I have seen a bit of talk about Pony KAK Bail Out Bottles, Spare Air, etc and thought I would put a word or two down on the considering that there are some miss-conceptions about these Clean Clean false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;}

I have seen a bit of talk about Pony KAK Bail Out Bottles, Spare Air, etc and thought I would put a word or two down on the considering that there are some miss-conceptions about these.


While there is much controversy over not only the need but the type of these I will attempt to be concise and only offer ‘me’ statements from lessons learned. My current recreational Bail Out system is a 13cf, din, button pressure gage and viper octo. It is hung on with snap clips across the front of the BCD. I find that a spare air is not enough to provide an assent and safety stop from 60+ feet. I only use the pony at dives at 60+ feet; deep wreck; etc.


As a dive instructor especially doing deep dives redundancy is a good thing but if you don’t have that a bail out is second best. My normal tank is a 100 hp and at about 60 feet I can get 2 hours from it therefore always have enough buddy air if needed. Instructors must be able to handle situations for themselves and their students when, not if, they occur. One or the reason for my clip mount in the front of the BCD is that I can get to it quickly and if necessary cut it loose, handing it off to another. While it is always a good idea to ascend together should something happen you have to be aware that sometimes you gotta let go . . . literally; for it is better to have one diver in bubble trouble than two. Prior to the dive I charge the second stage and then cut the tank back off. As you know there are a couple breaths in there while you get the tank turned back on should it be needed.


Whatever you decide in the purchase of a bail out system know its limitations. Know your SAC and even then take it to 60 feet and breath it dry. Know what and how it acts under a Controlled environment so that you know what to expect when the adrenalin is flowing. Also remember that it needs service just like the rest of the equipment. Don’t neglect the one item of equipment that you or another may need as a last resort.


I have attempted to stick with my own observations and lessons learned here but hope to open a discussion on the subject enabling others to share and learn from one another. Don`t just take my word for it check out other comments, see: http://scifi.squawk.com/scuba.html#PONY


Dalelynn