Pony Control

[spectrum]

I have a pony bottle question I have not seen answered, it would also apply to stages so I'm sure plenty of you can offer input.

I got a pony for the occasional solo dive, deeper dive of for days when I just want to feel technical. It's a 19 CF and I'm slinging it on the left so it's accessible and easy to include on a dive without disturbing my rig.

Getting into the water on a shore dive is no big deal. I you are making a giant stride or even a back roll from a boat how do you control the bottle so it doesn't pop you in the chops or otherwise do bodily harm?

Pete

 

[Meng_Tze]

I am not 100% sure what you mean by 'slung'. But if it is clipped off chest and hip and rides along the body, just put your arm around it and hold tight when jumping/rolling off.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

I am pretty sure that is what Pete means by "slung" - the term is commonly used that way even in the tech community.

I would not describe what I do as holding it tightly during a giant stride entry. I will put my fore arm over the top of the bottle(s)/first stage(s)/valve(s) and hold them down against their clips to ensure that they do not rise up and smack me during the entry - and if by chance they did, the much softer arm and exposre suit impacts the face rather than a metal valve or first stage.

I am not sure what you are using for a harness and whether the D-rings are adjustable, but if you have soem adjustment range and your only requirement is to carry a comparatively short 19 cu ft pony, you may be able to have the upper D-ring low enough to prevent it from smacking you in the face even if the bottle were unattended.

 

[ClayJar]

I just cradle the bottle with the inside of my left elbow and forearm. It's not so much that it's going to launch itself at your face like a missile (unless you're going a gargantuan-stride entry from the high platform at a competition pool). All it takes it a little cradling and it will remain perfectly safe on the entry. I've not once been bopped in the face by mine, and we have some intimidating giant strides. :biggrin:

(If it's a super-stride entry, holding your left hand over the valve and first stage should quite easily suffice.)

 

[waterpirate]

Ditto on the cradle it softly with elbow while holding mask with hand and roll right over the side, no problem. If you have not seen the u tube, tech divers suffer from not stepping out far enough and when bottles or doubles contact the rail it equals face plant.
Eric

 

[String]

As others have said just cradle the top of it with your hand to stop it moving. Its no different to protecting a torch or camera and doing the same.

When i backroll or giant stride its right hand over mask and reg, left hand over whatever ive got clipped near my chest area.

 

[spectrum]

Ahh the chick wing maneuver, as I suspected. I can deal with that.

Thanks
Pete

 

[Nemrod]

I have my 19/30 slung left. When I roll in --back roll, back flop, giant stride, forward somesault, I just pinch the bottle up to me with my left elbow, forearm, kinda over it. I also--important--have the straps adjusted to keep it in tight and parallel to my body. No issues with it hitting me. I am diving a BP/wing, the crotch strap help to prevent the rig froml lifting up as I enter the water pulling the bottle up. Also, I always enter the water with the wing sucked flat. If your using a cumberbunded jacket style BC, air in the BC as is typical with many and no crotch strap it may lift enough to hit you. Good luck.

N