Advice Needed on Equipment Purchase - Thanks

[Ronniemu]

I became certified and started diving about 2 years ago. Since then I passed my PADI Nitrox and AOW Certifications. As of today, I did 26 dives, the dives consisted of beach, quarry and a few boat dives. I own my own BCD, regulator, computer and one 80 AL tank. During the next several months I will be doing Padi’s Specialties of Peak Buoyancy and Deep. I want to purchase a HP 100 - steel tank to be labeled and used for Nitrox. I don’t mind paying over $300 for the tank and my question is this: If I purchase the steel Nitrox tank I will have only one. To my knowledge Nitrox is best around the 80 to 100 feet depth. These dives would have to be made from a boat. Would it make sense to purchase one steel Nitrox tank when boat dives are 2 tank dives. At this time I don't want to lay out the money for two tanks.I still would have to rent a tank. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[RonFrank]

One is a start!

You may still have to rent tanks, but maybe one instead of two. Most dive Ops charge a premium for Steel oversized HP tanks, so you would be saving maybe $10 a trip ($20 rental/fill - fill cost). You still have to pay for the fill, so you have to factor that in.

For the number of dives you have been doing, having one tank is not going to save you a lot of $$$. OTOH, you can always use this tank for shallower dives. I often get my Nitrox tanks filled with clean air at the same price as air fills.

You could also get your AL80 Nitrox cleaned, and then you would have two Nitrox tanks. Not two HP Steel Nitrox tanks, but I guess it also depends on your air use as if the AL80 would work as a second tank for boat diving.

 

[Stu S.]

There are dive boats that will take you to one deep dive, followed by a shallow dive. They do that at Pompano Beach. We were using steel 120's, then adding a four pound weight, and doing the shallow dive on aluminum. This may work for you, too.

 

[altitudemike]

I have 2 steel 100s 1 is air the other is nitrox try to find a good used deal & you may get bothe for 300 bucks.