I never use my pony bottle so it was time to transfer it to someone who wants it. I go get it VISed before I hand it off, and the manager, an employee of the LDS, and a lady who is some mucky muck for DUI all ask what am I gonna do when I run outa air! I promptly reply "die", they all agree that I understand the gravity of my stupid mistake. The conversation got a touch heated as the terms "idiot" and "big mistake" we're thrown about. Most of the people I dive with use HP100's and smaller, a few also use a 19cf pony. I dive a HP130, giving me more back gas than both of there tanks combined. The one time I was on a dive where a diver went OOA, a pony would not have changed it, it would only have been helpful in case a buddie diver had not been close by. A diver was close by and no one was injured.
Does any agency advocate or train the use of a pony bottle? Now I'm talking for recreation, not tec diving where the use of deco tanks are needed or those rebreather things.
I look at my diving as solo with buddies, I am responsible for myself, I however am also prepared to help my buddy. Using proper gas management and monitoring I don't see the need for a pony, yes a reg could have an issue but with today's technology how often does it really happen?
Pony or not is the question?
![dontknow :dontknow:](./../images/smilies/dontknow.gif)