resort diving with a pony

[steelfish]

I am a novice diver and do most of my diving in the warm carribean. When going on a dive boat I go by myself and many of the divers including me do not know each other and my experience is the buddy system is not adhered to. Once we get down, people kind of do their own thing. As a result I have decided to pack a 13 or 19 cu ft pony with a zeagle first and second stage. I plan to practice using the pony so that it becomes second nature. I mentioned to my dive operator that I would be diving with a pony bottle. They replied that none of the dives are deco and noone dives in Grand Cayman with a pony. This is not true as I have seen some there and thought the diver who had one was a wise diver. I told my dive operator I would be diving with one. The one person I can rely on is myself. My question is this: Does anyone else have the same experience with a dive operator who does not think a pony bottle is a good idea? Is it common for the buddy system to be so sorely ignored in the Carribean? I watch my gas and watch my depth, but if I have a first stage failure, I want to live another day. A CESA from 100 or even 60ft is not something I want to try. Any thought or advice would be appreciated. I will be slinging my pony off the D rings on my BC.

A

 

[EastEndDiver]

If a pony makes you feel more comfortable by all means bring it and use it.I have never heard any dive operator on GC say anything about anyones gear unless they thought it was inadequate whereas a pony enhances your comfort level to me that is a plus.I have dove with many of the operators on GC ,I spend 4-6 weeks a year on island diving.Which dive operator are you diving with?

 

[steelfish]

I'm diving with "Divers Down" formerly Cayman Diver. I dove with Ocean Frontiers two years ago. Both are well known. Divers Down didn't tell they would not let me dive with a pony, but they certainly seem to think it is frivolous. I'm a little surprised as the buddy system is not really used.

 

[JBRES1]

My pony goes on vacation with me all the time.
There has never been a problem with me having it on a trip.

I always buddy dive , but I also like to have that extra insurance pony along.
On one trip I didn't need the pony, but my buddy did. Glad I had it with for him to use.

Jim Breslin

 

[Garrobo]

Most of the Carribean diving I have done included a DM with a small group and no buddy system. I have thought about the same thing concerning a pony as a backup on deep dives and open wreck dives but have never used one. If I ever decide to use one and some jack*** captain or dive op tells me that I can't he's in trouble. If you think that you need one to feel more comfortable or safe DO IT. I was diving in the Keys once with a group which included a guy who took his pony on every dive, deep or shallow. No one said anything about it till afterwards when he couldn't hear (Big guy!). Mostly stuff like sissy, scardy-cat, DIR diver, etc. I doubt that he gave a damn one way or the other.

 

[seaducer]

Everything in the Caribbean seems more relaxed, so diving is just following the trend. I know of a national bank on one island that doesn't get all bent out of shape if you are late with payments.

If you wish to go through the trouble of flying with your pony, then go ahead and bring it along. And you are about to encounter a variety of opinions on pony bottles. Seems everyone has a thought or two on them, and think everyone else ought to here it.

If it is for you, make sure it works, it is big enough, and you can use it, or it does you no good. i love mine.

 

[don Francisco]

There's nothing wrong with taking your pony, if you're willing to put up with the TSA and baggage allowance rules. So if you feel better, no one should tell you not to use it.

The flip side is that the risk of a regulator free flow is much less (close to zero) in warm tropical waters, and the type of diving done in the tropics is usually less demanding. While a pony can serve as a plan "B" in case you run out of air, you'd be much better off developing good air management habits, and monitoring your air supply to prevent this emergency in the first place.
IMO, short of a sudden catastrophic mechanical failure there is simply no excuse for a diver running out of air.

Regarding buddies, I agree that often pickup buddies are worse than useless, but they should be more than a backup air supply. The first thing I get a buddy to agree on is that neither of us will get back on the boat without verifying that the other is back too. I figure that it's much harder for a crewmember to mis-count by two than by one.

 

[dkktsunami]

I think you are smart to do this. If you explain to the dive operator that you are carrying the pony for safety only (for the possibility of first stage failure or tank valve o-ring failure) and in no way intend to use the extra air to extend your dive or to help you if you "run out of air by accident", or to do a deco dive, the dive service will certainly allow you to do this. I carry a smaller pony affixed to my plate and have had dive operations reluctant to fill pony until I explained its intended use, told them that I have never actually had to use the bottle, and that it was a regular part of my gear on the "deeper" dives, and that I regularily practice its deployment.

 

[steelfish]

There is a lot of controversy on the subject. I knew there would be. But I appreciate the honesty. I'll take it with me and if anyone has anything to say about it I'm pretty thick skinned. It'll be their problem, not mine. And for the record, I do watch my gauges and have never run out of gas. There really are no excuses for that. I always check my gear but I don't know the history of any of the rented stuff. If for some reason the rental stuff lets me down, I'll be hugging my pony. I've done the math and figure a 13cu ft would be enough, but a 19 isn't much bigger and why not have the extra gas. I'm told it slings better too.

 

[Brishar]

Hey Steelfish, I like the way you're thinking through this.

My first dives after certification were in Grand Cayman. The nice folks at Eden Rock filled my 13cu ft pony for the very first time! While my brother and his wife were my first dive buddies and we've done many dives together since, I like the piece of mind the pony provides. I've had more than one insta-buddy become a same sea buddy. If you were to have a catastrophic loss of air when they've abandoned you, it's the next best thing to doubles. If you choose to invest in this, please practice with it until it becomes second nature. If you can find a mentor/buddy who also dives with a pony, so much the better.

As the scope of my diving has moved to deeper and darker things, my 30 cu ft pony became a trainer for a stage bottle. I've never needed it and I would never use it to extend my bottom time. A trusted buddy is still the best back up for recreational NDL diving. The pony system is the next best option.