Slung pony and boat dives--how do you enter and exit?

[BigTuna]

If you sling your pony bottle, do you wear it when you splash in, or do you have somebody pass it down to you? What size bottle do you sling when you do this?

On exit, do you unclip it and pass it up, or do you climb up with it on?

 

[Kevrumbo]

If it's a "hot" drop (i.e. jumping off an idling or slowly moving boat), I'll try to have all my stage/deco bottles clipped-on (two AL40's and/or an AL80) --the only thing passed down to me in the water is my Scooter (physically/cognitively the toughest most demanding entry of all, especially if you've got rough seas & a rockin' boat). On exit, I'll unclip everything and pass it up first --quickly if it's a hot recovery. . .

Ideally in calm waters with no current, you'd want everything passed down to you in the water; do your bubble/SPG checks and check your stage/deco regs for wet breathing or malfunction, then clip on the bottle(s) one at a time. . .

 

[Diver0001]

I like to drop in with everything already on. On the way out I'll hand off the stage if I can. The decision will depend to a certain extent on conditions and how big the boat is.

R..

 

[divingjd]

I have entered and exited with the slung pony in place. If it is properly set up, there really isn't any slack in the sling and it is not going anywhere. That can also make it a little tricky to clip or unlclip it. My experience with a slung pony is all in calm water, but I don't think it would make a difference if it weren't. In fact, it would be harder to have someone hand it to you.

 

[JimC]

If possible logistically I will hang the tanks in the water on entrance and exit. Failing that having them handed up and down is a good fall back, if possible. The last thing I want to do is carry them in and out - double especially on a deco dive.

 

[Rick Murchison]

Typically I'll enter with everything attached, hand stuff up on exit.
There are exceptions.
For example, if diving a Florida cave I'll throw the stages & deco bottles in the spring and put 'em on in the water.
If diving from a boat with a single tank for back gas, I don't usually bother unclipping anything on exit.
Rick

 

[francousteau]

Like you, I dive here off the NJ coast. My experiece, diving doubles with a 40 deco slung, is that one of the mates or someone on board unclips the bottle for me as soon as I'm high enough up the ladder. IMO, it's not a good idea (diving here) to try and unclip the bottle yourself and try to hand it up while hanging on the ladder. For example, this past Sunday there were close set 4 footers and the boat was really rolling. Wouldn't want to be trying to unclip anything while hanging on with 1 hand. If you're diving a single setup, it should be pretty easy to climb into the boat while your bottle is still attached even if you're climbing over the transom. YMMV

 

[jim T.]

I'm a brand new pony user. (4 shore dives, 2 boat dives) and I haven't had any problems entering or exiting with a slung 30cf. slung. I just rest my arm over the bottle when I do the giant stride and climbing up has only been a a tiny bit heavier/more awkward. Not a big deal. Making sure you're aware of where the reg and spg are ladder/rail wise have been the only new considerations. This is cold water/drysuit/b.p./wing diving by the way.

 

[duckster3d]

about the same as everyone else. everything cliped on on entry, conditions will decide how to exit, sometimes hang on gear line and pull up later, sometimes hand up, sometimes climb the ladder till mate can get to them.

 

[Tom Winters]

Coming and going, the best way is to keep it all clipped up until you're in the boat. You start unclipping stuff, sooner or later someone is going to drop something expensive. Same thing going in - have your gear together and just get going.