PONY Question

[Scuba446]

I've just implemented a 19 cu in PONY for my OW diving. I dive a single AL80, currently with a 1st stage and primary reg, and an octo.

With the addition of the PONY, do I drop the octo from the 1st stage ot my AL80 and just have the 2nd first stage and reg on the pony? Otherwise, I'd have 3 regs going.

Whats the best way to accomplish this?

I know I could have gone an 'H' valve, but I wanted my setup to work whether I had MY AL80 tank or a rental tank while away.

Are 3 regs too much. Also, I have my PONY mounted on my L side like a stage bottle gets rigged.

?

 

[jonnythan]

Scuba446 once bubbled...
I've just implemented a 19 cu in PONY for my OW diving. I dive a single AL80, currently with a 1st stage and primary reg, and an octo.

With the addition of the PONY, do I drop the octo from the 1st stage ot my AL80 and just have the 2nd first stage and reg on the pony? Otherwise, I'd have 3 regs going.

Whats the best way to accomplish this?

I know I could have gone an 'H' valve, but I wanted my setup to work whether I had MY AL80 tank or a rental tank while away.

Are 3 regs too much. Also, I have my PONY mounted on my L side like a stage bottle gets rigged.

?

Not that I have much experience with this, but you sling the pony off your left side rigged as a stage bottle. Keep the two regs on your back gas.

 

[sheck33]

If you think you need a pony you should be diving doubles. If you have a pony because you dont trust your buddy to be there get another buddy. If you want to do something really deep or long THEN you can add stage/deco bottles.

 

[Scuba446]

Doubles rigs are around $1000, overkill for a 150# diver (I feel), overkill for OW dives, and too hard (from others posts I have seen) to manipulate. Besides, I don't care for BP's and wings.

I don't use a pony for more BT or added gas - I use it for REDUNDANCY. As a DiveMaster once told me, "Your best buddy is yourself - take care of yourself and don't count on anyone else doing that for you."

 

[MikeS]

Here’s my philosophy, for whatever it’s worth. I like to take along a pony, stage slung, on dives deeper than 60 feet. It is strictly for bailout, if you have to use it you should be heading to the surface. Your primary SCUBA has two second stage regulators, one is for you the other for your buddy, leave them alone. To be redundant the pony needs it’s own second stage, so yes you should have three.

Mike

 

[Jonathan]

Personally I would keep your octo and three regs whilst using a pony. Also I've never seen it done the way you are thinking and a lot of divers in the UK use a pony.

I also keep it on the left like you are.

You don't need doubles for to carry a pony. I go with use it as redundancy - if your first stage goes or you have a big free flow it's nice not to rely on others (speaking from experience there). Also you can donate your pony to someone in need rather than do an AAS ascent - also seen that done.

Jonathan

 

[Prepare]

Sorry to interupt, but

Are you guys recommending having the 1st stage/Prim reg/Octo on your main tank and then on the pony have simply a 1st stage and Octo?.

Or would you have a Primary reg AND octo on the Pony?.

 

[Northeastwrecks]

Scuba446 once bubbled...
Doubles rigs are around $1000, overkill for a 150# diver (I feel), overkill for OW dives, and too hard (from others posts I have seen) to manipulate. Besides, I don't care for BP's and wings.

Price issues aside, I disagree with substantially everything you've said in this paragraph.

Doubles are not overkill for OW dives. I've done OW dives to 150 feet where doubles would have been nice. Instead, I did them on HP 120's.

Even if you're not deep diving doubles are nice. You may not need weight. Moreover, you can get several shallow dives off of one set of doubles. No tanks to change over.

A diver's size also has little to do with their ability to handle doubles. I dive with females (120#, maybe) who dive double 95's with no problem.

Doubles are not difficult to manage. Like everything else, they take training. Practice and you will not have any problems. I've been using my buddies' set for practice and will order mine later this year. Trust me, they are no problem once you get used to them.

Finally, we've all heard about your personal voyage from BP/Wings to something else. That has nothing to do with doubles. You can use a backplate and doubles on many BC's (for example, DiveRite, Zeagle).

What good is a 19 cu. ft. pony? It doesn't have enough air for deep water ascents and the associated hangs. Its essentially a pacifier. It provides comfort, but little else.

I don't disagree with the concept of a pony. However, it must be of a proper size. For example, I use a 46 cu. ft. deco bottle. If I'm not doing a deco dive, I hit on the EAN50 anyway on the way up (above 70 fsw, of course) as a safety measure and for practice.

Keep your primary and backup on your back gas. Rig a third regulator set, together with a simple gauge style (some are very small) SPG.

I agree with the suggestion to sling it on your side like a deco bottle. This configuration (1) minimizes drag; and (2) allows access to the bottle if you become entangled. Of course, I'm assuming that you have it rigged properly with SS bolt snaps and no metal to metal connections.

 

[Rooster1]

If I am to dive b/p and wings like some have suggested here then no need for pony bottle except to hang on a line for your desired mix at a safety stop...however since you are asking a question on single tank and pony which it seems here some are not interested in answering the question but instead some are more interested in changing your gear configuration

I will answer your question as direct as I can. I have both b/p and wings and regular Jacket style, it is nice to have a couple of choices for the different diving available around here.

As far as what you have and the extra reg or not that is choice.
I personally don't use three regs when using an al 80 and a pony...I find it too much to have three regs on me, but again this is my choice. If my primary reg were to fail I would switch to my pony and abort the dive immediately. If my buddy had a problem he would get my pony reg when I am using such a set up and we would abort the dive...Keep in mind I don't use a pony smaller then a 30cf. As far as where to keep your pony this too for me depends on where I am diving....If I am in a quarry or some where that I am not going to be to close to the bottom I sling it which you really don't notice it there and you can donate it to your buddy easily...however when I am diving in harsh conditions such as the St.Clair River where buoyancy tends to take the back seat and you always want to be negative here (trust me you really do in this River!) then I recommend b/p and wings and twins and if not.. definitely a pony (just in case) and attach it to your main tank because you wouldn't want to have that bottle between you and the bottom when the current out of the blue decides to toss you around like a rag doll. Take consideration to where you dive may be different conditions so thus you may want to put a pony on back or sling to the side and if 2 regs you are comfortable with or you don't mind3.

 

[sheck33]

Northeastwrecks once bubbled...


Price issues aside, I disagree with substantially everything you've said in this paragraph.

Doubles are not overkill for OW dives. I've done OW dives to 150 feet where doubles would have been nice. Instead, I did them on HP 120's.

Even if you're not deep diving doubles are nice. You may not need weight. Moreover, you can get several shallow dives off of one set of doubles. No tanks to change over.

A diver's size also has little to do with their ability to handle doubles. I dive with females (120#, maybe) who dive double 95's with no problem.

Doubles are not difficult to manage. Like everything else, they take training. Practice and you will not have any problems. I've been using my buddies' set for practice and will order mine later this year. Trust me, they are no problem once you get used to them.

Finally, we've all heard about your personal voyage from BP/Wings to something else. That has nothing to do with doubles. You can use a backplate and doubles on many BC's (for example, DiveRite, Zeagle).

What good is a 19 cu. ft. pony? It doesn't have enough air for deep water ascents and the associated hangs. Its essentially a pacifier. It provides comfort, but little else.

I don't disagree with the concept of a pony. However, it must be of a proper size. For example, I use a 46 cu. ft. deco bottle. If I'm not doing a deco dive, I hit on the EAN50 anyway on the way up (above 70 fsw, of course) as a safety measure and for practice.

Keep your primary and backup on your back gas. Rig a third regulator set, together with a simple gauge style (some are very small) SPG.

I agree with the suggestion to sling it on your side like a deco bottle. This configuration (1) minimizes drag; and (2) allows access to the bottle if you become entangled. Of course, I'm assuming that you have it rigged properly with SS bolt snaps and no metal to metal connections.

thanks Northeastwrecks , i couldnt have said it better