What the heck is a H valve?

[Mo2vation]

Think deep & solo. Not only does an H valve give you a redundant 1st stage, it also allows to isolate either one.

And I'm thinking redundant gas beats redundant gas delivery.

I'm no fan of the Pony bottle, but I gotta think the margin of safety on deep and solo is better slapping that second reg on a real pony bottle (not a spare air thingy) than simply slapping it on your main tank.

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Ken

 

[BIGSAGE136]

And I'm thinking redundant gas beats redundant gas delivery.

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Ken

Nothing wrong with that concept either. My 130 is rigged with an H valve. I find it comforting on deep dives when I'm with a camera and find myself all alone at one end of a wreck with the herd at another. I am a solo diver, and my most vivid fear is a 1st stage failure.

If I feel I may need a redundant air supply I can sling a 19 but its usually filled with 50% O2 for my ascent.

After this last weekend though I think I'll be going over proper dive nutrition for some time to come.

 

[Green_Manelishi]

I don't see the benefit of having two first stages, with only one tank. I mean maybe back when this technology was new and still a bit dodgy. But now? Who dives these things anymore? I've seen one pair diving this rig in the last 3 or 4 years.

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Ken

I use an H-valve any time I dive single tanks. The reason is not for "redundancy" of gas supply but so I remain accustomed to two separate regulators. Add to that I do not have the $$$ to own multiple sets of regulators and do not want to have an unused LP hose when I dive "wet" nor do I want to have to remove the hose. I also use an "argon" bottle anytime I dive dry.

No, I am not DIR. I am DIGM.

 

[Matt P]

I'm no fan of the Pony bottle...

I've seen other people say this, too. I'm just too new to understand why it is said. Is the sentiment that doubles are the preferred way to dive, over a pony?

I have no plans on wreck/tec/cave/deco diving. I plan on staying within sport diving limits but with many dives at or over 90 FSW. I see a pony as a being a whole lot better than a single tank and crossing my fingers that I've lucked into a good dive buddy.

When it hits the fan at depth wouldn't you rather have another bottle AND a buddy? Again - I'm very green here. Is there something I'm missing?

 

[daniel f aleman]

All experienced deep divers use redundant air supply, the perfect use for a pony. I never dive tech without one. The problem that many have is that they can not separate the idea of correct pony use (back-up) from that of including it in gas management.

 

[Mo2vation]

All experienced deep divers use redundant air supply, the perfect use for a pony. I never dive tech without one. The problem that many have is that they can not separate the idea of correct pony use (back-up) from that of including it in gas management.

Matt - there is a lot of planning you need to work on before you start diving solo deep stuff. A pony bottle isn't life insurance.

I have an amazing quiver of buddies I've come to dive with - so diving solo is never an option for me. So I can't ever see me diving solo again. I haven't for many years now.

However, I am (after saying here many, many time I would never ever) currently preparing for Tech 1. I recently did a local dive that changed everything for me. I've determined that I want to be at that depth (the 135 - 150) range for longer than I can on my 130. I want to do it safe, and smart. I need to know more than I know today to do those dives right, so I'm going back to school.

I'm pretty excited about it.

Best of luck in the buddy search. That should always be your first choice of back up gas supply.

---
Ken

 

[daniel f aleman]

Matt,

Get trained. You'll figure it out.

By the way, I never dive solo; so I see the pony as back-up use only, NOT to be used unless there is a complete failure in the primary rig. I never use the pony as extra gas.

 

[BIGSAGE136]

I've seen other people say this, too. I'm just too new to understand why it is said. Is the sentiment that doubles are the preferred way to dive, over a pony?

I have no plans on wreck/tec/cave/deco diving. I plan on staying within sport diving limits but with many dives at or over 90 FSW. I see a pony as a being a whole lot better than a single tank and crossing my fingers that I've lucked into a good dive buddy.

When it hits the fan at depth wouldn't you rather have another bottle AND a buddy? Again - I'm very green here. Is there something I'm missing?

IMHO its because you find people that will always push the envelope. They hoovered the last time so this time they drop with extra air.

Extra air comes with a LOT of extra obligations that you must learn. Add to that the deeper you go the need for knowledge also becomes exponential.

Funny thing is most of my most enjoyable dives have been at less than 30'.

 

[Matt P]

Matt - there is a lot of planning you need to work on before you start diving solo deep stuff. A pony bottle isn't life insurance.

I have no interest in solo diving. I don't even like it when my buddy is out of sight. Lets face it - that does happen from time to time. I'm just trying to find more ways to make my dives safer.

Thanks for the advice & good luck with your training.

 

[Matt P]

All experienced deep divers use redundant air supply, the perfect use for a pony. I never dive tech without one. The problem that many have is that they can not separate the idea of correct pony use (back-up) from that of including it in gas management.

I have no plans of tech/cave/deco/overhead diving. But, diving in my local area is NJ. Dive boat operations here require a redundant air source. So..I'm just trying to sort out my options.

I agree that a pony is for emergencies only. Hopefully it will never be used. My belief is that if you want more air then dive doubles. But, I don't like the idea of all the non-ditchable weight associated with doubles. I plan on staying within all sport limits (both depth & time) so I wonder if doubles is overkill for me anyway?