LI Diver
Contributor
:06: Hey guys I want a consensus. I know I'm going to get varying replys here but here goes. I'll be traveling to Bonaire on my next dive trip and doing mostly shore diving and most of that probably at Bari Reef. I do want to do a couple of boat dives as well. My intention is to try to stay shallower than 60' since my 13 yr old son and I are just ow certified and have only 17 dives under our belts. My question is this I've talked to a few divers that have dove all over the world,deep wrecks,de compression diving etc. They have told me that they wouldn't dive even 20' without their pony bottle. (13-19cu ft). So far most of my dives on regular dive boats have been shallow reefs(under 30') and I've never saw a person w/ a pony bottle. In Curacao we dove up to 70' deep and saw no one w/ a pony bottle although our boat dives were only 6 packs and our shore dives were private or with the same 2 people each time. DM's did not have pony's either. Should I buy them for myself and my son or am I being too cautious? My son stays close at all times but of course we can't be looking at each other at all times.I try to keep him in front and to one side of me and as close as possible without kicking each other. My fear is that one of us has a reg malfunction or for some reason gets no gas and can't get buddys attention quick enough. We have tank bangers but I notice they aren't always heard on the first knock. So do I pony up or not??? I normaly like to be a minimalist and keep it simple if possible.Also if anyone thinks we need them how should they be carried,on a sling, on tank band,etc.?:06: