spare air advice

[diver 85]

Hello, to everyone out there... this is my first post I don't want to have to rely on another underwater for the most precious comodity... AIR. anyway all of my diving is in warm water when I vacation. My dives vary from 40 ft to 90 ft deep. I'm looking to get a "spare air 3.0 cu system". anyone have any good or bad about this item? any other recommendation? also whats th best way to mount this thing? thanks

Welcome to SB.....as someone else said, do a search on Spare Air...There are many here that don't understand it's real use, as long as you don't think it's the best invention since sliced bread, you'll do fine with it...It's not a real pony, it's not a staging tank, it's exactly what it says ie some extra(spare---duh) air.......(Only idiots would use it for anything else)...Oh btw, I've had one of some sort since '89 & have also used mine in my pool(beats the hell out of lugging my big tank out) & a bunch for 'snorkling' off our pier in Roatan.....

Also see this post.....another use for Spare Air.....Originally Posted by jiml
Perfect time to switch to that Spare Air you were asking about! Ought to be good for, what, maybe 2 heaves?

Had not thought of that reason for carrying a little biddy bottle(see there you anti-Spare Airers, it doesn't take up that much space)...instead of a puke bag we have a puke regulator.......Let me write that down for future ammo........lol.......thanks again......


AND ........GEAUX TIGERS......BEAT THE HELL OUT OF VIAGRA TECH........

 

[dkktsunami]

ok I started to call around my local dive shops to get my hands on a pony... I want to look at 13 cu and 19 cu tanks. However, I am being discouraged somewhat by these dive shop owners. After telling them what this will be used for I had a guy basically tell me that its not necessary... also he said that I will have problems in the airport when traveling... I said I was planning to carry it on. but he felt that I would have some trouble. saying that it looks like a bomb. does anyone have this problem? or do most just not carry on. He also mentioned like some on this thread that my money would be best spent on a reg. set rathr than a pony. Now I'm really confused cause he even had a used 13 cu tank that he was willing to sell to me for $100 with the k- valve. He also said that it will be cumbersome not only to carry to get to the destination but also on the dive. Whats the deal? help...

I carry a 6 cu. ft. pony with me and have never had a problem. Remove the valve, cover opening of tank with a baggie and rubber band, and pack with your checked luggage. Would not attempt to carry on board.

 

[DEEPLOU]

ok I started to call around my local dive shops to get my hands on a pony... I want to look at 13 cu and 19 cu tanks. However, I am being discouraged somewhat by these dive shop owners. After telling them what this will be used for I had a guy basically tell me that its not necessary... also he said that I will have problems in the airport when traveling... I said I was planning to carry it on. but he felt that I would have some trouble. saying that it looks like a bomb. does anyone have this problem? or do most just not carry on. He also mentioned like some on this thread that my money would be best spent on a reg. set rathr than a pony. Now I'm really confused cause he even had a used 13 cu tank that he was willing to sell to me for $100 with the k- valve. He also said that it will be cumbersome not only to carry to get to the destination but also on the dive. Whats the deal? help...

Having read through this and noting somewhere u mention your in the NE, I may have been one of those you have spoke to.
For recreational, no stop, dives in the 60ft range you don't need the pony, you can easly make it to the surface in case of emergency. (emergency is ruptured hose or uncontrolable freeflow etc. OOA due to poor planning is not an emergency, though it causes one). Also w/ ruptured hose etc, it is still possable to breath whats left in the tank while heading to the surface.
The traveling part, could be clumsy. TSA requires the valve be removed so inspector can look inside. (although last year Jet Blue told me they didn't care what TSA said, they don't allow scuba cylinders period).
The guy that was trying to sell you a used 13cuft w/valve for $100 must have been looking for a pigeon. A brand new one is only about $120 or $130.

For what you said you are doing, I would recommend gettng your own reg. Then you will have life support you know, and you can put that computer on the console. Yes, it will run you about $8 0r $900 but.....
I don't like rental gear!!!! Even if it is in good shape, you don't know what diseases the last guy to barf through it had.

 

[OceanicRocks]

Having read through this and noting somewhere u mention your in the NE, I may have been one of those you have spoke to.
For recreational, no stop, dives in the 60ft range you don't need the pony, you can easly make it to the surface in case of emergency. (emergency is ruptured hose or uncontrolable freeflow etc. OOA due to poor planning is not an emergency, though it causes one). Also w/ ruptured hose etc, it is still possable to breath whats left in the tank while heading to the surface.
The traveling part, could be clumsy. TSA requires the valve be removed so inspector can look inside. (although last year Jet Blue told me they didn't care what TSA said, they don't allow scuba cylinders period).
The guy that was trying to sell you a used 13cuft w/valve for $100 must have been looking for a pigeon. A brand new one is only about $120 or $130.

For what you said you are doing, I would recommend gettng your own reg. Then you will have life support you know, and you can put that computer on the console. Yes, it will run you about $8 0r $900 but.....
I don't like rental gear!!!! Even if it is in good shape, you don't know what diseases the last guy to barf through it had.

I'm not sure If I spoke to you butthank you for posting... The guy who was trying to sell me the used bottle for $100 was actually discouraging m from buying it.

I hear what you are saying about buying a reg instead and you are als right about using rentl gear... YUK! I am considering the reg. instead. However, getting a reg. still does not solve a possble ot of air emergency and although I dive shollow some of the time while on vacation they also go to 90 feet too. On the last vacation I skiped the deep dives and only went on the shallow dives as I did not like the way they operated or the equipment. probably missed out on some awsome dives but I'm here to tell you about it If I had a bail out bottle than I would have probably gone 90 feet. If I had my own reg. but no bail out bottle than I would still not have gone on the deep dives. I just felt that cracked reg. hoses and an SPG that stoped woking in mid dive allong with master divers who are way too lax and make bad decisions was enough to deter me from taking thoe deep dives. I will also say that so far (just under 50 loged dives) I am a very safe diver. That isas far as my knowlege and understnding goes. Hence this very thread. Anyway, I look at my SPG every couple of minutes possibly 5 or so min. on every dive. I highly doubt that I will ever run out of air by not paying attention. It is very possible to happen to the best of us though. under the sea is an amazng place an can distract even the best diver. What I worry about is equipment failure. No matter how rare it is you have to be thinking about it. I think you should be more aware when using rental gear.

 

[John_B]

I hear what you are saying about buying a reg instead and you are als right about using rentl gear... YUK! I am considering the reg. instead. However, getting a reg. still does not solve a possble ot of air emergency

Look, its understandable to worry about having a backup source of air when you are new. What people are trying to tell you is that you are focused on the wrong solution to the right problem.

What your own reg set will buy you is quality equipment that your know is taken care off and serviced regularly (because you are the one taking care of it and having it serviced regularly ). That right there resolves many of the "out of air emergencies" you are worried about. Most of the rest can be solved by proper gas management (check that SPG often, until you can guesstimate the number before you even look at the gauge) and keeping in close contact with your buddy..

If you are diving to 90', lets face it, you need a buddy. Even if you are "diving as a group" as a single, you still need to find someone on the boat to buddy up with. Hint, ask the guy who brought his own gear, or at least his own reg.

John

 

[Skeeter1097]

I read this trends and have to ask. Do this divers dive or read a lot. I dive some dive boats and out of 25 or 30 divers on a boat i might see 1 pony bottle. I dive a few beach dives and see 1 out of 25 with a pony. 6 packs or just friends boats deft diving, never seen one. I do see them when I wreck dive. 1 of 5 divers . But I have big tanks.
I know divers that have them. But i never see them yous them. So it's your call. If you get something big it well stay at home. something small that goes in the pocket just in case. You might brag it and that might save you some day. " Or NOT"
If you have a small tank in your pocket it well get you to your buddy I would Think!

 

[Scuba-Jay]

Alright skeeter, so just to make sure im clear on your point....

I read this trends and have to ask. Do this divers dive or read a lot. I dive some dive boats and out of 25 or 30 divers on a boat i might see 1 pony bottle. I dive a few beach dives and see 1 out of 25 with a pony. 6 packs or just friends boats deft diving, never seen one. I do see them when I wreck dive. 1 of 5 divers . But I have big tanks.
I know divers that have them. But i never see them yous them. So it's your call. If you get something big it well stay at home. something small that goes in the pocket just in case. You might brag it and that might save you some day. " Or NOT"
If you have a small tank in your pocket it well get you to your buddy I would Think!

right?

 

[OceanicRocks]

Look, its understandable to worry about having a backup source of air when you are new. What people are trying to tell you is that you are focused on the wrong solution to the right problem.

What your own reg set will buy you is quality equipment that your know is taken care off and serviced regularly (because you are the one taking care of it and having it serviced regularly ). That right there resolves many of the "out of air emergencies" you are worried about. Most of the rest can be solved by proper gas management (check that SPG often, until you can guesstimate the number before you even look at the gauge) and keeping in close contact with your buddy..

If you are diving to 90', lets face it, you need a buddy. Even if you are "diving as a group" as a single, you still need to find someone on the boat to buddy up with. Hint, ask the guy who brought his own gear, or at least his own reg.

John

again some great advice... thanks. really need to decide what to get. you make valid points and again I appreciate you letting me know what might be obviouse you a more expierienced diver.

thanks for that guesstimate excersize... I will start doing that.

ok, so what type/brand of reg. should I get? I will need the pressure guage the octo and a primary and the low pessure inflator for the BC. But I will be buying a watch type computer (probably the oceanic GEO). HMMMNNN I wonder if its just worth the extra to up-grade to the oceanic atom 2.0 which comes with a psi hoseless transmitter and forego the gauges alltogether??? is this something that would be OK? I think that would pay for itself as the difference between the atom and the geo is about the same as what I would spend on the analog guages.

also, could you give me some idea what the cost is to maintain a regulator... and, how oftn should you have it maintained?

Again thank you John. I appreciate all of your help much. at the end of the day I really want my own reg. set anyway

 

[OceanicRocks]

I dive some dive boats and out of 25 or 30 divers on a boat i might see 1 pony bottle.

I agree I don't see them also...perhaps that should be a clue to get one???

something small that goes in the pocket just in case. You might brag it and that might save you some day. " Or NOT"
If you have a small tank in your pocket it well get you to your buddy I would Think!

I would think so... but what do I know. I'm no expert that is why I'm here to learn from people who dive more than I do.

 

[Nemrod]

I love it when I am diving something like, oh, say the Oriskany or a deep ledge and everybody has single aluminum 80s and they ask me why I have a LP steel pumped up a bit and a pony bottle. The answer is obvious, 130 feet to the flight deck of the "O" is too deep for a single 80 and it is a long way up on a single breath. N