What Pony Bottle Should I Get if I Plan On Going Into Tech Diving Eventually?

[ianr33]

Also, for the pony's regulator is a necklace advised? I keep my current octo attached to a holder on the upper left D ring on my chest, which is pretty close to my neck anyway.

I wouldn't advise it.

If the pony reg is on a necklace handing off the pony to another diver would be difficult.

Why not put your backup (NOT octo !!) on a necklace and just leave the pony reg secured on the pony.? (or clip it on a D ring if you prefer)

 

[Searcaigh]

Octopus on a necklace yes, pony has a bungeed second stage and slung.

Choose your pony based on your SAC rate, what suits one person night not suit you. I use an AL13 for depths to 20M and an AL30 for deeper dives. Tech wise I have an AL50 stage plus AL30 with EAN50, it all works for my style of diving on my local dives, just be prepared to pay the money.

Oh and I don't think I have noticed any thing mentioned about using DIN first stages, but that is the way to go, the make is up to your own preference.

 

[Vegan Shark]

When using a pony, do I keep the tank turned off until needed, to prevent freeflows? Or leave it on the whole dive?

 

[doctormike]

When using a pony, do I keep the tank turned off until needed, to prevent freeflows? Or leave it on the whole dive?

What many divers do is to charge the second stage (turn the valve on and then off). That way, you can't loose the gas with a free flow, but you get a little air while you are opening the valve in an emergency (not very hard to do if you sling it). I think that there is also some advantage of pressuring a reg that doesn't get a lot of use in terms of wear/maintenance when soaking in salt water, but I'm not sure about that....

 

[Michael Guerrero]

I charge and turn off. I periodically check the spg, and recharge if necessary.

 

[Dr. Lecter]

Keeping it charged but off preserves your gas but also gives you a breath (maybe) and keeps your reg from flooding.

 

[Vegan Shark]

Got it. If diving with a pony, is an octopus still worth keeping around? I've heard if there's a failure with your air supply it's usually a first stage issue rather than second stage. Also, if solo diving so there's no need to pass off the tank, does keeping the pony reg on a necklace make the most sense?

 

[dive_turkey]

I'll admit that I skimmed a great deal of this, so if it's already been said, please disregard.

I'm noticing a lot of conversation about buoyancy. Is this really a consideration in redundant gas? I thought the whole purpose of redundant air was to have it IN CASE you needed it, as in an OOA situation that results in an aborted dive. Since millions of dives are completed each year without incurring an OOA situation, why would I be concerned with the buoyancy of my pony when empty?

To me, it seems like the only buoyancy factor to consider is whether or not my bladder can hold me up with my rig including a full pony bottle... Am I wrong?

(I just noticed that I may have got this thread confused with another pony bottle thread I was reading in another window. I was going to delete this message but figured it still applied and am curious what the group will say.)

 

[Dr. Lecter]

Theoretically, if you're diving single tank with no H-valve, two 2nd stages is really just one unnecessary failure point. OTOH, even if you're solo diving you could still encounter an OOA diver. And you have to reconfigure your gear; I hate reconfiguring gear. Personally, I'd stick with the long hose primary, necklaced 22" backup configuration regardless of what you have hanging off the side of your rig. If you're still diving a standard length primary and a long yellow octo configuration... consider changing

---------- Post added November 4th, 2013 at 02:07 PM ----------

Since millions of dives are completed each year without incurring an OOA situation, why would I be concerned with the buoyancy of my pony when empty?

Worst case scenario has you breathing it empty on an unplanned deco stop with an empty main tank, at which time the ability to hold the stop without floating up is pretty damn important.

 

[dive_turkey]

Worst case scenario has you breathing it empty on an unplanned deco stop with an empty main tank, at which time the ability to hold the stop without floating up is pretty damn important.

There you go with that "worst case" again... I hadn't considered an unplanned deco or safety stop. Which, I suppose of I was breathing off a pony it is entirely possible I will breath it empty while hovering at my safety stop for as long as possible.

For some reason I was thinking "if the pony is empty and causing me to be overly buoyant, I'll just let it go." It's late, and I should probably refrain from posting after days like the one I had.

Thanks for putting me in my place!

---------- Post added November 4th, 2013 at 10:33 PM ----------