Pony Bottle and Octopus?

[acelockco]

I would like some opinions on this one. I just purchased a 19 cubic foot pony bottle, bracket and regulator w/micro pressure gauge. My question is if I have the pony bottle, do I also still need to have my octopus on my main regulator? What are the advantages or disadvantages of having or not having the octopus?

My thought is the octopus is not very useful to begin with except for your buddy. Most regulator failures would also cause the octopus to be useless. Out of air situations make it useless again. I feel if I have a complete redundant air system then that should be sufficient. If a buddy ever needed to share air, they could always go for the pony regulator or if they grabbed mine (that is what I would expect) I could use the pony. I just think it is silly to have extra things hanging off of my BC that I don't need.

[hbh2oguard]

I agree the octopus is a little much. I dive with a spare air and never dive with an octopus except that I have one buit into my bcd inflator. So you can have an octopus that takes up no extra space and it's one less hose.

[Zero]

19cf isnt mush air at all. As for the spare air ever used it in anger at depth? I would run an occy for sure or at least some alternate air source from your main tank.

Matt

[acelockco]

I think 19cf is plenty for a backup. Even at 99 feet, and assuming a SAC rate of 1 (which is high) I would still get 4 minutes of air AT DEPTH. That is plenty of time to find my way safely to the surface. And of course as I get toward the surface my air consumption will be less giving me more time. I am not doing any decompression diving or anything like that. When I do decide to do that I will use doubles with the pony as a back up.

[amtrosie]

Rather than answers (initially), I have questions. What type of diving are you doing? What type of diving do you intend to get into, if at all? What diving do you see yourself doing, long-term?

First, I will address the "Spare Air" bottle. The size of these units precludes anyone from using them as anything other than a prop. For those that have them, when was the last time you used them at depth? A 3 or 6 cu.ft. bottle and a depth of 66 ft. and a SAC rate of 1 (remember these are emergency use, so breathing rate is severely elevated), you have approx. 30 seconds to get to the surface with a 6 cu.ft. bottle. The 3 cu.ft., half of that. These "Spare Air" are not safe to take into a bathtub let alone a pool!!! Remember, These things were made popular by Hollywood!

Now a 19 cu.ft. pony tank is the minimum size for openwater dive. Using the SAC rate of 1 at 99 ft (your numbers), you will have approximately 4 minutes to get to the surface. That is AFTER dealing with the reason for the emegency! Not much gas to sort yourself all out. The reality of the situation is simply this, you will realistically have less than 4 min. to get to the surface saftely. Safely is the key here. If you are not thinking of doing this whole thing safely, then why carry a pony bottle at all?

So, again, I ask what is it that you are trying to do and achieve? If your diving is to dive Dutch and Willow Springs ( I have dove both MANY times), that will dictate one approach. If you will be doeing the Jersey shore, that is totally different!

Remember the thread that is going on about the one diver's aunt? Whether you are inclined to believe or disbelieve, that scenario is all too real. This is some food for thought.

[acelockco]

OK, here are the answers to your questions:

Type of diving - Recreational
I intend to continue recreational diving for now. As far as long term, I am not sure where diving is going to take me, but IF I do get into some more serious wreck diving or technical diving I know new equipment will be needed so my purchase is for what I do now. If I get into teaching or become a DM, then I will probablly use whatever the shop sells as they usually like that.

90% of my diving is done at Willow Springs which has a max depth of 55 ffw, BUT I have never found that deep spot yet, so most of the dives are in the 40 ffw area. I do go to other places of course, and one of the reasons for my purchase is a pony bottle requirement for ocean dives in the Atlantic. I would like to take a few wreck dives this summer and either need to own or rent one. The other reason for my purchase is obvius, to have a redundant air supply whenever I dive. I went with the 19 cf because it was an a nice size/weight/air ratio. I know the Spare Air is pretty much useless for my needs as it is only available in a 1.7 cf and a 3 cf.

Oh yea' I don't do any type of decompression diving at this time, no overhead environments, no serious wreck penetration, etc. If I ever do get into more advanced diving, I will go to doubles and such.

All that being said, my question still is do I need and am I required to have a octo. on my main regulator when I have a pony bottle regardless any type or size?

And about the thread with the Aunt, I never doubted the fact that she had a problem with her regulator, I had issues with the rest of the "story".