Pony or no Pony ?

[markfm]

One advantage to patronizing an LDS with their own pool I can pretty much do skills practice any time I want.

 

[Damselfish]

ponies are a pain to cart along and I've never seen anyone with one in the Carrib, of course some people do take them but it's not common and not necessary. Since you're traveling with a known buddy that eliminates one of the reasons some people like to have them.

Keep in mind, if your son is in front of you that means you can see him better, but he has a harder time seeing you.

 

[diversteve]

...in Bonaire,we will pick out a shallow sandy area and do so(are there any?)

Ed,

There's a BEACH out in front of the Sand Dollar.

With the new TSA regs, you have to empty the pony, remove the valve, and have it inspected and refilled at your destination.

 

[UP4AIR]

I think that perhaps a better question to be asked regarding this thread is the following...How many of us divers,after diving our 100's of dives , have had a reg fail? Does it happen? ABSOLUTELY! But with what frequency and is it worth the extra hassle of carrying a pony to a distant destination aboard an aircraft and going through TSA?
Do I dive with a pony? YES. Do I dive with a pony on Rec dives to distant places...NO.

Why? Because as a wise man once said "A man has got to know his limitations". Dive with your buddy....stay above 80'....and know your gear. Finally....life is all about choices we all make ours and then live with them....for me the hassle of carrying a pony to far away places outweights the risk of a reg failure. Of course this all pertains to open water divng.....dive the cenotes in Riviera Maya and all bets are off.

 

[String]

Id go for a yes if not renting twins.

A redundant air source takes the reliance on someone else for your life and puts it back into your hands massively increasing your options.

 

[LI Diver]

I think that perhaps a better question to be asked regarding this thread is the following...How many of us divers,after diving our 100's of dives , have had a reg fail? Does it happen? ABSOLUTELY! But with what frequency and is it worth the extra hassle of carrying a pony to a distant destination aboard an aircraft and going through TSA?
Do I dive with a pony? YES. Do I dive with a pony on Rec dives to distant places...NO.

Why? Because as a wise man once said "A man has got to know his limitations". Dive with your buddy....stay above 80'....and know your gear. Finally....life is all about choices we all make ours and then live with them....for me the hassle of carrying a pony to far away places outweights the risk of a reg failure. Of course this all pertains to open water divng.....dive the cenotes in Riviera Maya and all bets are off.

Good point Up4 actually I was wondering if anybody out there had this situation? And if so what was the outcome? I mean we all did a controlled emergency ascent from 30' and orally inflated our bc but how about we were expecting it and in a controlled enviorment. What happens at 80'? What happens if your just tooling along and zip goes your air? Is there a gasp response? What if you get a mouth full of water (or an airway?) at this point, how long can a person keep from doing something if your buddie is got his head in a lobster hole or taking a photo?
Ed:06:

 

[TheRedHead]

You're going to be diving with senior citizens. Seriously! If the octogenarian can hop off the dock in 15 feet of water and come back alive, so can you. It is the most benign placed I've ever dived and perfect for newbies.

 

[mtsidford]

Bonaire has terrific vis so you are not likely to lose sight of your son. However distance can be deceiving underwater, and as comfort levels increase both you and your son will drift farther and farther apart underwater looking at whatever captivates you. Yes it's not likely that you will have a failure, but running out of air does happen, even to the most safety concious diver. No it hasn't happened to me but I know a few divers with loads of experience who have.

I sling a 19 cf pony on every dive I do. I don't even notice it. At first you will. The only part I notice is my absolute comfort in knowing that if the sh** hits the fan I can make it back from 130 and under. My buddy who appears bigger than you at 6-3 280 can make it back from a 110 under duress w/ enough for a long safety stop. Tested yeasterday "controlled/planned". If you can afford to drop a few hundred bucks for yourself and son I would.

Having to explain to the wife and others that you brought your son into a hostile environment with as much safety precaution as possible is easier than the latter. Sorry if this sounds brash but I am so much happier diving with one.

 

[LI Diver]

:

You're going to be diving with senior citizens. Seriously! If the octogenarian can hop off the dock in 15 feet of water and come back alive, so can you. It is the most benign placed I've ever dived and perfect for newbies.

Thanks Mama and I know thats how I started the thread out but maybe I was too specific. It has now evolved into (in my mind) a more general question. I personally would like to start to move into more challenging dives. I would like to keep my son at the current level.. and not because he is not competent but because I am over protective! I know he is going to get bent out of shape (oh wait bad diving term!) ahem.. upset the first time I tell him that I am going to do a deeper dive (with a DM or instructor) and he has to sit it out. I think he thinks he has to protect me!
Ed
PS I hope there are at least some sexy seniors out there! What am I getting myself into here???

 

[markfm]

I don't sweat bringing it on travel. It's a steel bottle with the valve removed, in checked luggage, rides in a piece of foam sitting on my BCD. The reg comes with me, carry on, no different than my main regs and computer. Toughest thing is remembering to remove the knife from the console, put it in checked luggage.

Using the QD, I balance it with two pounds on the other side (weight in a tank band pouch), seems to be clean. According to some, perhaps it should be a 3 pound balance, but 2's been working.