Pony Bottle

[misterguy]

I'm a new diver (22 dives) so what are the thoughts on using a pony bottle
My LDS told me they dont use ponys as they are not safe
he didnt have time to go into it at that moment but said to ask him when he wasnt busy
the dive club say they all use them and its the only to dive
anyone know the pro's and con's

 

[shoredivr]

I just tried the search function and it's working fine. You'll find tons of threads on this....

 

[b1gcountry]

Yeah, Search and you will be reading forever. Basic opinions about them are:
1. They are only worthwhile if they can actually get you safely from depth to the boat. You might need a bigger one than you thought to do this.
2. They are more versatile if you sling it under your arm than mount it on your back.
3. They are not a planned reserve.
4. They are not a buddy replacement.
5. You have to practice with them regularly.

You will also hear opinions telling you to go for doubles.

You will also hear opinions telling you you are going to die.

Tom

 

[b1gcountry]

Oh, and BTW, you should go with doubles. If you don't, you gonna die!

 

[bolantej]

I dive with a pony and they can be safe as long as you do not rely on them other than to save you in an out of air emergency, and you make sure you don't get your regs mixed up. I sling mine in front, clipped to my bcd D rings so it can be easier to hand off to a buddy or remove if it gets entangled. I would also suggest getting a larger one if you can...maybe a 30cf. The more air the better. Also, train with it so it's second nature if you ever do need it.

 

[markfm]

Please do try a search -- it's a frequent topic. I dive a 19 CF, back mount, using what's called a QuickDraw mount. It's convenient (for me), travels well (I take it on vacations), use it when deep and/or with a buddy I'm unfamiliar with.

Since it's both a pony, and back mount, I must have died 100 dives back

Best of luck -- thinking of redundancy is a good thing. I bought mine right around 25 dives, when taking AOW. When it's time to go up from a wreck, your buddy has disappeared, decided to go further, redundancy is a good thing to have...

 

[ClayJar]

Ponies aren't unsafe, but if the diver diving with one is lazy, misguided, or stupid, they give him another way to goof up.

As for myself, I have three options for slinging independent SCUBA. I have an AL19, which I clip off to my left side for all but the very shallowest dives. (I'll occasionally go without it on a dive with a buddy and in 19 fsw or shallower, but otherwise, it's always on me.) I have an AL30, which is rigged identically to the AL19 and which I use if the 19 is unavailable or if I'm planning a dive to a depth where the 19 is not ample. (The 19 would be unavailable if it's loaned to a buddy to try or if I've had to use it during a multiple-dives-no-LDS trip, and if I were diving beyond 100 fsw, it could be stretched.)

I also have an AL80 I can sling. I have all the hardware ready to go should I decide to use it (the sling is already assembled; just slip it over the valve and cinch the band down). I don't dive it much, as it's certainly overkill for my usual no-deco non-overhead dives, but I occasionally rig it up and dive it, just for practice. (Got a 2.5-hour springs dive out of it, using it as a "stage".) I've not had occasion to need to sling an 80, but I appreciate having the ability, should it ever come up.

Anyway, I've seen plenty of threads with the "you're an idiot about to dive" meme, but to quote Kermit the Frog, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a hoot." (Strangely, our local tech diving instructor, full cave and all that, seemed to think my pony was quite a good idea and rather forward-thinking. On the other hand, perhaps he doesn't like me and is merely looking for a way to hasten my impending demise. )

 

[shoredivr]

Agree with bolantej, I have a 30 cuft. slung bottle used as backup only. On TheDecoStop, there was an interesting thread about "ponys" for recreational divers. One of the posts mentioned how some doubles tech divers are critical of recreational "pony" users, because ponys have been used to extend dive time instead of as backup. The post went on to say that used correctly, it provides redundancy, and isn't that the point?

Anyway, this topic comes up frequently with such predictable responses that I'm having some pony fatigue

 

[matt_unique]

Yeah, Search and you will be reading forever. Basic opinions about them are:
1. They are only worthwhile if they can actually get you safely from depth to the boat. You might need a bigger one than you thought to do this.
2. They are more versatile if you sling it under your arm than mount it on your back.
3. They are not a planned reserve.
4. They are not a buddy replacement.
5. You have to practice with them regularly.

You will also hear opinions telling you to go for doubles.

You will also hear opinions telling you you are going to die.

Tom

This is right on with what you will find. There is seldom 100% consensus in diving when it comes to gear or procedures. Decide what is most important to you.

I believe in using a pony if used properly (i.e. above list).

--Matt

 

[Trwmodela]

I use a 19 cu ft pony on deep & wreck dives. Since, I usually don't have a regular buddy so this provides some extra comfort. I do have the quick mount tank bracket but usually sling it under the right side for my BCD. Stage & Deco bottles are usually carried on the left side of a BCD. The 19 cu ft is a nice size but I would also consider the 30 cu ft bottle. You can't have TO much air on a dive only to little. :14:

Also, I would suggest purchasing the Dive Rite hardware for your pony bottle. This has the correct snap-bolt clips. Never use suicide clips or any metal to metal connections that you can't cut off in a hurry. Suicide clips wil entrap line when you least expect and have killed many divers over the years.