Typically on every dive, I use my 30 cuft pony (sling side mount.  I don't
know if you would still call it a pony) for a safety stop.  NOT because I
have to, I have plenty of gas in my main tank, but to practice switching
regs and to use the pony reg when it is not needed to insure that it will
perform when needed.

Randy Sullivan
Sault Ste. Marie, Ont
sulteck@ic*.ne*
-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Braunbehrens <Bakalite@ba*.co*>
To: Jim Cobb <cobber@ci*.co*>; Tech Diver <techdiver@aquanaut.com>
Date: Saturday, January 24, 1998 2:53 PM
Subject: Re:Pony Bottles


>Jim, thanks for your comments.  I don't understand why you think that a
>pony is a bad idea.  Your points seem to be that
>
>1) You don't trust your pony.
>
>Simple, just use it every now and again.  After your last dive, make a
>shallow dive for a few minutes and use the pony.  That way you know it
>works.
>
>2) You think it's "tempting" to use it as part of your air supply.
>
>That one is even easier to overcome...just don't use it.  That's just
>discipline, no big deal.
>
>3) A pony is like a spair air.
>
>I don't think so. A pony would give you time to actually make a safe ascent
>and a stop at 15 for 3, also, it would allow you to hand it off to someone
>in an emergency, or in a situation where you can't "get in" because someone
>is stuck in a crevasse or something.
>
>I'm still interested in opinions as to why one should or shouldn't use one,
>I haven't decided yet.
>
>Jim Cobb wrote:
>~
>>IMHO, It might be described as an "inadequate solution". I started to my
>>solo diving career for the same reasons you describe and I just did not
>>trust my pony. If you are relying on it for your life, you get a little
>>paranoid on checking it to make sure it will work when you need it.
>>
>>I could not take it any longer an went doubles, which is the hot setup.
>>But when using rental single 80's, your best defence is to not go into
>>decompression or put yourself in any situation where using a single 80 is
>>a bad idea. This is what solo diving is all about, understanding
>>limitations.
>>
>>The temptation to use a pony to put yourself in bad situation is hard to
>>resist. "Man, just a little longer and I can get this lobster. Shit, I'm
>>at turn pressure. Ah, well I've got that 'ol pony back there, I need to
>>change the air in it, anyway. Oh, oh, getting into decom, shoot that 30
>>lasts an hour at the hangbar." etc etc. I've done the slippery slope and
>>seen many other divers come up the ladder with the pony reg in their
>>mouths. And it ain't deco gas.
>>
>>A pony is a placebo at best, just like a spair air.
>>
>>   Jim
>>
>>On 1/23/98 3:45 PM Paul Braunbehrens wrote:
>>
>>>Very interesting post, but I have a few questions. You keep counting the
>>>Pony as "part of your gas supply".  I think in this case, it is not
>>>considered like that really.  It is considered more as an emergency
supply
>>>which allows you to get back to the surface safely.
>>>
>>>Let me back up a little.  The reason I have considered getting a pony is
>>>because I do end up doing a lot of solo diving, mostly because of Rule
#1.
>>>I rarely go below 90fsw, but it does happen.  I am a little concerned
that
>>>if I should experience a complete failure of my air supply at that depth
>>>and on an exhale, I might have a problem.  Also, I like to make a 15 foot
3
>>>min stop on the way up.  The dives I do are often from tanks that the
boat
>>>supplies, and I am never very far from the boat.  My safe haven really is
>>>the surface, in case of any problem, but I don't want to have to shoot up
>>>to it like a bat out of hell from 110 feet with no stop.
>>>
>>>In this case do you think a Pony is an adequate solution?
>>
>>
>> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>> Learn About Trimix At http://www.cisatlantic.com/trimix/trimix.html
>
>
>Paul Braunbehrens mailto:Bakalite@ba*.co*
>http://www.daw-mac.com Mailing list for digital audio on the mac
>
>
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