Rapidly gaining popularity due to its exciting nature, scuba diving is not without its risks. As any commercial diver involved in shipbuilding, oil exploration, or telecommunications would tell you, and as you learned or will learn in basic scuba classes, the gear you carry along with you can make all the difference, whether you stick to fairly shallow recreational profiles or engage in riskier activities like wreck penetration and cave diving. While some of the newest gadgets, including updated dive computers and personal locator beacons can make diving safer, it’s important not to overlook the basics, like dive lights, knives, and SMBs. Along with these and other essentials, many divers elect to carry extras, called redundant gear, to be doubly safe. Is it necessary to carry spare air and other extras? We’ll let you be the judge.
Pony Bottle
Pony bottles are becoming increasingly popular with recreational divers who don’t want to be caught in an out of air situation and who don’t want to have to share air with a buddy who might have an emergency. You can carry a pony bottle with a primary and secondary regulator; it contains enough air to get you safely to the surface in an emergency without need for an accelerated ascent. If you’re among those who elect to dive solo, a pony bottle is a must, since you won’t have anyone to share air with you in the event of an emergency. While some divers complain that pony bottles are bulky and expensive, many others prefer to play it safe. Still others elect to forgo pony bottles in favor of a smaller, less bulky option that’s often referred to as “spare air.”
Spare Air
Like a pony bottle, spare air is a redundant air source; however, it is significantly smaller, much less expensive, and a great deal less bulky than a pony bottle is. Like a pony bottle, spare air bottles can be filled with any breathing mixture; unfortunately, they can only get you to the surface safely from a depth of about 70 feet or less. If you prefer to enjoy shallow dives and want to enjoy the security of knowing you’ve got a little extra air on reserve, consider using spare air in place of a pony bottle.
Octopus
An octopus is equipped with a redundant second stage regulator. It can be attached to a second tank or a cylinder with a different breathing gas; it can also be handed off to a buddy who needs to share air with you in an emergency. It’s important to remember that an octopus is no good if the first stage malfunctions, and it is also vital to remember that though useful, it has a tendency to snag on obstacles and can be cut if it comes into contact with sharp metal on a wreck.
BC Octopus
A BC octo works much in the same manner as a standard octopus, but it is attached to the buoyancy compensator’s low pressure inflator hose. A BC octo will typically cost a bit more than a standard octopus, partially because it is more streamlined. Equipped with a second stage regulator, it is of no use if the problems with primary air supply are encountered.
Dive Knives
Most divers carry at least one dive knife – not only does a knife enable you to free yourself or a buddy from an entanglement hazard, it also allows you to free trapped marine life from a certain death. You can even use a dive knife to anchor yourself in a current and watch fish and other creatures pass by; it’s an extremely useful piece of equipment that most of us don’t want to be without. Many people advocate carrying a spare dive knife, but others believe it’s overkill to keep a spare on hand. As this is a small item that can be lost (imagine trying to cut yourself free and dropping your knife just out of reach!) there are definitely benefits to carrying at least one spare.
Lights
A dive light allows you to illuminate dark places, peek into cracks and crevices in search of marine life, signal your buddy, explore caves and caverns if you are qualified, and make underwater photographs more interesting. Most people carry at least one dive light; if you are diving at night or cave diving, you need at least two. But what about carrying a spare dive light on a recreational dive? Is it really necessary? Maybe not; however, lights sometimes lose power, and they are sometimes lost. Even if your safety doesn’t depend on carrying a dive light, having one on hand can greatly enhance your enjoyment of diving. Redundant lights can be small and lightweight, and can be carried easily inside a BC pocket. Consider carrying one even if you never go into dark spaces or dive after dark.
Surface Marker Buoys
Some people choose to dive without surface marker buoys (SMBs) however this is not the wisest choice. Even if you simply carry a folded SMB in a pocket, you can enjoy the knowledge that you will be very easy to spot if you have an emergency or if the boat accidentally leaves you behind. There are many different ways to use a SMB, and keeping a spare on hand might save you or a buddy from discomfort or worse someday.
Spare Scuba Masks
If you’re like a lot of divers, you are quite attached to your favorite dive mask. Unfortunately, accidents can and do happen to dive masks. Keeping a spare dive mask on hand might prevent you or a buddy from having to make an “interesting” ascent sans mask; while this does take up some valuable real estate inside a pocket, it’s an item to consider keeping on hand, particularly if you expect to encounter rough water during shore diving entries/exits or if you plan to do penetration dives.
In the end, it’s always better to be prepared for an emergency and not need to use the items you are carrying with you than it is to have an emergency and not have items that can make your circumstances better. While carrying redundant gear might not always be easy, there are definitely some good reasons to keep it on hand.