Spare Air / Pony Tanks - Real life stories ??

[ArcticDiver]

I think that is a bad idea and will result in more confusion with nomenclature.

But it would focus on the fact that Two Tanks are Two Tanks are Two Tanks regardless of their relative size. Two tanks are doubles. In my opinion the folks who thought up a special name for when one of the two tanks is smaller than the other are the one's who should be blamed for the confusion.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

I guess I agree with your thoughts, but we are probably stuck with the names. Look at the term "SPG" this is an archaic acronym that has been retained.. (I think we know the damn things works while submerged). We are also stuck with "doubles" , I think.

 

[rjack321]

But it would focus on the fact that Two Tanks are Two Tanks are Two Tanks regardless of their relative size. Two tanks are doubles. In my opinion the folks who thought up a special name for when one of the two tanks is smaller than the other are the one's who should be blamed for the confusion.

Nope. In doubles you can the gas in both tanks simultaneously. Single and a pony can't do that.

 

[robzr]

http://northwestdiver.com/forums/showpost.php?p=18681&postcount=73

"...his primary tank was completely empty...his pony bottles second stage had pulled loose from its double retainer and become lodged behind him..."

biggest problem in this dive was a bad gas plan on a short fill of an Al80 based on the belief that a pony bottle would work as bailout -- but the victim couldn't get to the regulator and either embolised on a fast ascent, or drowned due to the issue with the inflator preventing oral inflation...

lessons:

- do not use a config where the pony reg can pull loose of a retainer
- if you are low on gas go on the pony bottle while you still have some backgas
- do not make bailout bottles part of the gas plan

Thats a pretty heavy post Anyone know if Air-2 and other integrated inflators more susceptible to getting clogged than standalone inflators?

Sounds like he couldn't drop his weights, wonder if that was an equipment failure or just panic/loss of consciousness...

Rob

 

[dumpsterDiver]

That is a very sad story. I bet he will always regret making that safety stop.

 

[rjack321]

So other than the spare-air marketing materials, does ANYONE have a first hand pony bottle success story?

That is, you had some primary tank issue then...
ascended at a reasonable rate and made your safety stop on the pony

getting out saving "phew", but without the desperateness of all the posted links.

 

[Cacia]

Nope. Nobody. Two Years on here and I have never seen a spare air story.

really, we are posting to fill the vacume.

You could try one of those customized Google searches...there might be somebody out there.

 

[rjack321]

You could say that putting yours in the closet was a "success"

 

[Cacia]

oh...ponies, yes...there will be some. Sorry, I thought you meant "spare air"

yes..in the closet. Too embarrassed to even sell it.

 

[ArcticDiver]

Nope. In doubles you can the gas in both tanks simultaneously. Single and a pony can't do that.

Depends.

A plain single, most common configuration I suppose, has its' entire gas supply breathable without doing anything but opening the valve.

A large single tank with Y or H valve and dual regs allows the entire gas supply to be breathed like manifolded doubles and still meets the redundancy requirements of most situations. Several cave divers I know dive this configuration.

Independent doubles are doubles but cannot be breathed simultaneously, unless a person has a really big mouth, that is.