Aluminum or Steel?......

[DiverDMD]

I need to buy 2 new tanks, which material do you reccommend?

I would be doing mostly shore dives looking for lobsters and scallops......

I leaning towards steel, what do you think?

 

[H2O 70]

Personally I like steel better. Much better buoyancy characteristics, especially if you're diving dry or thick wetsuits.

Steel is more up front but steel is reputed, if maintained, to last through more hydro's than AL. They get cheaper in the long run.

 

[Tortuga68]

Don't tell us whether you're diving wet or dry or any other information, we like to guess

 

[H2O 70]

Don't tell us whether you're diving wet or dry or any other information, we like to guess

He's lobstering and scalloping in Massachusetts. We can assume cold salt water.

 

[KY_BOB]

IMHO the only reason to dive aluminum tanks is cost. If you can afford steel, get them for the reasons mentioned by H2O 70.

 

[TechBlue]

I guess you must be driving dry, go for LP steel better buoyancy characteristics.

 

[Scared Silly]

I will go one even further on the steel - if you are diving singles look at the Faber 3180+ as they have some great negative buoyancy characteristics. I would not dive them doubled though.

 

[DiverDMD]

I am a diehard.....

Wet 8mm, cold, murky water lobstering and scallopping in MA.....

Thanks for the advice......

 

[Tortuga68]

He's lobstering and scalloping in Massachusetts. We can assume cold salt water.

Yes we can

Wet/dry/singles/doubles though is a little harder to assume and a lot less help to the OP

 

[redacted]

IMHO the only reason to dive aluminum tanks is cost. If you can afford steel, get them for the reasons mentioned by H2O 70.

There are a few other reasons, but steel is probably best for you in MA

If you will use them as stage bottles, then Al is preferred.
In warm FW, steel may leave you too heavy. Even in warm SW, steel may leave you on the heavy side with a heavy plate.