DC53
Guest
People put down “feeling more comfortable knowing the pony is there” using various reasons. However, if a diver is less anxious he will be more likely to have a thinking response to an emergency as opposed to an immediate action which in and of itself will increase survival.
Proper use of the pony includes practicing switching between it and primary and or octo including periodically doing mask off switching drills (when the water is warm enough.) It also includes using the same level of attention to the pony including checking everything, including two breaths while watching the SPG, normal maintenance, etc. Used as such one is not likely to misuse it, breathe from the wrong one, forget to open the valve, etc. It also true that if one wears it all the time as opposed to occasionally, it is more likely to be used properly in an emergency, not less likely.
New divers including my not too distant past want the pony because they are afraid of being out of air and not making it to the surface. As time and learning go on, one becomes more concerned with avoiding the scenario which might result in rising to the surface in a manner and time frame that will significantly increase the risk of DCS. At this point the reason for a 19 cu ft pony or larger (as opposed to a spare air) becomes self evident.
Additional task loading is all pre-dive, and I do not notice the supposed extra drag of my 19 cu ft back mounted pony and its tiny Aeris Ion secondary reg mounted in the triangle. (And who’s racing anyway?) I carry two extra lbs on the left to balance the rig.
Placing confidence for living or dying in one single set of equipment, or in buddies who may be skilled or unskilled, attentive or not, familiar or strangers, is something that in my mind is reserved for a situation where there is no available or reasonable secondary backup system. In a situation where a pony is cheap, easily used, really very little hassle, and gives a definitive backup to both of the above issues, to me it simply seems logical. Becoming a bubble wrapped couch potato or alternatively living in denial does not.
I would not own a car without seat belts and airbags. Before airbags came to be, I happily bought cars without them. As technology creates more ways to easily protect against unforeseen catastrophe, then it makes sense to utilize them. Yes, I know, the statistical chance of dying or suffering DCS If I were to not have the pony is tiny. However, to me and perhaps a few others in this world, the importance of that one tiny little possibility is astronomical.
Proper use of the pony includes practicing switching between it and primary and or octo including periodically doing mask off switching drills (when the water is warm enough.) It also includes using the same level of attention to the pony including checking everything, including two breaths while watching the SPG, normal maintenance, etc. Used as such one is not likely to misuse it, breathe from the wrong one, forget to open the valve, etc. It also true that if one wears it all the time as opposed to occasionally, it is more likely to be used properly in an emergency, not less likely.
New divers including my not too distant past want the pony because they are afraid of being out of air and not making it to the surface. As time and learning go on, one becomes more concerned with avoiding the scenario which might result in rising to the surface in a manner and time frame that will significantly increase the risk of DCS. At this point the reason for a 19 cu ft pony or larger (as opposed to a spare air) becomes self evident.
Additional task loading is all pre-dive, and I do not notice the supposed extra drag of my 19 cu ft back mounted pony and its tiny Aeris Ion secondary reg mounted in the triangle. (And who’s racing anyway?) I carry two extra lbs on the left to balance the rig.
Placing confidence for living or dying in one single set of equipment, or in buddies who may be skilled or unskilled, attentive or not, familiar or strangers, is something that in my mind is reserved for a situation where there is no available or reasonable secondary backup system. In a situation where a pony is cheap, easily used, really very little hassle, and gives a definitive backup to both of the above issues, to me it simply seems logical. Becoming a bubble wrapped couch potato or alternatively living in denial does not.
I would not own a car without seat belts and airbags. Before airbags came to be, I happily bought cars without them. As technology creates more ways to easily protect against unforeseen catastrophe, then it makes sense to utilize them. Yes, I know, the statistical chance of dying or suffering DCS If I were to not have the pony is tiny. However, to me and perhaps a few others in this world, the importance of that one tiny little possibility is astronomical.
Last edited:
!
