Posted by Chuck Tribolet on March 07, 2004 at 18:49:20:
In Reply to: Solo Dive Ques./ Pony Tank Backup posted by B. Xavier on March 07, 2004 at 18:30:32:
6 is not enough. I've done a bailout under a little duress
from about 70 feet with an 11 (or thereabouts). I
did the ascent, and a safety stop at 15', and had some gas
left. But I was in warm water, had no problems to
deal with on the ascent (except some a burned tongue
from some nasty chemicals from the rebreather) and
wasn't all that deep. And I skipped the stop at
30' that I would normally have done. When I got
home, I went to an 18 for a bailout bottle.
Bailout bottles are pretty neutral in the water
and won't adjust your weighting by more than a
pound or two.
What's the problem the pony is supposed to solve?
Out of gas because you had a problem that kept you
on the bottom? Just get a
bigger tank. Out of gas because you weren't
watching your gauges? Don't dive solo. If you
can't manage your gas with 100% reliability, you
shouldn't be solo. Reg failure? Think about a Y
valve.
There are better places to mount a pony than on
your primary. On the rare occasions when I dive
with one on open circuit, I carry front left side
like a stage bottle.
Chuck