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| PONY MOUNTED UPSIDE DOWN FOR VALVE ACCESS |
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Before there was Bottle Buddy and other quick efficient pony bottle mounts divers would sling their pony bottles or just tie them off. As a commercial diver, a master diver and dive boat captain, I see hundreds of gear arrangements that don't bother me except when a diver has a 10lb tank swinging from their chest. To be honest there are situations to sling a pony, our dive masters' will sling pony bottles to clip on the anchor line at safety stops, but their personal redundant life saving tank (pony bottle) is always securely mounted on their back, out of the way but always right there. Some divers say back mounted pony bottles increase a divers chance to become entangled, after hundreds..... of dives in Northeast wrecks my pony has never been snagged, although my main tank has been caught a couple of times, I often ask divers who sling their pony bottles why don't they sling their main tank to help stop them from becoming entangled and they respond that it would be uncomfortably having that tank any where but on their back.
Every diver does things differently or in a way that is more comfortable for them and that is the most important thing about diving is that you are comfortable. I remember when we would allow divers without pony bottles to dive, as a captain I would always worry so much more about those divers than the ones with ponies! We do not care if you sling, tank mount or tie it to your leg just please bring a pony bottle down with you!
We hope divers who sling their pony bottles are not buying smaller bottles to make their placement more manageable.
Some reasons to sling a bottle?
1. Easy access to your first stage or tank air control valve (although these bottles are used in emergencies most of these divers keep the air flow turned off till needed). Most pony bottle brackets allow you to mount your pony upside down giving you access to you air valve (although not as easily as a slung pony bottle). We have divers comment that if you mount your pony on your back with the air on you may not have any air left when you need it and that is why we sling are ponies so that we can turn or air on when a situation occurs. They would be right if I ignored the sound of escaping gas, had a small pony, did not allow my buddy to try and tighten the first stage or return to the boat. This has happened to some of us but believe me you hear the leak and even with a leak I have never lost more than 300lbs in 30cu. ft. pony.
2. If you needed to leave the pony bottle with a diver it is easier to remove a slung bottle underwater or if you intend to clip or leave your tank on the line! (usually front mounted, under they arm setup can be hard to remove)
Why should your pony bottle be mounted to your main tank?
1. During entry into the water there is no chance of injury like that from a front or under arm slung mounted pony.
2.You can access vital equipment; dry suit valve, BC adjustment straps, knife and pockets and to keep a clear pathway so you can locate and dump or add any weight.
3. A cylinder mounted sideways or one that pushes your arm out further than they other creates drag in the water. This makes a dive in strong current or a swim to the anchor or boat even more difficult.
4. It is hard enough to look down with a mask on let alone having a tank in your view (try tighten your fin straps, with a bottle floating in your face).
5. Subtracting a little weight from one side does not sound like a trim problem.
6. We dive in saltwater swimming horizontally constantly looking for artifacts, lobster and fluke. 80% of the lobsters I have caught, my chest was against the sand. I could not imagine reaching for a lobster with a tank under my arm or rearming my speargun, trying to look down and make sure your band is in its correct slot or slot at all before you let go (ouch!). It is very frustrating having any gear interfere with your underwater work, hunting or pleasure although their are many divers who are not happy unless they are loaded with equipment and do not mind the extra setup time or having restricted movement and vision.
7. AND now that Bottle Buddy has been invented, a diver can mount and dismount his/her pony bottle much faster then one can be slung.
I feel I had to comment on this subject because of my experiences and I want people to enjoy diving and do it safely. There are so many people giving bad advise, and many have little experience misleading newer divers. Remember the most important thing for a diver is to be prepared and comfortable, you should do what it takes to be at that mindset. Advice is only as good as the experience of the adviser and if works for you!
REMEMBER YOU CAN ASK US QUESTIONS (OR COMMENT) ABOUT ANY ASPECTS OF DIVING, IT WILL BE OUR PROFESSIONAL OPINION, BUT WE WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HELP YOU. WE CERTAINLY DO NOT KNOW EVERYTHING, JUST WHAT HAS WORKED, KEPT US ALIVE AND MADE DIVERS ON OUR BOAT HAPPY AND SAFE!
Pony bottles are like seat-belts, we will probably never use them, but we all should so we do not become a statistic!
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