Rigging a stage/pony

[Divin'Papaw]

Because my camera is there and I do not like the pony bottle trying to occupy the same space as my camera rig so I want the pony up under my arm in use. I may also clip the camera arms off to the shoulder D-rings for hands free entry/exit or emergency need for my hands and to prevent the camera from swinging about. A pony hanging down means it has a lot of range of motion, enough to smack me in the chin or teeth during a back roll entry or hit my camera. I like my pony slung up tight as possible and as parallel to my body as I can get it.

The pic #12 is a study on how not to do everything. Poor trim, over weighted, finning to stay at depth, arms crossed but held out for some reason without flexing shoulders or bending elbows, pony hanging down swinging about.

Cool. Very valid reasons. None of those issues apply to me. That is why I see no point (for me) in taking the extra step of adding bungees to tuck everything up tight next to my body. To each their own.

Also, I can't see your pics. They don't show for me for some reason. Not sure if it is just me or if others have that issue as well.

 

[34109411]

In your haste to insult anyone who doesn't dive the way you do, you are forgetting a few things. For starters, a pony bottle is easier to travel with and for recreational diving is probably more than enough.

I won't waste time attempting to educate you further, you're the type who won't listen to anything contrary to your preconceived notions of the only correct way to do things.

you take this too seriously cause i am diving with at 30 cf right now sling on my left side.

Take a breath.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

you take this too seriously cause i am diving with at 30 cf right now sling on my left side.

Take a breath.

Sarcasm can often times get lost on these forums.

 

[bradlw]

I am pretty sure the included bungee loop with fisherman slip knots is meant to slip over the mouthpiece of the second stage for necklacing (to the diver's neck) in long hose fashion.

Not saying right or wrong, here is one of mine:



The orange thing on the second stage mouthpiece is a snorkel keep around the valve to hold my second stage tight to the pony. The upper bolt snap has a rubber band through it to provide suspension and keep the pony tight to the chest D-ring. The lower bolt snap, I wrapped it to also pull it up tight. My upper rubber band on the tank does have a tab on it which is useful to help pull the band away to re-stow the hose.







And about to roll out:

very helpful pics @Nemrod
thanks

 

[bradlw]

None of the above. Forget the pony and go sidemount or double. Be a real diver. .

I still have my double 100 steels, but I think I'm going to break them apart into singles. I don't think I'll dive doubles again. Not a real diver, and I'm ok with it. Just having fun now
If I had it to do over again though, I do think I'd go sidemount instead of back. On my deeper dives with two deco bottles though that was four big tanks. That could get interesting with sidemount.

I did see a post though with pictures earlier today. the shop is running a trip over to the panhandle to dive some wrecks. Not super deep ones, but that had me thinkin'

 

[bradlw]

I don't know why a pony would need to be slung like sidemounted cylinders. You can certainly do it that way if you wish, but I don't see the point personally. I rig mine with the traditional deco/stage bottle rigging I learned when I started tech diving in 2008. One of my AL40s has a self-made DIR style strap and the other is a Dive Rite strap. The tank rides lower than with sidemount certainly, but who cares? It doesn't cause any noticeable drag, and I frequently dive in pretty high currents in Southeast Florida. YMMV. Do whatever works best for you.

You're certainly right. My thing is that it's been so long since I did my tech training and dives that I'm fuzzy on rigging the deco bottles....so I started reading and watching videos, which led mostly to sidemount stuff.... but when you get down to it it's sort of the same as a deco sling rig. A tank with a couple of snap clips on it