Spare air - or not?

[DandyDon]

Aha. I have heard that some shops won't fill empty tanks without a viz. Maybe that's not universal..

Maybe they shouldn't, but many do. Actually, I've not had a problem even stateside.

 

[Hatul]

Raises several questions:

1) An instructor who has insufficient gas management skills and situational awareness to ensure that he doesn't run OOA on a shallow dive. Really?

2) An instructor who is not confident to perform a CESA (basic OW skill) from 40ft. Really?

3) An instructor who is not confident of sourcing, securing and breathing from their buddies' AAS (basic OW skill) in good conditions and shallow water. Really?

(or) An instructor who is solo diving, without proper training (gas management/solo skills) or equipment (fully redundant gas supply). Really?

I think you're over critical. It's been on guided night dives (not solo) where I see it, but my guess is he always dives with it. I know Spare Air has a bad name here because of its small size, but on the other hand it's easy to take and buys him a couple of minutes of air.

Adam

 

[giantfan]

For me, I think it has a great use. I plan on getting one just to keep on the boat in case I wrap something up in my running gear on the boat while offshore fishing. I can keep it on the boat without it taking up too much room and it should give me enough time to cut anything loose if I'm only using it on the surface.

I am a new diver and am not much in the know.... but I wouldn't want to count on something like that at any depth.

 

[DandyDon]

For me, I think it has a great use. I plan on getting one just to keep on the boat in case I wrap something up in my running gear on the boat while offshore fishing. I can keep it on the boat without it taking up too much room and it should give me enough time to cut anything loose if I'm only using it on the surface.

I am a new diver and am not much in the know.... but I wouldn't want to count on something like that at any depth.

Spare Air 3 cf: 13.4" x 2.25"
6 cf Pony: 10.87" plus valve x 3.21"
13 cf Pony: 12.8" plus valve x 4.38"
19 cf Pony: 17.4" plus valve x 4.38"
All about the same price with reg after prudent shopping. Get the 19 cf for local wreck diving.

 

[koozemani]

I sling a 30cf pony when I plan a deeper dive or if I'm paired with an unfamiliar buddy. Otherwise, I rely on good buddy skills with my normal buddy.

 

[bpotkin]

Thanks to everyone for their opinions and info. What I got from this conversation is that Spare Air does
not cut the mustard as a pony tank. Good buddy skills and monitoring of gas is the way to go. I plan to dive
with Spare Air but understand its limitations. I will also continue to have 700lbs + of gas when re-boarding the boat.
Additionally, sometime in the near future I'll purchase a 19cf pony. As a pilot I know that
altitude is like money in the bank, I think having an additional air source is also like having money in the bank.

 

[doctormike]

Thanks to everyone for their opinions and info. What I got from this conversation is that Spare Air does
not cut the mustard as a pony tank. Good buddy skills and monitoring of gas is the way to go. I plan to dive
with Spare Air but understand its limitations. I will also continue to have 700lbs + of gas when re-boarding the boat.
Additionally, sometime in the near future I'll purchase a 19cf pony. As a pilot I know that
altitude is like money in the bank, I think having an additional air source is also like having money in the bank.

Good thinking! When you are buying your pony, see if you can borrow a 30 to try slinging first - you may be surprised about how little you notice it underwater, and you are getting more than 50% more air as compared to the 19. Of course, everything is a tradeoff...

Mike

 

[rhwestfall]

Many cars are sold without spare tires now, but I like backup.

SHAZAM! Just got an amazing idea.... I'm getting one for my glove box in case I drive my truck into the lake..... Thanks Don!

All kidding aside - search out the pony tank size chart here on SB (someone can add a link). You will see what it gets you...

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Thanks to everyone for their opinions and info. What I got from this conversation is that Spare Air does
not cut the mustard as a pony tank. Good buddy skills and monitoring of gas is the way to go. I plan to dive
with Spare Air but understand its limitations. I will also continue to have 700lbs + of gas when re-boarding the boat.
Additionally, sometime in the near future I'll purchase a 19cf pony. As a pilot I know that
altitude is like money in the bank, I think having an additional air source is also like having money in the bank.

Keep your spare air for your airplane rides. That's what it was designed for (actually helicopters should you have to ditch but hey) and for that it just may be the ticket. I require a redundant air supply for my AOW class on at least two dives. Based on what that air supply is actually used for and how it is calculated Spare Airs are not acceptable or permitted.

 

[WoodyLompoc]

Interesting side note: Those in favor of Spare Air all seem to be SoCal kelp divers. Op is a So Cal diver.
Let's see: Kelp, poor vis, easy to get away from your bud, high chance of entanglement, most dives less than 40 feet, "interesting" shore entries at times.

It almost sounds like 3 cf of detachable air could come in handy.

P.S. I have a friend (who had more than 400 dives at the time) who came up without his unit, using his Spare Air. (Kelp entanglement.)