Spare Air & Pony Tank

[Quarrior]

I was driving my car 1,000mph.

What kind of car do you have? I want one of those.

 

[teknitroxdiver]

Hmm, 9 knots?? What fuel are you running in your rocket fins?

Here's a tip: A Gavin/SS scooter runs at about 2 knots. That's faster than most can swim.

The world swimming speed record is about 4.5 mph. And that sure wasn't done in scuba gear.

But, then again, I'm sure you're right about the speed.

 

[fishnchips]

I travel frequently to Cozumel. A pony is a lot to lug along. Spare Air very easy to pack/carry. I cruise and take pics in depth range roughly 70ft to 20ft. Usually find myself more than a "buddy" distance from the group (note - I do not abandon buddy - get pre- agreement from DM that I'll be near group, but essentially diving "no buddy"). I can CESA OK from 30ft, but waht's wrong with having 6cfm handily available for help rather than no pony at all? And what if that last exhale was it? Could I CESA after a full exhale from 30ft at anything like a controlled ascent? I doubt it (note to self: see how long I could last after an exhale).
The SA holster works well, lanyard prevents drop, etc. For the size and convenience, I think it's worth having vs having nothing.
Not looking for argument, but can't SA be considered a reasonable gap filler between full pony option and nothing?

DanL,

It's OK to carry Spare Air. Like you, I travel a lot, and hauling a pony bottle is not an option but a SA is just the right size and weight.

I have used my 3 cubic feet spare air 5 times, all in warm water ocean diving. 1st for the dive guide that had an O ring burst underwater. 2nd was my O ring burst underwater, used it while I surface slowly to the boat to change O ring. The other 3 times, saved 3 lives.

On a panic diver whose 2nd stage failed for unknown reason, I stuck the SA mouth piece into his mouth while tried to prevent him from rushing to the surface. I was amazed the panic diver could calm down with the air available to him. 2 advantages in this situation, 1) if the panic diver could not calm down, I could stay away from him, removed myself from his grabbing, and still able to provide air to him. Unlike a pony bottle that always attach to the diver, the SA can be release in a second. 2) the SA provided the opportunity to calm down the diver before the dive guide had a chance to react to the situation. As the dive guide took the customer back to the boat, they switch to Octo.

2nd saved diver: End of a deep dive, pressure guage shown 800psi, but diver had difficulty breathing. She had to suck real hard for the air and was swimming fast to surface without safety stop. Gave her the spare air. Slow her ascent. She was able to stay and did the 3 minute safety stop, USING the spare air ALL 3 minutes. Again, I was able to provide air supply while keeping myself out of possible harm way from a possible panic diver. Found out later the tank was bad and Aluminum oxide clot the intake to the 1st stage. She was an experienced diver with over 500 dives.

3 saved diver: DIver O ring burst a few minutes into a dive around 60ft. Grabbed buddy's Octo, good moved. But Panic and dragged buddy along to swim to surface. Dive guide went after the buddy and pulled her down. I went after the panic diver and stuck the spare air into his face. He swam to the surface but was able to breath while doing that. No DCS but was breathing O2 for 20 minutes to make sure.

Most people who criticized SA HAD NEVER OWNED a SA or had no experience using it in an emergency situation. Many criticism were based on assumption using calculation that could not apply to the real situation. Some of the "complex" calculation were out right ridiculous. But this board is a place where member have the right to expressed their opinion, posting all kind of fancy calculations to back up a hypothesis. Don't throw away your SA because of these miscalculation and misinformation.

For the 3 saved divers, they are forever grateful someone stuck a SA into their mouth and saved their life. So carry your SA, it could save yours or someone's life, and help you keep a safe distance away from a possible panic diver while still able to provide air supply.

I am not SSI employee or get any benefit from SSI, and this is not a troll. I am just sharing actual SA life saving experience with DANL.

 

[DanL]

Fishnchips -
Thanks. I've seen 2 Coz videographers with SA's, so I figure they must have some utility. Your info backs that up.
Also, in a catastrophic air problem, I wouldn't necessarily have to get to surface, only to the nearest diver or DM.
BTW, although not really a factor for life saving equipment, SA's can be had for a fraction of their list price because of the impression they are "useless".

 

[PhotoTJ]

Have you never heard of Murphy's law????

**** happens. You don't plan on it, and spare air just isn't going to be enough when it hits the fan!

By that rational, if it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen, and it won't matter how big your backup is.

You have to weigh the options, is the larger size, more weight, and greater entanglement risk worth the additional air?

Situation; you are ascending, low on air, and become entangled by your pony! A spare air is small enough not be an entanglement hazard.

You can make up situations for and against both all day, bottom line, it's better to be carrying one of the two, than neither. I have the twin spare air, I bought it because I thought it was a neat gadget, but I have used it a couple of times for fun. Did a charity treasure dive, (Chocolate Lobster), with just the spare air, and took a couple breaths out of it while bug hunting, just for the heck of it.

If you don't do big depths, you probably don't need a big pony. Both the pony and the Spare Air are valid emergency devices, and should be given a little respect, I haven’t heard of a Spare Air killing anyone.

I guess everything old is new again, I thought I remembered arguing this position before;
http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=39174&page=1&pp=10&highlight=spare+air+doubles
and here;
http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?threadid=958&s=

 

[RichLockyer]

Dude, no offense, I'm sure you're story is true and all - but take my advice and edit out this junk about 8 or 9 knots - trust me, you are embarrasing yourself. You are off by whole magnitudes. This is the equivalent as if I were to tell you I was driving my car 1,000mph.

You guys even took the time to try and READ that disjointed mess?
That one made CJ look good.

 

[jagfish]

Unlike a pony bottle that always attach to the diver, the SA can be release in a second.

With over 1000 dives, I am sure you know this, but many people (like me) sling their pony bottle on a D-ring. This allows constant visual inspection of air integrity, quick access, less entaglement hazard, and the ability to hand off the unit.

On another note, your spare air must be the most experienced unit I have ever heard of...It should be enshrined or something...

 

[fishnchips]

On another note, your spare air must be the most experienced unit I have ever heard of...It should be enshrined or something...

Compared to a dive guide I met on Koh Tao, his SA has 2000 plus dives and has seen countless actions. If you haven't seen or heard things like this, then it may be a good idea that you get out more often.

 

[jagfish]

Compared to a dive guide I met on Koh Tao, his SA has 2000 plus dives and has seen countless actions. If you haven't seen or heard things like this, then it may be a good idea that you get out more often.

That's quite an endorsement for the product. In that light I am sure they must be good...I don't know how I have managed to miss all the good stories about this product...

 

[novadiver]

That's quite an endorsement for the product. In that light I am sure they must be good...I don't know how I have managed to miss all the good stories about this product...

I'm feeling the need to report a anti solo troll . JAG please read the TOS for the solo forum.

I always wanted to say that!!