Pony bottle/reg recommendations

[Jimmer]

I guess that basically kills the Razor because that system has a tiny valve that may be difficult to manipulate.

I don't know if they have it available yet, but my shop owner has a prototype extended knob for his razor, meant for us suckers here in Canada that have to use heavy gloves every dive. We were the guinea pigs for it. Just something to consider.

 

[ClayJar]

The bottle is 'charged' prior to the decent...this prevents water from entering the 1st stage/bottle....during the dive you will occasionally 'feather' the valve on and then off to ensure the system stays charged.

Precisely.

If you've ever tried to disconnect your regulator before closing the tank valve and purging the pressure, you know exactly what is meant by having a reg "charged". You can easily get an emergency breath (or more) from a charged reg -- plenty to give you time to turn the valve on to continue breathing.

 

[Doc Harry]

I "second" Doc Intrepid's comments and conclusions.

 

[reeldive]

Another photog here. I use a 19cf pony,Aqua Lung Calypso reg, a button SPG, necklass for the octo and a Quick Draw bracket for tank mount. Never had to go to it "Thank God" but do practice a few times a year. IMHO photgs and spearos need to be preparde to be solo. Photogs get left behind and Spearos take off on thier own. Watch your gas and Know when to head for the boat!

 

[texdiveguy]

reeldive.......I like your signature line and this from your SB bio.."Still be diving when I'm 100yrs old: 65 and counting..." way to go!!!!!

 

[dumpsterDiver]

A recommendation was made to have a spg that the diver can read at all times and to also have the tank "off" at all times so that it doesn't leak out. That really doesn't make sense to me for a back mounted pony? If you have an spg, you can surely keep an eye on the pressure and enjoy the luxury and safety of having the air immediately available by leaving the tank on.

Also, with a back mounted pony, if you are going to keep the tank off and only turn it on to pressurize it or to breath from it, why add the extra complexity of having another long pressure guage hose to deal with? The tank pretty much has to be full if you have kept it off for most all the dive?

I wear my pony behind me, have the valve open and have no spg that I can read when diving. I have never had the pony bleed down unexpectedly and I wear the pony second stage on a necklace, where it would be pretty much impossible to fail to notice a freeflow or even a leaking second stage.

Adding the complexity of another long hose and/or turning the back mounted pony bottle on and off during the dive sounds like a lot of "work" and distraction for, at best, a very minor potential benefit.

Also, the guy never said how deep he is diving, so I have a hard time understanding how people can make definitive statements about the appropriate pony bottle size?