Pony or Octopus

[Jay]

All my training has been PADI which advocates the Octopus route - 'have an octopus and learn how to deploy it should your buddy be in trouble'

Until recently, I never questioned this UNTIL I thought - in the UK, what is probably the major cause of underwater problems? - FREEFLOWS

In cold water, why do freeflows tend to occur? Normally it is because your gas is being drawn through your 1st stage too quickly. Why?

Either:

1. Your are breathing off your own 2nd stage AND inflating your dry suit at the same time OR
2. You AND a buddy are breathing off your 2nd stage and Octo

Either result - your 1st stage goes into freeflow and you (& buddy) are in trouble

(BTW - This HAS happened to me with a non-environmentally sealed 1st stage - no names!!)

As a result, I am in the process of pricing a new 7l pony and Apeks TX50 O2 clean reg & 1st stage for absolute redundancy.

What are your thoughts / experiences?

[andy2tanx]

Alright go for a pony, but why not just get a twin set and be done with it?

[Jay]

Will do eventually but it comes down to cost at the moment - if I paid for a twin set, I'd not be able to afford to fill the #### thing ;)

[parahandy]

Having noted just how quickly a full cylinder is emptied with a free flow i likewise opted for a pony setup.
Agree if your doing deeper stuff on a regular basis twin sets the way to go. a bit pricey though at the moment, a doesnt make you Mr popular on a rib LOL

[Jay]

7 litre 'bail-out' cylinder and TX40 reg ordered - should have in time for St Abbs (whohoa!!). Got the cylinder already O2 cleaned, with straps and with a EAN40% fill for £100 (second hand but well looked after) - not bad I thought! (Hehe - glad my instructor has just bought a rebreather and is selling his old kit!)

[andy2tanx]

Parahandy.  Ahh but if you use something versatile like a tekwing you can easily go from twins to single and pony for on the RIB popularity.  Personally I shall continue with my twin 18's on the RIB and #### you all!!!!!!!(sic)

[Cut throat Jake]

You must be a mighty big guy to use twin 18's?

[parahandy]

Andy take this point, us Lancashire wimps need to build ourselves up for the Twinset, either that or i must get a better surgical truss LOL

[Jay]

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Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Quote: from Cut throat Jake on 10:37 pm on Dec. 7, 2001
You must be a mighty big guy to use twin 18's?

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Hehe - thats nothing. You ought to see Andy when he has 2 7l deco bottles side slung as well as his twin 18's!! No wonder he's only 3'6&quot; !!

[andy2tanx]

Ha Ha &nbsp;I might only be 3'6&quot; but when you put wheels on the bottom of your 18's that s no problem at all!