Best tank for 100 FT (avg) Quarry Diving??

[Landlocked123]

Would appreciate feedback on which tank to buy for local quarry diving. I live less than 30 minutes from both local Quarry and LDS so it's time to invest in a tank. Everyone I have spoken to has pointed me towards a HP Steel 100. I can't see any good reason not to go with their suggestion but again would like to hear from others. Seems to me it would be the ideal tank to use for no deeper than 100 FT with NO Deco dive profiles. I know it can be done with 80's but given the temperature of the water and overall conditions I dont see how having the extra air can hurt. FYI I also dive a 19 inch pony as a redundant backup. if so which brand HP100 Steel tank manufacturer offers a good price to quality ratio? Oh yeah… one more..is it true that HP can increase the risk of free flow in cold water?

Thanks
George

 

[chrpai]

How much weight do you wear on your belt today?

Are you confident that's correct or might you be overweighted?

What exposure protection do you wear? Do you plan on changing this? Do you get cold during a dive?

Do you tend to run out of air before your buddy?

Do you know what your surface air consumption rate is? Is it improving?

Do you have a strong back and don't mind hauling heavier gear?

Assuming all of this points to a bigger tank..... "value" will come on eBay and Craigslist in the form of used tanks.

In general I'd get a lot more diving / experience in before bothering with changing tanks.

 

[Landlocked123]

Been doing salt and fresh diving mixed. Weight at my quarry cert dives was 22 lbs with an AL80. Keep in mind I had no other equipment on me. No Dive Computer, No reel / DSMB, no Pony bottle and extra reg. etc. Exposure is 7mm full suit / hood / gloves etc. Have not computed SAC but for my size (220 but athletic) I seem to have as much if not more air than the people I dive with. Clearly I dont dive with advanved divers so all is relative but based on DM feedback in my last Mexico trip (after I had already tipped) the feedback was he was impressed with my air consupmtion for a "big guy". Extra weight no issue as I have been lifting for years. The rig I am putting together is 100% decdicate to cold quarry diving. Again all feedback I have received is that Steel is the way to go.
George

 

[maniago]

I own 100's. I bought them as they're not super heavy or big, and that fits what my wife is comfortable carrying. And since I have to carry her tanks as well as mine, haha, its a good size. Also the stack of four tanks fits well in the trunk of my car with all the other stuff. Diving, its a great tank with lots of extra gas over the AL80 that 90% of everyone else is diving with. Add a pony to it and you have more than you know what to do with, especially if Nitroxed (meaning bottom time). That said, I'm contemplating adding a 120 (ie 1) to my stack for those really long quarry dives like up at Dutch. Some of the guys I dive with do a 120 and I'm the guy who comes up first. Sometimes its just the crowd you hang with that makes the difference. That said, wife and I got 2 1hr dives off our 100's the other weekend and that's plenty for the two of us. Just depends on what your average dive profile tends to be.

 

[elan]

It also depends upon you height. I had XS Hp100 and disloked them a lot as they are short. Fabers or PST seem to be a bit longer.

yes it is true HP tanks cool down the first stage more so there is more risk in cold water in the beginning of the dive

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

The HP 100 is the best, all around tank. It's also an expensive tank. There are only so many times you are going to dive a quarry and with no currents, air consumption is low. So it might not be worth the extra cost. Look further down the road, HP100 is a great beach dive tank where the you might have a good walk. HP120 is good for deep boat dives when you don't need to walk far. Slinging a pony / stage gives you options. The only good thing about AL tanks is they are cheap and you can afford to have bunch and keep them full for last minutes dive plans.

 

[Landlocked123]

Everyone's feedback makes sense. I am definitley going to go with HP Steel 100. I am only 5 foot 9 so a short tank would work really well for me. Seeing XS Scuba HP100's for close to $400.00 Ouch !! Faber' are around $350.00. Would the Faber HP100 be longer than a regular AL80?

 

[decidedlyodd]

Seeing XS Scuba HP100's for close to $400.00 Ouch !! Faber' are around $350.00.

In my experience, it definitely pays to shop around for tanks at different shops. LDSs often beat online retailers substantially on price when it comes to tanks. In the Seattle area, I've seen XS Scuba/Worthington HP100s as cheap as $310 new on a good sale. A lot of shops around here will also throw in extras like free or discounted air cards which can make the deal even sweeter. Also, it's worth pointing out that these deals do not always match what's listed on an LDS's website. Drop by or call for the best deals.

 

[NW Dive Dawg]

My preference (for what it's worth) is the HP Steels. I've got a couple of Sherwood 100's (actually they're 102's) and also a 120. I guess my advice, if you are just buying one tank and don't mind hauling a bit more weight and a bit more length.... to go with the 120. I don't do much planned deco any more so my standard set-up is a 102 with a 30cf Luxfer poney and tamer.... The 120 came in real handy when I was teaching as it more than easily got me through 2 OW dives and even enough to get through 4 dives if vis was crap and I decided it best to take only 2 students at a time.

Not sure exactly what new stuff is out there these days, but one thing that I really like is the slightly angled Sherwood valve as it gives me just a touch more clearance to the back of my head.

As for the cold water free flow question... I'd say that your reg is the most important factor.... but I'm sure others here will provide better advice on newer equipment. My only freeze up free flow ever was 10 years ago and I was diving a Sherwood Oasis in Lake Crescent, WA. Had a complete icing blowout at 160ft. Went to my good 'ol'e Scubapro Mark V on my pony and life was good. Buddied-up asap and headed up while my pal turned off my main. At 120ft (and into a better thermocline layer) air back on and normal ascent from there. Back at the shop, had my Guru Reg Doc (Roy Gresham) tested everything on the Oasis and all was normal and in spec... But, my confidence was already toast so ditched it and on his advice... bought a new Apeks ATX 200. That reg has been the best piece of equipment I ever purchased.. Anyway.... I'm rambling.. Here's a pic of one of my 102's so you can see what I mean about the slightly angled DIN valve. Many others I've seen are a straight 90 degrees.


Good luck with whatever you decide on...


PS.... Now that you'll have your own tank.....buy an LP hose tire inflator.. Someday, you'll be glad you did.

 

[Landlocked123]

Thanks for the feedback. I will stick to HP100 now. My guess is over the next 2-3 years I may very well be owning a 120..