View Full Version : safety first
snorkel123
02-01-07, 17:25
Thinking of buying a 3l pony bottle as an emergency alternate air source to use with my single 12l cylinder. My maximum dive depth is 30m. With safety always being number one priority I would be grateful for some advice on this.
Many thanks Brian
go-dive are almost giving them away at £55, O2 clean.
http://www.godive.net/gdcyls.htm
buy a jacket for it, stops it getting chipped, a boot is also handy, saves the jacket getting worn.
connecting it, 3 options...
1. velcro strap bands, these are rubbish & the cylinder wont sit solid.
2. a clamp system, these are expensive but the most popular choice.
3. side slung, balance/trim may be an issue if your not familiar.
clamps,
Northern Diver around £50.
Metalsub, around £70
unbranded, from £30
http://www.godive.net/gdspec.htm
you will also need another first stage & regulator.
might be worth looking at a package deal (go-dive specials).
i believe Aquatron will do a price match on anything you see.
but bear in mind the postage amount which they also add to the price comparison.
shop around.
Well I'm no great expert but I would say yes do it as soon as possible!
I found it easiest to mount mine to my main cylinder on nylon cam bands, not quite as quick/easy to change as a metal quick release but not bad. You will probably want a small weight opposite the pony to balance out, either in a pocket on the back of the stab or threaded through the cam band on the main cylinder.
This should give you a set that is balanced side to side and in the water you wont notice the pony.
Oh and you will need to re-check and adjust the weight you carry.
I used my octopus hose onto the first stage on the pony so that from the front my setup was the same as a conventional single cylinder. If you have a problem with the main you go onto an independent bailout.... and bailout! There is imho no need for an octopus on your single *and* a pony, the pony replaces the octopus as if you need it there is only one direction you should be going ;)
In an ideal world you should use a reg for the pony that is in some way different from your main, if you happen to have the same sort then wrap an elastic band round it or something, that way if you ever put the pony reg in your mouth instead of your main you *should* notice.
People have panicked in the past because they have breathed a pony empty thinking it was their main... :confused: Obviously we wouldn't want to do that!
As usual, remember to do a proper buddy check. It is even more important to check *both* regulators are working properly now they are on seperate supplies.
Some people add a contents gauge for the pony, [I]personally[I] I prefer just a button gauge on it so I can check contents before I put the set on. If I have to go onto the pony underwater then I am bailing out so no amount of looking at the gauge and wishing is going to change the amount of air in it, I also wont be tempted to say "oh I've got loads in the pony I'll just finish what I'm doing.."
There's probably more but that's just my take on it. Forgive me if I'm teaching granny to suck eggs but you've hit on a hobby horse(pony?!) of mine ;) All divers should have their own bailout, your buddies air is a nice extra, yours is what keeps you alive!!
(steps off soapbox...)
buy a jacket for it, stops it getting chipped, a boot is also handy, saves the jacket getting worn.
connecting it, 3 options...
1. velcro strap bands, these are rubbish & the cylinder wont sit solid.
Well personally I hate the pony pouches/jackets you can get that let it flop around, really get on my nerves, whereas the nylon cam bands held mine nice and solid and secure...without rattling like some of the QR's :D (no offence mate!)
But it's whatever suits you (and your budget!). Oh and I agree wholeheartedly with the rest of Stewarts post :D
(like he cares whether I do or not lol) ;)
i agree smudge...
personally i would never use a bag with velcro straps,
what i was suggesting is getting a bag (ditch the straps) to protect the cylinder as pony's tend to get 'tossed' around. this is why i had a boot on mine also. tend to fine people lift pony's one handed as they are lighter in weight & then drop them!
when i were a lad....:rolleyes: & used a pony, my set-up was as follows...
12 litre & pony.
2 x first stages, i split my regs & had one demand valve on each.
button gauge on the pony as per smudge's suggestion above & for the same reasons.
metalsub clamp, one part attached to the cam band, other side jubilee clipped to the pony.
my suit inflator came from my 12 litre as i used this for main inflation.
my jacket feed came from my pony, thus giving me 2 independant sources of inflation.
i manually inflated my jacket prior to entering the water so as not to use the pony air, i did the same upon surfacing, but if in a big swell & had to use it, i did without fear of being charged for a fill.
my balast weight for the other side of the cylinder was my torch battery.
if/when my pony read 200 bar, i would take in into the shop for a 'free' top-up.
when i got a decanting hose, i used to fill my main cylinders a little fuller, dash home & decant some of the air, this topping up my pony free gratis.
I found side slinging mine the best for me. It just tucked under my left arm and once in the water didnt know it was there. When i use to have it strapped to my single 12 it was a PITA could never seem to get balanced, might just be me though. All you need to side sling are a couple of jubilee clips, 2 bolt snaps, some para cord and bungee. Other advantage is you can carry it till your in the water then clip it on as oppossed to even more weight on your back.
Gareth