Posted by Eins on September 15, 2000 at 21:41:21:
In Reply to: Re: Nobody wants to admit good points of Spare Air posted by Jason on September 15, 2000 at 18:03:18:
what does needing a pony >13 cu ft mean? To me, it means he is in REAL trouble and better not only rethink but maybe go hiking instead.
You say the SA "leads people to show less caution than if they did not have the perceived safety net." That's my argument against buddy diving, but then I acknowledge that a buddy where you need one is better than none. Just like a SA when you need it is better than none.
I think most of us agree that a SA can't replace a good size pony, but if it plays a different role in the dive plan from the beginning, then it doesn't have to replace a pony. IMHO, it is supposed to replace the need to do an emergency ascent but reach your distant buddy instead, in all safety and without stress and panic.
Eins