What the heck is a H valve?

[Thalassamania]

I'd much rather have a good buddy with a long hose than a pony bottle.

If I'm in a situation where I really need a redundant first stage, I expect that I'd choose to dive doubles.

I have an H-valve, it seems a bit useless, I used it on one set of dives only. It was from a rig where we carried a 40 of backup bottom mix, a 40 of oxygen and independent doubles, one with bottom mix and one with travel mix. The H-valve allowed independent first stages on the travel mix, a failure point that, in retrospect, we really did not really need to cover since we could have dealt with it with bottom mix.

 

[Spratman]

Problem is that most, if not all, Jersey dive boat captains require either H valves or ponies. Redundant air sources are required. When I boat dive, I'm using single HP120's, so I either have to buy H valves (cost of about $300) vs a pony/stage $400-$600.

However, I agree with Motivation and Daniel that the redundant air source is your buddy. This is stressed far more in tech diving, but it's apparently no acceptable for Jersey because of the volatility of the waters. It can turn to crap in fifteen minutes and you may lose your buddy if you aren't watching closely.

Check out our website, Matt. http://www.wreckvalley.com We're mostly Jersey wreck divers.

Good luck!

 

[Thalassamania]

With those constraints I think I'd pick the pony/stage.

 

[CompuDude]

I'd much rather have a good buddy with a long hose than a pony bottle.

If I'm in a situation where I really need a redundant first stage, I expect that I'd choose to dive doubles.

I have an H-valve, it seems a bit useless, I used it on one set of dives only. It was from a rig where we carried a 40 of backup bottom mix, a 40 of oxygen and independent doubles, one with bottom mix and one with travel mix. The H-valve allowed independent first stages on the travel mix, a failure point that, in retrospect, we really did not really need to cover since we could have dealt with it with bottom mix.

H valves seem pretty useless to me, as well. I agree they are a small form of insurance against a blown first stage, but it seems to me a pretty unlikely scenario. And yes, doubles are way better, in terms of redundancy, but they're also very bulky and very heavy. While a buddy is indeed far preferable, I'd be quite grateful for my pony just for peace of mind, even if I did have a buddy around. And why surface tethered, even with a long hose, if you have a pony available?

A pony is never part of gas management. It's there for when the S collides with the F. But when some form of redundancy is handy to have (as opposed to REQUIRED... if things are bad enough that it is required, you should probably be diving doubles), such as solo diving in reasonable depths under good conditions, a pony really fits the bill, IMO.

 

[xiSkiGuy]

I have H-valves on both of my single 130s. I normally dive doubles, but on the few occasions that I use the singles, I like keeping the same regulator configuration.[FONT=&quot][/FONT]

 

[Thalassamania]

You are right. Solo just never enters my thought process.

 

[The Chairman]

Sometimes I dive doubles, sometimes I dive my 120s with the H valve. I never have to change my regs around (same configuration). I have had a free flow happen in the Ballroom at Ginnie and turning off the one valve allowed me to exit leisurely without worry of losing all of my air.

 

[Matt P]

Problem is that most, if not all, Jersey dive boat captains require either H valves or ponies. Redundant air sources are required. When I boat dive, I'm using single HP120's, so I either have to buy H valves (cost of about $300) vs a pony/stage $400-$600.

However, I agree with Motivation and Daniel that the redundant air source is your buddy. This is stressed far more in tech diving, but it's apparently no acceptable for Jersey because of the volatility of the waters. It can turn to crap in fifteen minutes and you may lose your buddy if you aren't watching closely.

Check out our website, Matt. http://www.wreckvalley.com We're mostly Jersey wreck divers.

Good luck!

Agreed - buddy is the redundant source. But, fomr what I hear NJ is deep, dark, cold and somewhat unpredictable. I'm just looking to add an additional layer of security. And - I don't want to get kicked off the boat. I guess at this point I'm leaning towards a pony simply b/c I don't think an H valve is enough and I'm not so sure I'm ready for doubles. I need to learn more.

Thanks for the link. I will check it out

 

[texdiveguy]

I use an H-valve on my single st.130 for sport diving....it gives me a back-up first stage and the option of isolating them if the need arises.

 

[Thalassamania]

You know, its that same old single engine vs. twin engine thing. Some people only want to fly twins while others think its a just a case of having twice as many things that can go wrong.