy

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 actually thought I had answered this but I guess not.

Stage rigged allows you unfettered access you your bottle.
You don't need to leave it on (just pressurized) so you won't lose your gas.
You can unclip and hand it off to an OOA if need be.
It doen't present an entanglement hazard behind your back.
Ect. ect. ect.
 
Uncle Pug,
You explained why you feel stage bottles are better than ponies in general, and it makes sense. But, for what I'm planning, (solo/shore) there won't be a need to hand off to an OOA buddy, and there shouldn't be any snagging issues. I realize you never know when you're going to run into fishing line, or other entanglements, but those are potential hazards with or without an extra bottle.
The easy access doesn't seem too important to me, as long as the second stage is in easy reach, and the air is on. But, that's your other point; the need for the air to be on, and the possibility of losing gas. Valid point. That's why I'm here. I'll consider rigging a stage bottle.

BTW: When I say "air", I really mean "gas". I'll have EAN50 in my smaller bottle, if I can find anyone to fill it.
 
Originally posted by sumguy
But, for what I'm planning, (solo/shore) there won't be a need to hand off to an OOA buddy, and there shouldn't be any snagging issues. I realize you never know when you're going to run into fishing line, or other entanglements, but those are potential hazards with or without an extra bottle.

Keep it simple....
Don't take it if you don't need it....
Limit your diving to your trained & correctly equipped depth/time....
While I include a buddy as part of my essential equipment....
You obviously don't....
A pony is not a buddy and won't substitute for one....
It presents an extra entanglement risk especially if backmounted....

If I were you and I had chosen to solo dive reefs...
I would limit my depth to what I could freedive and my times well within NDL....
And I would not take a pony.
 
I agree with UP, keep it simple. The pony sticks out a little bit and because you are diving solo, if you do get snagged, it would a little bit harder to get out of. The stage/deco bottle is clean and out of the way.

Eric
 
I got to say that I like the idea of a 19cf or 30cf bottle mounted in a stage reg style. This seems to make much more sense as it would severly cut down on the snag factor. Sure you could say that your main back mount could snag, but that does not mean that you should add more to it and make it easier to sang something.
 
Let me clarify a little more...
I would not take a pony, back mounted or stage slung....

When diving singles I do not carry one....
When diving doubles NDL I do not carry one....
Only for deco dives and then only the one(s) I need....

But then I dive with a buddy so that I do have a redundant source of gas....
Plus all the other things that a buddy is good for at my disposal.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/swift/

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