Attaching Stage/Pony bottle?

Miss Polaris

Hi Guys!

Its been a while :-)

Just a quick question and I know its one of those personal preference ones...but some ideas all the same would help!

A 3lt cylinder to be used as an independent air source, want to side mount it, have side mounting kit etc... any advice on positioning etc.. I know left side...but anything else to be aware of?

Thanks

donny

I wouldn't get too caught up on the left side nonsense especially if you've only one stage. When you've only one, whichever is most comfortable for you is fine. What side mounting kit did you get? If its the buddy one or similar you'll still need something to keep the contents gauge and reg in place. A bit of bungee works very well for this.

Its a good idea to have it turned off but pressurised to stop water getting into the first stage. You keep it turned off to stop it emptying without you being aware.

Other than that, just play around with it until you find it comfortable. Try it out on a few shallow dives to get used to it. After a while you won't notice its there. It should fit in under your arm without dragging along the bottom. You might want to move your weight around to offset it pulling you over to one side.

dublinbay

donny wrote:

I wouldn't get too caught up on the left side nonsense especially if you've only one stage. When you've only one, whichever is most comfortable for you is fine. What side mounting kit did you get? If its the buddy one or similar you'll still need something to keep the contents gauge and reg in place. A bit of bungee works very well for this.

Its a good idea to have it turned off but pressurised to stop water getting into the first stage. You keep it turned off to stop it emptying without you being aware.

Other than that, just play around with it until you find it comfortable. Try it out on a few shallow dives to get used to it. After a while you won't notice its there. It should fit in under your arm without dragging along the bottom. You might want to move your weight around to offset it pulling you over to one side.

Must be talking about a steel tank........... us ali users dont have weighting problems Left side nonsense as opposed to right side nonsense ? Hmmmm.....another story altogether.

dublinbay

Miss Polaris wrote:

Hi Guys!

Its been a while :-)

Just a quick question and I know its one of those personal preference ones...but some ideas all the same would help!

A 3lt cylinder to be used as an independent air source, want to side mount it, have side mounting kit etc... any advice on positioning etc.. I know left side...but anything else to be aware of?

Thanks

If you just need it as a back up for students excellent. I would suggest an ali stage over steel. If you need it for more adventurous diving, you really need a twinset not a 3ltr pony. Dont use metal to metal connections or carabiners (suicide clips) . You need to be able to cut stage free if tangled. Use a pony length hose and route around back of head into mouth, no dangly hoses in front of you.

donny

dublinbay wrote:

Must be talking about a steel tank........... us ali users dont have weighting problems Left side nonsense as opposed to right side nonsense ? Hmmmm.....another story altogether.

seeing as its a 3L pony I wrongly or rightly assumed it was steel. I've dived with a 3L steel before and there's very little if any pull over to the side.

I agree with you completely that aluminium is the way to go for stages but for a 3L the difference is pretty negligible. One advantage a steel 3L does have is that its smaller but again I think its a matter of preference and there are pros and cons to both. As for me I've been converted to aluminium stages and won't look back.

As for the left/right "nonsense" there is a time and a place for worrying about this but for a 3L pony, I say whatever works for you, whether this be on the left etc...
Personally I've always dived with my stage on my left and the issue of multiple stages hasn't arisen yet

But as you rightly said thats a different story

Oh and Jack has good points about the metal to metal connections and carabiners

Miss Polaris

Thanks Guys

Its a steel 3ltr, and thanks to help from Donny, I have got this sorted out. I am comfortable with it on the left hand side and it worked out well for the purpose I require.

As for the metal to metal clips... whats the best option there? Its currently clipped with a variety

Thx

dublinbay

http://www.dublinbaydiving.com/Wings.html
Scroll down page to rigging kit. You can make these if you are handy.
Jack
Miss Polaris]Thanks Guys

Its a steel 3ltr, and thanks to help from Donny, I have got this sorted out. I am comfortable with it on the left hand side and it worked out well for the purpose I require.

As for the metal to metal clips... whats the best option there? Its currently clipped with a variety

Thx

[/QUOTE]

Miss Polaris

dublinbay wrote:

http://www.dublinbaydiving.com/Wings.html
Scroll down page to rigging kit. You can make these if you are handy.
Jack

Thanks Jack

I noticed the Spring straps on the site...have you any experience of these - good or bad - I was thinking of getting a pair for my fins, I have seen the Woz straps as well as the offical ones :-)

Peace

Just for the buzz here's some info on rigging stages.

http://www.bentleytech.com/cave/stage/index.html

http://www.gasdiving.co.uk/pages/misc/kit/stages.htm

http://dir-diver.com/en/equipment/stagebottle_rigging.html

The last link is the best explanation i think.

Doesn't seem to be much there that you can't get from B&Q (except for the bolt snaps).

most people with pony bottles i've seen diving with single tank rigs decide on a quick release that attaches to the tank. This method of rigging stages i think is most popular with recreational divers.

The links above kinda give an outline for how some technical divers rig their stages.

Let us know how it works out....

Safe diving

dublinbay

The last link Kev gave you is bang on. Its Pete Steinhoffs website. Springs work best with jetfins/turtle fins. I use them with drysuit diving, excellent.
Jack

Miss Polaris wrote:

Thanks Jack

I noticed the Spring straps on the site...have you any experience of these - good or bad - I was thinking of getting a pair for my fins, I have seen the Woz straps as well as the offical ones :-)

Miss Polaris

Thanks Guys

Peace - excellent links, will make a few mods..

I must get those straps - pity Lidl don't have them with their other stuff next week