spare air

[vicmac]

Hi, I have been looking at the spare air tanks you can buy for an added safety measure should you encounter an OOA situation. Has anyone got one/used one, and what are your experiences with them? they seem pretty expensive, around $280 but I think a small price to pay should something go wrong.

 

[parzdiver]

Vicmac - do some searches. There are many debates about SpareAir an their usefulness. With only 3 cu ft of air, you don't get a lot of breaths at depth. Even at 15ft, you can only expect about 3 minutes with a full SpareAir.

Most people are going to recommend at least a 13 cuft "pony" bottle. A 13 or 19 cuft pony with a decent reg isn't going to cost you much more than the SpareAir.

 

[RJP]

Assuming you mean the "brand name" Spare-Air... they are the only piece of scuba gear that allows you to run out of air TWICE on the same dive!

If you are using the term in a generic fashion to mean pony tank, then you're thinking in the right fashion. Something in the 13-19cf range being about the minimum that makes any sense in my mind.

Some folks will say "A Spare Air is better than nothing..." which I agree with as a diver, but as a marketer I can assure you that's a pretty dismal brand promise.

Ray

 

[vicmac]

Yes, RJP, I meant specifically the Brand "Spare air". But as you all point out a pony is probably a better bet. Thank you.

 

[Odhar]

Hey on your headstone they can put

RIP
He Bought a Spare Air


Get a pony, and even a cheap used reg is a better bet at depth than
1 or 2 breaths.

When it comes to my life a 20 cu ft pony and Sherwood Reg is more important to me than anything else I dive with except my Sherwood Maximus main tank Reg.

Why anyone would skimp on their life is beyond me. Your air supply is the most important thing you have down under. The second is your Dive Buddy, I would rather bet on my two regs and air supplies than an Out Of Air emergency and a spare air.

My opinion I could be wrong I some times am If you have a problem with what I have said I suggest you talk to your DI.

 

[a22shady]

Visit your local shop and possibly speak with them and check out some of the various Tanks. For me I would not Spend the money on "Spare Air" everyone has the own opinon's on the subject. Personally I like the Luxfer aluminun 40 as my pony/Back-up. It looks big and might get in the way but once your in the water and its clipped off it really does not affect the dive and don't notice it's there. If your only looking for something smaller I would atleast look at the 13-19 as others have stated. You are your best buddy, Hard to loose yourself, Nice to be able to be your own Back-up and in the event someone esle has a Failure you can even hand the bottle off to them

 

[kkgodiving]

I have also considered the SPARE AIR for its size and weight but I have my doubts if it will work without causing other complication in an OOA situation. My breathing rate is 14 liters/min so at depth of 30m, it works out to be 56 liters/min. The SPARE AIR with its 85 liter capacity means theoretically I have 1.5 mins to ascend to the surface. This is 20m/min which is too fast for a safe descent. This is notwithstanding the expected higher breathing rate in an emergency situation.

Go for the 13cu ft pony tank as recommended.

 

[NC Wreck Diver]

Hi Vicmac:

I agree with everyone else. I don't like the 'Spare Air' units. I put a post about it once before. I've been told more than once that they were designed for Helicopter Pilots, who need to ditch in water and get out of the chopper fast. Typically at the surface or just below. There is just not enough air in them to give me a piece of mind, about my redundant alternate air source at depth, especially under duress.

I switched my hardmount 19 cu. ft. pony bottle to a 30 cu.ft. The new pony is sling mounted to my BC. I like this much better, since I can hand it off to my buddy if they need it. I would still remain face to face with them, holding onto their BC to keep our accent controlled. I use a ScubaPro MK2 Plus/R295A reg on the tank (Scubapro's least expensive model, but still a good regulator), with a 6" HP hose, and an SPG. The LP second stage hose is standard size. I put a bungee cord around the tank, and tuck the reg and SPG under the cord (rubber straps work just as good). It keeps it all out of the sand/dirt. I can pull this out of the cord in one second. We sometimes switch off to the pony at the end of a dive/end of the day just to practice using the rig. Refilling a pony bottle is inexpensive. It's always good to practice.

This type of backup is more expensive, that's true. Can you put a price on your life? I buy the best gear I can when it comes to life support systems. And I carry a lot of breathing gas. I always use double 80's on every dive, along with this pony. There are no fill stations underwater, so I never let gas be my limiting resource. Time is.

Two other notes: I have a laynard attached to my main tanks that allows me to just look down and see my SPG for my back gas. Obviously, OOA situations should never happen, but it can, so I check my main SPG quite often. I have a total of four regulators on my diving rig, so if one would ever malfunction, I have quadruple redundancy. This is a lot, but it makes me comfortable. I hope this helps you as you start your diving career. Safe diving and have fun.

 

[OldNSalty]

Spare air looks cool in TV but so does breathing air out of a spare tire-great for action movies but I wouldn't do my emergency planning around either.

Get yourself a adequate sized pony bottle and a reliable buddy.

 

[DCBC]

Hi, I have been looking at the spare air tanks you can buy for an added safety measure should you encounter an OOA situation. Has anyone got one/used one, and what are your experiences with them? they seem pretty expensive, around $280 but I think a small price to pay should something go wrong.

Hi Vic, thanks for your post. This is a very controversial topic on SB, but I'll give you my opinion...

Any piece of diving equipment has an operational envelope (what it can safely deliver and under what conditions it provides service). Spare Air was invented by Larry Williamson, a California diver who loved diving alone until the day came when he ran out of air. Larry did a CESA (or emergency ascent) and didn't think that he could make the surface. He told me that he would have given anything for just one more breath of air. Larry worked in the aerospace industry and was very mechanically inclined. He developed Spare Air to give others that one breath of air to reach the surface. Because of this, Spare Air has limitations in the amount of breathable air available to the diver.

Some people make a big deal of these limitations and prefer to carry a pony bottle. Conversely, there are divers who think carrying a pony bottle is a waste of time because why not just carry a second full-sized cylinder? It's all about perspective. How much gas is enough in an emergency?

I purchased a Spare Air for each of my three sons when I certified them. I use one myself from time-to-time. After spending many hours underwater, one thing I've learned is that you use the right tool for the job. As a new diver, Spare Air gives you an alternative air source that you may not have without it. Obviously, if you find yourself unable to take your next breath, your first choice is to go to your buddy. If he's not there, you do a CESA. If you have a Spare Air, put it in your mouth. If you need that extra breath of air to get you safely to the surface, you have it.

Regardless of what some people may say, Spare Air has saved lives. I find it easy to transport when going on vacation and easy to carry when diving. It like most pieces of diving equipment has its limitations, but if you use it within its operational envelope I've found it to be a good piece of equipment.

By the way, it is also used by US and Canadian helicopter aircrew as a mandatory piece of survival equipment. As an aside, I designed the Canadian military program in 1989 and ran their survival training at Survival Systems Ltd. until 1994.