Slung position of 19cf pony

[ianr33]

My octo is on a necklace. I can see the reason if diving with a long hose or if using a cannister light which I don't (yet). I'll switch it over to the right side which will free up access to my spg and bc inflator.

But then you will need to relearn everything when you do get a long hose!

Another point is that the best way to route the reg once it is deployed from a pony/stage/deco bottle is over the back of your neck so it feeds from the right (same as all other regs) A 40 inch hose is pretty standard for that. With a tank slung on the right you would need a second stage that can have the hose on the left (e.g Apeks XTX)

 

[oldschool]

But then you will need to relearn everything when you do get a long hose!

Another point is that the best way to route the reg once it is deployed from a pony/stage/deco bottle is over the back of your neck so it feeds from the right (same as all other regs) A 40 inch hose is pretty standard for that. With a tank slung on the right you would need a second stage that can have the hose on the left (e.g Apeks XTX)

I am nowhere near being full DIR but I have taken some of the DIR methods and use them such as necklaced octo, full redundancy for air, computer backup analog depth guage and timer, no suicide clips, and knife and shears mounted on opposite sides. I don't quite understand the point of a long hose on the pony however. The 36 inch hose I'm using is currently secured to the bottle with two quick release straps. If needed, I would want to be able to deploy it immediately and not have to first run it around my neck. Or, is the long hose initally routed around the neck to the right side instead of being secured to the bottle? If so, how is the pony bottle second stage secured until needed?

 

[aquaregia]

DIR's not in favor of ponies at all, but a stage would hang on the left so the hose would need to go behind your neck in order to enter the regulator from the right hand side. I've got a 36" on mine, but it's a bit tight. It ends up behind your neck pretty naturally. The hose is secured to the tank using restrictive bands, so you'd still be able to deploy rapidly. I accidentally started a fight earlier by asking whether a stage bottle should have a boltsnap to secure the regulator; the consensus was that strict DIR says that it should not.

The 40" hose is a long-er hose, not a long hose, which is usually 60-84". The long hose is on your primary regulator and routes down past the wing, under some form of tamer, up across the chest, then behind the neck and into your mouth. It would be clipped to the right chest d-ring if not in use.

 

[ianr33]

The 36 inch hose I'm using is currently secured to the bottle with two quick release straps. If needed, I would want to be able to deploy it immediately and not have to first run it around my neck. Or, is the long hose initally routed around the neck to the right side instead of being secured to the bottle? If so, how is the pony bottle second stage secured until needed?

Reg is secured in the straps on the pony.
In an emergency just pull the reg out,turn the pony on (assuming the valve is normally closed) breathe from it and calm down.
The neatest thing to do with the hose once order is restored is to loop it over the back of your neck. Now, if you are using a pony on an open water dive you might not bother with that,just head to the surface.
If using a stage bottle as part of the dive plan then normal procedure is to loop the reg over your neck. You might be breathing from that stage for an hour, having the hose the correct ,comfortable, length makes a big difference.

Just makes sense to me to rig a pony the same way as you may one day rig a stage.
(Even if you aren't DIR )

 

[halocline]

Thanks everyone for the quick responses. I'm currently diving with a Sherwood Avid BC and don't use a long hose. My octo is on a necklace.

If you don't use a long hose, but your alternate is on a bungie, would you mind describing your hose set up? I'm thinking if no long hose...must donate alternate...but alternate is on necklace....

 

[oldschool]

If you don't use a long hose, but your alternate is on a bungie, would you mind describing your hose set up? I'm thinking if no long hose...must donate alternate...but alternate is on necklace....

The out of air diver would receive my primary which I have on a 39 inch hose. I then use the secondary bungied around my neck. Of course I now also have the option of handing off the pony to the diver.

 

[BigBubbaJ]

This whole topic is at risk of going entirely astray.

My issue: DIR as a system when used with a like-minded and like-trained team works well.
You have to take the whole thing. Swap it to a Five foot hose and now it becomes useful FYI.

Not to get on the OP, but all this is "problems looking for a solution" - you are getting all the DIR guys tellling you - here is how DIR does it.

You can do it however you want to.

If you wish to learn more about DIR/UTD/GUE lots of us are happy to help.

 

[mk706]

How do you route a 39" primary? Must be a pretty big loop of hose extending past your body. Sounds like there's potential for it to get caught up. If diving a properly routed long hose the hose is close to the body and chances for entanglement low.

How long is the hose on your octo? 22-24"? Anything longer will provide opportunity for entanglement.

I suppose the only reason to carry a 19 cubic foot tank is to provide yourself additional gas, say in the event you don't have a competent buddy. Suppose you could hand it off after the OOA recipient has calmed down enough, and you've prepped it for deployment. You should already be heading to the surface by then.

 

[halocline]

The out of air diver would receive my primary which I have on a 39 inch hose. I then use the secondary bungied around my neck. Of course I now also have the option of handing off the pony to the diver.

You're close, about 21" short in fact. Switching the 39" hose for a 5 ft will really improve your set up. If you're not convinced, just get a LP hose connector for about $5, and connect two regulator hoses together to form one 5-6Ft hose, and try a few dives. I'm confident you'll like it a lot better than the 39", not only for air sharing, but general comfort as well. The 5 ft hose routed under the right arm, across the chest, over left shoulder and behind your head is VERY streamlined and comfortable.

Regarding air sharing, I would not for a minute assume that you can hand off your pony to an OOA diver. Maybe someone who's calm and low on air might signal, then wait for you to unclip it and hand it off, but a panicked diver really out of air is likely to mug you for the closest reg possible. That's probably the one in your mouth, and having the extra hose length in that situation is a real advantage.