Pony orientation debate?

[fire_diver]

Pony or stage- slung left side valve up.

I second this.

 

[texdiveguy]

WHY the HECK is this thread in our prized WRECK sub section...better placed in the Basic Scuba Discussion....Mod--hint-hint.

 

[The Chad]

Thanks for the clarification on the question
IMHO once you get involed in tech you dive the same config all the time, any changes are sorted out in the pool first. That being said, going on vacation or out of the country can pose a problem tank wise. I just carry a pair of 7.25 bands with my gear and the problem is solved.

 

[rjack321]

I know it is beyond many peoples comprehension but you can take a deco class without doubles. I took IANTD Adv Deep & Adv Nitrox in a LP130 with an H valve and a slung 40 I did however move to doubles for Trimix.

I know its possible with some agencies/instructors. But I think H valves are a dumb idea for this application. Even with a 130, you don't have much gas for the team.

 

[MSilvia]

My question is in reference to diving recreational rig setup single cylinder with a pony backup for deeper dives, but NOT technical decompression dives.

Same as a deco cylinder... stage rigged on the left. Of course, I'd be more likely to dive doubles for any dive that required redundancy than I would be to dive a single with a pony.

 

[jtivat]

I know its possible with some agencies/instructors. But I think H valves are a dumb idea for this application. Even with a 130, you don't have much gas for the team.

Ya but a LP 131 at 3800psi holds 188cf of air which is more than double 80's

 

[fire_diver]

/Begin Hijack

Ya but a LP 131 at 3800psi holds 188cf of air which is more than double 80's

Good Gawd, whats next? Strapping a "T" cylinder on for a dive? You're damn close already!

End Hijack/

 

[Colliam7]

Okay let me clarify my question again as I definitely confused the issue with the wording of the question. ... My question is in reference to diving recreational rig setup single cylinder with a pony backup for deeper dives, but NOT technical decompression dives.

OK, thanks for the clarification. For deeper (130) dives, I use an AL40 pony - slung, left side, valve up. The side doesn't really matter (and I sometimes sling right if I am not taking a canister light or a reel), but the size of the pony influences my rig, certainly. I find a slung 40 is hardly noticeable underwater, but the second stage and valve are within easy reach, and I like that.

As a FYI, a separate thread about equipment purchases had a number of posts indicating that people who bought small pony bottles (<19cf) later regretted the decision and wished they bought a 30 or a 40. A 6 or 13 doesn't seem to offer much, I guess. Once you get bigger bottles (30 or 40), it makes more sense to sling them, valve up.

 

[dl348]

We sling it on the left side.

 

[Mike Edmonston]

We sling it on the left side.

Are you talking about the Deco bottle or the pee valve??

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Cheers

Mike