Any reason to not go steel?

[amajamar]

I am a New England diver. I wear a full 7mm wetsuit and accessories. I have been diving with aluminum tanks (got them for free) but want to ditch some of the lead I have to carry because of it. So, I am kinda' commited to buying steel tanks but had a final question before I wrote the check.

Is there ever a time when you want the bouyancy of the aluminum tank? Let's say you were diving in warmer water and using just a 3mm wetsuit (perhaps a shorty) is it possible that you could be overweighted with a steel tank? I mean, isn't it inherently unsafe to not have any lead to dump to create positive bouyancy? Would you then be relying on the BCD to keep you from sinking and prone to problems if the BCD failed?

Maybe I'm over-thinking (my tendancy) but I am just curious about any possible pitfalls.

Thanks in advance!

 

[diveman3]

Not really...A steel tank is what i use in florida with only a bathing suit iwth no weights and im fine..

 

[tankdiver]

when you dive with stage/pony hung under your arm you'll want aluminium as they will float up an tuck under your arm as they are slightly bouyant

 

[robertarak]

Many people do prefer to dive AL tanks in warm water for the reasons you mention, however to get to those warm water dive spots you have to travel. Do you really want to travel with your tanks? When you get to those places, just rent. As for the steel tank for cold water diving in a 7mil, I love it! you are not "saving" weight, just moving it from your hips to your back. For me that helped with trim alot. YMMV

 

[drbill]

Rust is another reason. I've lost two HP steel tanks to rust and over-expansion. The first was filled almost exclusively on a California dive boat (hence wet fills). The second was filled almost exclusively on land. If you are filling yours from a shop you may not have this problem.

 

[Damselfish]

some people could be overweighted diving steel when diving warm water - me for instance, since I wear a 1mm at most. Probably not so much that it couldn't be swum up, but not quite ideal. But, you're not going to travel to the tropics with your steel tanks, so not really relevant.

 

[Teamcasa]

I use a HP100 and wear a full 7mm wetsuit. It works out great for me. I do have it VIP’d twice a year as I too get wet boat fills. Other than that, it’s is a great tank.

 

[spectrum]

I

Maybe I'm over-thinking (my tendancy) but I am just curious about any possible pitfalls.

Thanks in advance!

Sure, in warm water you could find yourself overweighted. Especially if you are lean and have an ultra negative cylinder such as some Fabers. In warm water you have so much less lead and neoprene that most don't mind that the cylinder is not optimal.

For cold water diving don't give it another thought, go steel!

Pete

 

[D_B]

I love my HP 100! ... (for cold water)
... sure wish I would have gotten two when I purchased the one for $280

 

[Luis H]

Up here in Maine I like my steel cylinders, but my favorite cylinder is a rental aluminum 80 down in the Caribbean.