GillyWeed wrote: I would never dive without my buddy and yes, he is there for redundant gas. However, in the unlikely event that he couldn't get his octo to me in time, because it got stuck or something else (this happened to the couple at Cove 2 if I am not mistaken) I would like to know my life is not in his hands. And what happens on those times when we decide to go diving with someone who is not our usual buddy? Do I know that they will perform their duties without panic? That's the reason for a pony for me. I don't typically dive more than 100' and usually I am around 60'-70' but redundancy is redundancy.. The more air the better, right?
Hey, Holly!
I assume that you have given this much thought and have decided that a pony bottle is right for you. I am a firm believer in divers making their own informed decisions about gear configuration and choosing the configuration....and diving philosophy....that is right for them.
You have cited some sound reasons for the use of a pony. Like ANY piece of dive equipment a pony can be unsafe if not used or deployed properly. It can also be completely safe if used properly and for the purpose it was designed for.....self rescue if the completely unexpected occurs. A pony should never be used as a means of extending a dive, but should be considered as serious safety equipment.....from your comments I think that you already know that.
Since others have been trying to convince you of the "error of your ways", I'll make an effort to directly answer your questions.
A 19 cf bottle seems to be the most commonly used with a pony rig, with some divers using up to a 40cf - all of those sized tanks are readily available at dive shops everywhere. Some divers mount their pony bottles on their main tank and there are several different brackets available. I use a "Pony-tamer" to attach my small argon bottle to my doubles, and I've seen some divers use that bracket to attach pony bottles as well.
Others use the sling method employed by technical divers. I'm a "sling guy" myself, since I want complete and total access to my equipment at all times. With this method the bottle is slung beneath the diver's arm (usually the left) with the valve up. The regulator 2nd stage and hose is generally held onto the pony bottle itself with bungies so that a quick yank will deploy it. While some divers do not employ a pressure gauge on their pony, I believe this is a foolish thing to do. Many use a small "botton" pressure gauge to cut costs, but I prefer a quality SPG on a small 3" hose that I can read easily underwater. When my bottle is slung under my left arm all I have to do is glance down to read my SPG and I can deploy the regulator within seconds with no muss and no fuss. After years of tech diving with stage bottles, slung tanks are second nature to me. For recreational divers, though, using a "slung" bottle for the first time is quite different and takes practice....but then, divers should practice with their chosen configuration regularly anyway.
I note that you commented on getting something "inexpensive". When was the last time you found good, quality dive gear in
thatcategory? Hee Hee Hee! If you are serious about your pony being used only for self-rescue in unexpected and drastic situations, why would you want a cheap, shoddy regulator on it? Your life will depend on that regulator, if it is needed, every bit as much as it does on the performance of your primary regulator. get a good, solid reg and keep it well maintained. Whatever you really do here, it isn't going to be cheap.....
Bottom line: study the alternatives.....decide the best course of action for you.....act on your decision.....then be prepared to stand by your decision on your configuration and explain why it works for you to all comers, (until you are convinced that something better exists! HA!). Gear configuration will be something that for you will always be evolving.
Best regards!
John