Pony Configuration

[Alex Denny]

Hi all,

Just rigging up a 3l pony cylinder (an older dumpy one rather than the skinny taller new types) and I'm trying to work out the best configuration - left or right handed? Valve facing up or down? There are obvious considerations in all of this. At the moment, my own regs have an octopus coming over my right shoulder for "self rescue" - though this would seem pointless in an out-of-air situation. Should I change the pony to come over my right shoulder then my own octopus under the left elbow to help others? So, if anyone grabs my own reg from my mouth, the backup is the pony and we split the air source? Or I can pass them my normal alternate (from the main cylinder) and then change myself easily to the pony cylinder?
Thanks

 

[Reku]

Uh hmmm ... personally - if I were to single backmount and needed a pony I would mount it valve up and then have a short hose that could reach my mouth and I would then band it to the pony bottle using bungee then I would have a short secondary reg on a necklace coming under my left arm and then sitting under my chin. My primary hose would be 7' and come down and up under a knife or something on my right side - then behind my neck and into my mouth. This way the pony reg is out of the way but if you need it you just reach to your shoulder turn the valve and pull the reg out of the bands.

That said - I don't dive backmount ever. I'm sidemount all the way - built in redundancy.

The pony is for YOU - no one else. I would not share air from the pony - only use it when your entire tank is OOA. You donate your primary long hose and switch to your reg on the necklace when someone else needs air. Also leave the pony valve shut until you need it - don't want it to freeflow - that's one less thing to worry about. Obviously you will want sip a small amount from it to make sure it is working at some point while assembling your gear - but then close the valve.

 

[Alex Denny]

Uh hmmm ... personally - if I were to single backmount and needed a pony I would mount it valve up and then have a short hose that could reach my mouth and I would then band it to the pony bottle using bungee then I would have a short secondary reg on a necklace coming under my left arm and then sitting under my chin. My primary hose would be 7' and come down and up under a knife or something on my right side - then behind my neck and into my mouth. This way the pony reg is out of the way but if you need it you just reach to your shoulder turn the valve and pull the reg out of the bands.

That said - I don't dive backmount ever. I'm sidemount all the way - built in redundancy.

The pony is for YOU - no one else. I would not share air from the pony - only use it when your entire tank is OOA. You donate your primary long hose and switch to your reg on the necklace when someone else needs air. Also leave the pony valve shut until you need it - don't want it to freeflow - that's one less thing to worry about. Obviously you will want sip a small amount from it to make sure it is working at some point while assembling your gear - but then close the valve.

Thanks! Plenty to think about, there. I might start learning sidemount at some point, but for now I think I'm going to have to stick with this on my back (I have been told that a pony can be easier with it slung in front, so I might try that too, one day).
I quite like the idea of bungee strapping the pony reg to the cylinder itself so a quick tug from behind will get it loose if it's in easy reach) - but if I have the valve closed, would it not be easier to have the valve down by my hand, rather than over the shoulder? I guess I should try it in a safe environment both ways!

 

[Searcaigh]

When I first started using ponies many years ago I tried both back mount strapped onto my main tank and slinging it (LHS). I found that slinging it was far easier to work with, which also gave me some experience when it came to using stages after I moved to tec diving.

However check both methods and go with whatever you feel comfortable with, but with a slung pony you have more options to pass it over to another diver if need be, and it is always in view should the valve leak for any reason.

 

[halocline]

Definitely consider slinging. You can do that for a while until you realize that dive situations where redundancy is appropriate are best with actual redundancy, i.e. doubles. Then it's a simple switch to a stage or sidemount set up. If you want two tanks on your back, go for the old standard manifolded doubles.