diving with a pony vs doubles

[Tassie Diver]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

...

Right.

So how's that working out for you?

You got me. I'm paying twice what a single tank costs.

Cheers

TD.

[Nemrod]

An additional benefit of a pony is that it can be handed off or eliminated from the rig without any effort or changes to the basic set up. N

[tlt]

I have no interest in diving doubles (really just not hauling them around) I suspect the majority of folks do not either. I like the point Nemrod pointed out, it would be nice to be able to hand a pony off to someone else. Not that you would leave them at that point, but it would make things easier. I finally ordered a pony setup and am looking forward to the arrival. I would like to do deeper solo dives, however carrying 2 spare airs, and limiting depth to 60' or higher has long since gotten boring. 1 Pony would have been a better investment.

The thing about doubles, to me (not being a double diver) haha is that it could very well be possible for some type of catastrophic failure I suppose depending on your configuration, etc. I assume you can also use them as to independent systems running in parallel... still to heavy for me. If I was doing doubles it would be to increase my depth and bottom time, and therefore I would still need the pony... That's my thoughts on the matter.

[comet24]

Originally Posted by tlt

The thing about doubles, to me (not being a double diver) haha is that it could very well be possible for some type of catastrophic failure I suppose depending on your configuration, etc. I assume you can also use them as to independent systems running in parallel... still to heavy for me. If I was doing doubles it would be to increase my depth and bottom time, and therefore I would still need the pony... That's my thoughts on the matter.

Most double can be isolated so if there is a failure on one side(1st, 2nd stage, tank valve ect) you still have half your gas. Each tank will have a first stage and you have your primary 2nd on one tank and the backup 2nd on the other tank. Most dive using a isolation valve between the tanks. This can be closed if one side experiences a problem. If you take a begging tec class you will send alot of time doing shut down drill practicing what to do if something does wrong.

There are some ways to setup doubles but the isolation valve between tanks is the most common and there no need to get into that conversation.

[texdiveguy]

Single back gas bottle then allows sling a pony,,,,doubles there is know need to less you refering to deco or stage/travel bottles then they are part of the dive plan and are needed.

[ianr33]

Originally Posted by tlt

The thing about doubles, to me (not being a double diver) haha is that it could very well be possible for some type of catastrophic failure I suppose depending on your configuration, etc. I assume you can also use them as to independent systems running in parallel... still to heavy for me. If I was doing doubles it would be to increase my depth and bottom time, and therefore I would still need the pony... That's my thoughts on the matter.

It is possible (although very unlikely) for doubles to fail such that all the gas is lost. (You would need to break both sides of the isolator. Might be possible if you scootered fast into an overhang but otherwise pretty much impossible)
Of more concern to me is that in the event of a "normal" failure (burst hose etc) you need to take the correct action and take it pretty quickly otherwise you may lose all your gas.

I'm O.K. with soloing open water/minimal deco in doubles but anything beyond that I much prefer sidemount. (or independant doubles)

For a recreational diver I believe that a single tank and good sized pony is a safer rig than manifolded doubles. (No single failure can kill you,even if you dont react correctly to it)