Pony or twinset???? for diving 30 - 50m range??? advise

AirHog wrote:
>
> >
> > From the infamous Cobber:
>
> Cobber?
>
> JIm Cobb?

The one and only.

Brian
Edmonton, Alberta
www.mossmanscubaventures.com

Gary Loughran wrote

> I,m a keen sports diver from Northern Ireland, and am finding it difficult
> to decide on wheter to buy a pony or a twinset for diving 30-50 range!
> I use a single 15 with a basic single reg and acto setup. My air
> consumption is quite low and relaxed.
> Comments are apprieciated !!!!!!!!!!! please advise????

My best suggestion is send this to UK.rec.scuba and get advice from people
who dive in your part of the world. They'll be more familiar with the kind
of diving you're most likely to do.

Having said that, my personal opinion is that if you need a backup supply
and you're having trouble deciding between twins or a pony, the answer is
twins. If it's a close call, go for the larger supply.

Lee

"Scott" <busted@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:vgttsdcktnb925@corp.supernews.com...
>
> "Bob Rowlette" <robgrow@one.net> wrote in message
> news:i2dsgv8g4gu5vb6uafl62183chkn8df1md@4ax.com...
> > Gary,
> >
> > There is no way I would dive much below 30m without a proper set of
> > doubles -- a twinset -- with an isoltation manifold and 2 first
> > stages. In my mind, that much water between me and the surface is an
> > overhead environment. Someone else said it before, "If you think you
> > need a pony, you really need a set of doubles. I have found that to be
> > good advice.
> >
> > Best,
>
>
> From the infamous Cobber:
>
> "As the folks on this list know my rule of thumb is:
>
> -If you are diving with a single and think you need a pony, what you
really
> need are doubles.
>
> -And if you don't think you need doubles, then you don't need a pony.
>
> IOW if you are doing diving where safety cannot be assured by rule of
thirds
> and a buddy then you need doubles.
>
> When do you use a single? When you are diving profiles from which you can
do
> a controlled ascent to the surface and not get seriously bent.
>
> When do you use doubles? When you are doing dives which require you to do
> stops or you wind up in the chamber.
>
> Needless to say that many disagree with me for various reasons, mostly
> because it would be inconvenient to use doubles for some reason or other,
or
> a money thing.
>
> And in recognition of this inane hard-headedness which is typical of scuba
> divers in that some are going to use a stupid pony with their single come
> hell or high water I will recommend to those that you set up your pony as
a
> stage bottle (DIR style) and clip it on like a stage.
>
> Many moan and groan that this will cause the bottle to get in their way.
But
> when attached to your tank you really can't get at your pony and it is a
> horrible snag/drag/balance hazard. You can either clip it to your shoulder
> and hip Drings or clip the top of the pony to your hip Dring and it won't
> get in the way and will follow you around like a puppy dog if it is a
proper
> 30 or 40 cuft Aluminum tank and not a steel one."
>

Reguardless of the water I think what Scott has to say is right on.
Save your pony for argon or O2 when your ready.

Steve