Spare Air: some thoughts

[Paladin]

"The only possible exception might be the old and tired argument that "a diver will be more complacent and reckless and push the limits if s/he has the redundancy". "


Back in the days of WWI, The Powers That Be decided that fighter pilots did not need parachutes because they were supposed to be skillful enough that they should never have to use them. Further, they declared that if a pilot did wear a parachute, he would rely on the 'chute to get him out of a tight spot instead of relying on his skill. Many pilots died needlessly because of this faulty reasoning.

I, myself, have been thinking about getting a Spare Air or a small 6 cu. ft. pony bottle to carry with me. Chances are, I will never have to use it, but it would be nice to have, just in case Mr. Murphy decides to pick on me. A small pony or Spare Air would be a nice luxury to use as an aid during an emergency ascent.

I really don't understand the vehemence of the naysayers here. I've seen loads of modern divers who weigh themselves down with tons of bells and whistles in the name of safety yet look down their noses at the poor schmuck who decides to add a Spare Air for "just in case."

I have been diving for many years now with no BC or octopus or even a wetsuit and always in the back of my mind has been what to do if something should go wrong. Adding a Spare Air or 6 cu. ft. pony to my minimal equipment could make a CESA a bit easier and safer. A CESA from 100 ft could easily be accomplished with 4 or five breaths from a Spare Air, leaving a few more breaths at the surface, just in case. This in marked contrast to a CESA wherein a diver has only the last breath (if there is one) from an empty tank or malfunctioning first stage. A buddy does not even enter into the equation because, except for years ago on the occasions when I went diving with my old friend Fuzz, the majority of my dives have been solo.

The choice of whether or not to carry a Spare Air should be a personal one and if you choose to carry one, beware of its limitations and behave accordingly.

All I'm saying is this: Instead of ridiculing a diver for carrying a Spare Air, would it not be more productive to caution him as to its limitations and advise him concerning its most effective use?

 

[DCBC]

Where can I get an EAN32 Spare Air? I often dive Nitrox and wouldn't want to mix gases if the need were to arise.

Spare Air for Nitrox are available through Submersible Systems and its dealers. I don't think this is warranted though, as air will serve you just as well for an emergency ascent from any depth that you're using Nitrox.

 

[BTravlin]

I obviously forgot my sarcasm smilie earlier. :sarcasm:

 

[Reg Braithwaite]

I obviously forgot my sarcasm smilie earlier. :sarcasm:

I was serious about the Trimix SpareAir, even though I'm only trained to carry the 25/25 and 21/35 varieties...

 

[Blackwood]

Over a million sold. Says a lot.

More people have bought pet rocks than spare air.

I'd argue that, while it may say a lot, it doesn't mean much.

 

[Blackwood]

A small, relatively inexpensive redundant air source that will give the diver enough air to get to the surface, seems to be something that's positive.

...reposted for emphasis.

...pretty much say it all and there isn't a member of this board or anywhere else that can effectively dispute [this]

Maybe, maybe not. I can generally effectively dispute anything, regardless of whether or not I myself agree.

That aside, what can be easily argued in the above quote from DCBC is whether a Spare Air IS a "source that will give the diver enough air to get to the surface."

And that's where, for most, the dispute hinges. Some are philosophically opposed to both Spare Air and Pony Bottles, however MOST simply find Spare Air to be inadequate.


I'll leave the math to others.

 

[Thalassamania]

Well Thal, I guess that I'm from the school of thought that 1.5 lbs doesn't load a diver down. That said, I also believe that no diver should tell another what to use.

Come on, you and I both spent our careers telling other divers what to use and how they would use it, that was part of the job.

If I'm wanting a truly redundant system, I haven't used a pony for this purpose in over 35 years. If I'm hooking up a secondary reg, it will be to a full-sized tank. If I'm traveling, I don't feel that carrying a pony bottle on the aircraft is worth the effort.

I guess that since I'm usually either traveling to a lab or shipping gear to the site prior to travel or meeting a ship that I loaded, I don't really factor in the problems of having to carry a certain piece of gear somewhere.

That said, the focus of my comments are not really intended for someone with your experience. As this is in the Basic SCUBA Discussion area, I think that the conversation should focus on the newer diver, who will generally not purchase a second regulator and pony bottle or have another redundant air source available to them.

I understand that, and I'd argue that a beginning diver would be better served to get a cheap regulator and a 30 or 40. They would not spend much more money.

Given the industry's move away from buddy breathing, a new diver may well find themselves in a different situation than we did when we first started diving. I believe that a new diver today is generally less competent, has less water ability, is given no real rescue skills and is trained to a lower standard than ever before.

All true. All excellent reasons to give them more than 3 scf.

I'm aware that our training programs (and some other instructors) have held the line when it comes to training, but we are in the minority. Although the accident rates have not been shown to increase, there is little doubt in my mind that today's diver is not as prepared to address an emergency, as he would have been in the past. A small, relatively inexpensive redundant air source that will give the diver enough air to get to the surface, seems to be something that's positive. I'm surprised that such an experienced instructor like yourself, wouldn't agree with this.

The students of an experienced instructor, like myself, who only trains to the sort of standard you alluded to earlier, have no use for a Spare Air, as I explained in our earlier FATR discussion. Since my students are limited to 30 feet for their first 12 dives (with a more experienced and approved buddy) a Spare Air is of no use there, nor is is of any use on their next 12 dives that are limited to 60 feet. Their next step is to 100 feet and if they are not comfortable performing an ESE (but they always seem to be, and I always assure an opportunity to practice it) a pony, not a Spare Air would be indicated.

Where can I get an EAN32 Spare Air? I often dive Nitrox and wouldn't want to mix gases if the need were to arise.

They are available, and totally irrelevant.

 

[scubaflier]

why would you even ask about a spare air on scubaboard:cool2:

 

[diver 85]

I do know this---I'm much more stupid now for clicking on this thread, for the 50th time.........

 

[BTravlin]

They are available, and totally irrelevant.

You obviously missed my post # 333.