Going to Bonaire Jan/2010 and am looking for dive shop that rents steel tanks. Anyone know of a shop that can accommodate us. Will need 8 and of course a lot of fills.
Good Diving,
Good Diving,
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Well first question is why? Your best bet is probably Walt Stark with Rek Tec, he does technical diving on Bonaire and may have them.
....................... Secondly and most importantly my wife likes them for the same reason and I promised her I'd try and find her a set.
Good Diving,
Steel tanks distribute the weight better on your back than putting lead on your waist. Distributing the weight on your back tends to level you out better than having weights on your waist or in around your waist in a jacket pocket and dragging your lower portion of your body down. Better trim...Better Air Consumption....Better Chances of not damaging aquatic life.
With my steel back-plate and a steel tank, I don't use any lead weight.
Hmm, with my steel plate (-5), wearing a full 3mm suit, with an AL80, I don't need any lead. WW diving is about the only time I don't dive steels.
I also prefer the buoyancy characteristics of steel tanks over AL tanks. However, the path of least resistance might be to get a couple of those inexpensive XS Scuba weight pockets and attach them to your tank cambands.
It looks like you'll be able to get the steel tanks, but you may have to wait for them to be filled and you'll be limiting yourself to one location for tank drop off/pick up. Bonaire dive ops have scads of filled AL80s (air or nitrox) lined up and ready for diving.
Have fun on your trip.