If you are thinking off using a stage for deco gas it would need to be a 7lt. If it was me I would save my money untill I could aford a twin set. You will find plenty of second hand ones about.

 

Hi Fred
You will find plenty of opinion on ponys and TBH you will probably move on fairly quickly to something else if you are going deeper/longer
My money would be on a side slung 7 ali as it will be still usefull as you move onto a twinset.
Find someone to lend you one for a trial dive to make sure.(and to look after you while you try)
cheers
Have fun

Hazel

 

I'm a great believer in buying the right kit for right now, instead of
something you may or may not use down the line. Having said that
some things like a decent reg are as good for one scenario as the
other.

So my advice is as you've said get a DS4/ATX reg as that is pretty
much future proof and i'd go for a 3lt pony. This will give you time
to play with a redundant system and eventually the dives themselves
will dictate, because the 15lt, not any size of stage/pony will become
the limiting factor.

When that happens you may start thinking of twins and then later again
may start thinking of a stage, but that can be 3 or 4 stages (excuse the
pun) down the line and nobody, not you I or anybody on here knows
if you will get that far.

Get a pony, go diving :teeth:

 

I'm a great believer in buying the right kit for right now, instead of
something you may or may not use down the line. Having said that
some things like a decent reg are as good for one scenario as the
other.



So my advice is as you've said get a DS4/ATX reg as that is pretty
much future proof and i'd go for a 3lt pony. This will give you time
to play with a redundant system and eventually the dives themselves
will dictate, because the 15lt, not any size of stage/pony will become
the limiting factor.

When that happens you may start thinking of twins and then later again
may start thinking of a stage, but that can be 3 or 4 stages (excuse the
pun) down the line and nobody, not you I or anybody on here knows
if you will get that far.

Get a pony, go diving :teeth:

I am with Terry on this I dive twin 12s with ali stages when the dive requires it, a single 12 and pony when thats more suitable, I bought my pony 10 years ago and and its one of the few bits of kit from that long ago that I still use regularly.

 

Second that ! Get twin 12's first and then an ali 7 when funds allow. Then sell it all and buy a rebreather !! lol

 

A pony is a 3L. I'd do a dive on a 7L rather than thinking it was just a quick bailout.

A pony is big enough to get you out of an unexpected OOA but not so big it complicates your diving.
It will not get you out of an unexpected OOA deco diving but for most of our diving it's good kit.

 

Why waste money on a 3lt when the op mentioned a 7lt AND that he WILL be moving to twins sooner rather than later?
Id suggest going for the 7lt, even if just to take on dives for now to get used to it, plus when you are ready, not that it's not particularly difficult, you will have a 50% increase in gas volume to play with.

 

I do 30M dives on a single 15, if it isn't a deco dive, I put 32% in the tank, that will do me for half an hour, if I am doing this I take a 3 litre pony, it will get me up and allow for a safety stop on the way.

If I am going deeper or intend to stay longer and get into deco I will do it on twin 12s...

If I am going to deep for 32% I will take the twins and a 7 litre stage for deco....

I dive the kit that suits the dive and suits me, why anyone does shore diving in a twin set is beyond my comprehension.

 

I dive the kit that suits the dive and suits me, why anyone does shore diving in a twin set is beyond my comprehension.

longer bottom time

 

How long do you need on a six metre shore dip?

 

That is assuming that that the shore diving is 6 meters , not around here it is not

 

Hi Fred

You didnt mention your level of experiance or your SAC.

The size of the tank you take should relate to both. A pony is always refered to as a 3ltr but In its self theres no "fixed" size for such a tool. A 5 may be better?

My SAC is 15 (usualy below) and my decompresion SAC is usaualy around 10 or less so allowing an increase due to stress of 30lmp and a reduction to 15 over the ascent once id calmd down id need:


30m 2mins (sort out SMB and start ascent) 240ltrs (@30lpm)

30- 20m 1.5min bassed on worst depth 120ltrs (at 20lpm)

20-6m 2min bassed on worst depth 120ltrs

3min safety stop at 6m 72ltrs (at 15 SAC)

3min ascent to surface 72ltrs


Total gas required for a stressed ascent from 30m to the surface average ascent speed to 6m 6.6m/min 624ltrs


3ltr X 235bar is 705ltrs so i have 80ltrs in reserve


If your SAC is higher than my own or you are aware that in a stressfull situation your SAC goes over my SAC then you will need a bigger tank. an AL40 is 5.5ltrs which is a nice size and nice to use.

Dont be rushing to get a twin set. Loads of great safe diving to be done on a single 15 and pony rig


Dont worry about 3ltr tanks and future proofing. I still have my old 3ltr and its used for 100% 02 final deco, as a air tank to fill my self inflating SMB and I often cary it in the car to pump up tyres with

The rest of my 3's i use on my CCR

ATB

Mark

 

hi
Any opinions on length of hose for pony, normal length or 2m.
Twinset will be on the agenda, when the funds appear.
Thanks

The pony is for you and you alone. So a normal reg length.

If you want a 2m hose put it on your main back gas tank. Donate from the mouth to your OOA buddy and go on to your pony.

This will put more confidance in your buddy and have a calming efect. People who havent practiced on a pony get freeked out about the tank size and are ignorent of the fact 700ltrs of gas in a 15 is exactly the same as 700ltrs of gas in a pony.

ATB

Mark

 

By simple interpretation and resisting the opportunity to be a smart arse one can work out exactly what I was referring to, however, if being pedantic is the only thing in life that gives you the pleasure of making you dick grow then knock yourself out....