Pony or buddy when low/no air?

[mi000ke]

I just purchased my first pony bottle, which I’ll be slinging from my BCD. I'll be using it for the first time in a couple of weeks (I plan to practice using it during my safety stops). I do mostly boat diving in the Caribbean and almost always am a single buddying up (in theory) with the DM or an instabuddy. So I decided to sling a bottle for peace of mind during those 100’ wall dives they all do. I know there are instances like an entanglement where you might need a buddy, but for low/no air situations would you go to your pony first or to your buddy? - assuming an immediate controlled ascent either way.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I would monitor my spg so I don't get in those situations. If I'm low on air, I'm close to the surface.

 

[tbone1004]

if you have a pony bottle set up for you, it is your redunant source of air and you no longer need a buddy for your LOA/OOA scenario. Doesn't mean your buddy won't need you, but you no longer need them.

There is 0 excuse for ever requiring use of your own bottle outside of catastrophic gas loss due to equipment failure, and I firmly believe they are an equipment solution to a skills problem. Skills problem being either insufficient buddy etiquette, or improper diving procedures resulting in a low on air scenario due to failure to monitor gas supplies and plan the dive accordingly. The time limit on your dive should be set for either a planned gas consumption against bottom depth assuming a rock bottom reserve, or your NDL, whichever comes first. If you do that, you should always turn on time, never on pressure.

 

[BoltSnap]

I always plans my dives as if I am diving alone and never count on help from my buddy and thus if I am carrying my own alternate air source (pony bottle), I'll use it in case of OOA situation. I never use it to extend my dive time at all. In fact, I never needed to use my pony for myself ever but one can never know when a catastrophe hits (hopefully never).

BTW, I count on my being able to free myself from entanglement by myself if I am caught in line or a net and not count on a buddy even if I am diving with one. I do what I can to be able to take care of myself by myself and not be dependent on somebody to help me. I dive as if I am diving alone even if I am diving with a buddy.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

The simplest solution is to immediately switch to the pony. It should take about 3-5 seconds. Then let your buddy know you have a problem and presumably he would begin the ascent immediately with you. You should have enough air/time to make a normal ascent. Compared to chasing down, signaling and securing a second stage from a buddy, getting on the pony should be much easier and quicker.

 

[simcoediver]

Get a 19 c ft ,anything smaller might not be enough and anything bigger is just to big, as said above its for emergency use only. I always have mine turned on before entering the water so its always ready to pop in my mouth. Never had to use it though.

 

[RainPilot]

My general philosophy is to fix myself first, the buddy is there if I end up in a situation I can't handle myself for whatever reason. I carry multiple cutting devices and am quite ready to get myself free of a fishing line etc but a line around a first stage would make buddy help quite useful.

In your situation I would use the pony first, then if for some reason that wasnt sufficient I would go to my buddy for help. I would also hand the pony to a buddy if he was OOG, followed by my secondary if the situation warranted it.

Buddy is LAST resort, not first. They are like a parachute when piloting. You keep it close, you make sure it is serviceable, you are comfortable with it's operation. Then you do everything humanly possible to ensure you never need to use it.

 

[Frontpointer1000]

Agree with the above. Whether diving solo or with "buddies", I tend to dive with a pony (mine is 40 cf), and would theoretically go to that if there was a need. I would likewise offer that to a buddy of he/she needed air. I certainly would not look to my buddy for air, that's why I'm slinging the pony.

When diving doubles, I leave the pony behind, unless it is serving as a deco gas.

 

[mi000ke]

Thanks for all the replies. I was thinking pony first, and this seems to be the consensus. Btw, I never expect to have to use it and do not plan to substitute it for good skill, I am religious about checking my air and have never come close to a low air situation, I do not plan to use the pony air as part of my dive plan, and I did a detailed calculation on bottle size based on my SAC rate (x 2), a minute at depth (100', which is generally my max) to get sorted, an ascension rate of 30'/min, and a safety stop. Just using a bottle for peace of mind at a very small cost.

So pony first, it is.

 

[Frontpointer1000]

Sounds good.
As part of your normal dive routine, id recommend implementing a drill where your switch to your pony just to become familiar with it-divers often use their safety stop to perform this drill. If diving with a guide/DM, it may be a good idea to give then a heads up so they are not alarmed when they see you breathing off your back up.