Wanting to go streamlined

[johndiver999]

Yes, using a pony without training is not a great idea. And my suggestion for a pony on deeper dives is more for self-sufficient redundancy rather than to donate it to a buddy (a great option but only if both divers are trained in how to give/receive a pony).

Is there any on-line resource that I could review to get an understanding of what type of information is included in the training associated with giving and receiving a pony? Thanks!

 

[TMHeimer]

Is there any on-line resource that I could review to get an understanding of what type of information is included in the training associated with giving and receiving a pony? Thanks!

Good question. I recall quite extensive training in this from the instructor I took the Wreck course with. But yeah, I had my pony before that course and dived with it a time or two. I did not think to get training in donating it. Have to admit I always thought of it being a backup for myself, in the case of being OOA somehow AND buddy separation-- or for solo dives. I agree with Jim in that I would not give it to an instabuddy instead of sharing my tank air. Plus, my pony is attached to my tank I prefer that to slinging (and most will disagree).

 

[p_kos]

Is there any on-line resource that I could review to get an understanding of what type of information is included in the training associated with giving and receiving a pony? Thanks!

Main info needed is how to properly set up a pony bottle, then practice handling it (taking in on/off under water and above, deploying and stowing the reg underwater). Obviously only if you choose to sling the pony as opposed to mounting it to back tank. Some of this was covered in the Deep Diver course (we practiced breathing off a buddy’s pony and handing it off to a low on gas diver) and Solo Diver courses I took (we practiced handing our pony tanks to the instructor and back in the pool more as a “comfort with equipment” exercise since it’s not really a solo skill) some of it in Into to Tech (which is a great course to take even if you never plan on going tech). Best thing to do is to find an instructor who is also trained at the tech level and do a session or two in the pool. Keep in mind that handing the pony bottle off is most appropriate in a situation when your buddy is low on gas in order to do a comfortable slow ascent from a deeper dive and NOT in an out of gas emergency.

 

[johndiver999]

Thanks very much. That all sounds like good advice.

 

[Coztick]

Remember, if you're going to hand off a pony, you better factor that into your weighting.
I carry enough lead to spend all gas aboard and still hold a stop but the pony stays with me.
I think Joe average Instabuddy would rather breathe from the "big tank" they are familiar with than a "little tank".

 

[p_kos]

Remember, if you're going to hand off a pony, you better factor that into your weighting.
I carry enough lead to spend all gas aboard and still hold a stop but the pony stays with me.
I think Joe average Instabuddy would rather breathe from the "big tank" they are familiar with than a "little tank".

Absolutely, instabuddy gets the long hose, I keep the pony.

 

[tursiops]

Absolutely, instabuddy gets the long hose, I keep the pony.

So, do you stay in physical contact with the instabuddy while they have your long-hose reg, or just let them be off at the end of it somewhere?

 

[p_kos]

So, do you stay in physical contact with the instabuddy while they have your long-hose reg, or just let them be off at the end of it somewhere?

Instabuddy gets physical contact until I’m confident he/she is calm and wont bolt, then we can spread out a bit or swim side by side if needed (still within arms reach). That said, I usually dive with people who can do a controlled ascent face to face in horizontal trim a few feet apart. We tend to practice gas shares frequently as well, quickly at the start of the dive and sometimes longer on safety stops. The last time I dove a single tank with a pony and an instabuddy who needed gas donation (4-5 years ago) I handed her my 40” pony hose and she swam to shore with me on my left side (where the pony was slung). She was calm but low on air, we still had a bit of a swim to shore with a virtual overhead (river drift dive with heavy boat traffic precluding a direct ascent) and I wasn’t sure sharing my single tank would leave enough margin for error at that point, so this seemed like the best option (pony bottle was an AL40). Being a virtual overhead dive, redundant gas (pony or other) was strongly suggested by the club organizing the dive but my buddy who I was assigned last minute didn’t heed the warning. She actually asked me “what’s with the extra tank?” with a smirk right before the dive! The irony.

 

[tursiops]

Instabuddy gets physical contact until I’m confident he/she is calm and wont bolt, then we can spread out or swim side by side if needed. That said, I usually dive with people who can do a controlled ascent face to face in horizontal trim a few feet apart. We tend to practice gas shares frequently as well, quickly at the start of the dive and sometimes longer on safety stops. The last time I dove a single tank with a pony and an instabuddy who needed gas donation (4-5 years ago) I handed her my 40” pony hose and she swam to shore with me on my left side (where the pony was slung). She was calm but low on air, we still had a bit of a swim to shore with a virtual overhead (river drift dive with heavy boat traffic precluding a direct ascent) and I wasn’t sure sharing my single tank would leave enough margin for error at that point, so this seemed like the best option (pony bottle was an AL40). Being a virtual overhead dive, redundant gas (pony or other) was strongly suggested by the club organizing the dive but my buddy who I was assigned last minute didn’t heed the warning. She actually asked me “what’s with the extra tank?” with a smirk right before the dive! The irony.

Do you find that physical contact with an instabuddy works out well with 7 ft of hose between you?

 

[p_kos]

Do you find that physical contact with an instabuddy works out well with 7 ft of hose between you?

Yes, because you can give them as much or as little of the long hose as you want. You initially give them only half of it (equivalent to standard octo length) and if needed release the other half tucked into your waist band or behind a can-light or weight pocket. Also, instabuddies tend to hold the hose with one hand when they first get it and for a while until they’re comfortable, at same time I keep my right hand on the donated hose as well so we are essentially in contact via a short length of hose. Again, they have to be clearly in control of the situation at this point or else I hold their BC instead.