Carrying Tanks

[Bonnet Ray]

My hubby has just bought me a trolley that campers use for moving water containers. Its lightweight and folds down. I can put my tank and weights on it and I am just working out how to attach gloves, hood etc. I've used it twice now at Stoney Cove where there is a long walk down from the top carpark to the dive site. It was great for getting the gear down, the only downside being that divers kept stopping me to ask where I had bought the trolley from (male and female).

Because it was so successful we're going to get another one for Andy.

 

[diverlady]

Tank carriers!! Work like a charm and you don't have to be tall (even though I am!) to use them. I have carried an empty tank on my shoulder which was fine but I wouldn't trust myself getting a full one up.

Diverlady

 

[WileEDiver]

These work pretty well also: Scuba Grips.

 

[annie]

Thanks, I'm going to order some of those, they sound like just what I'm looking for.

I do carry tanks on my shoulder sometimes but find it hard to get the tank up there, and it hurts my shoulder, same problem with carrying it in the BC, I can't get it up on my back without help anyway.

 

[MB_diver]

O.K., I want to start out by saying I came up with this because some of the people I dive with are really kool people to dive with once in the water, however they have some slight problems keeping up with some of the diving I do /have done. As long as they are game, I will do the shelping! Her it is, colapsable mostly plastic wide style golf caddy carts! The ones you pull behind at a golf course. I know, it sound a little strange but it works. You can pick used ones really cheap. They will hold your rig (tank, bcd, weights, fins) and allow you to get right down to the waters edge. If shore diving, just take it with you, drop it off and mark it or whatever seems appropriate.

Dan

 

[diverbrian]

OHDiver once bubbled...
But..... I have these neat velcro strap thing-a-ma-bobs that you strap around the tank.... They have two velco straps that go around the tank with a handle in the middle.... Sooooo when you carry the tank, you are holding onto a handle and I think it makes it quite a bit easier to carry the tank.
If I can find them in a dive equipment catalog on line.... I will send along a link so that you can see what I am trying desperately to explain....

I will vouch for these as I transported said tanks to Florida for her. These make EXTREMELY convienent for even a medium sized guy like me (5'10" 175 pounds) to carry those tanks. My dive bag is more awkward to handle.

 

[FreeFloat]

diverlady once bubbled...
... I have carried an empty tank on my shoulder which was fine but I wouldn't trust myself getting a full one up. ...

??

Steel or aluminum?

On my last dive I had Steel 72's - one I put on my BC, which I wore, along with my weight belt, and the spare I carried on my shoulder. This was pre-dive, on teh way to the boat. I thought they don't differ by more than a few pounds weight??

Partly because, even Steel 72's are too tall for me to pick up off the ground while upright, without hitting the ground again on each step (clang!!)

 

[diverlady]

They were al tanks. I've never used steels but I have read they are lighter by a few lbs.

I just use the tank carriers now. They are the easiest for me and if I should slip/trip/lose my footing, the tanks aren't that far from the ground anyway. I would hate to take a spill with a tank on my shoulder!! I say this because I have slipped on wet docks before.

Diverlady

 

[FreeFloat]

diverlady once bubbled...
.... I would hate to take a spill with a tank on my shoulder!! I say this because I have slipped on wet docks before....

(tee hee hee)

If I fell, it would hardly matter, as I'm not all that far off teh ground to begin with....

Being vertically challenged has its advantages -- such as a really low center of gravity.............

 

[MsParamedic]

It's my impression that steels are heavier. In fact, you can drop approx 6# off your wt belt if you use them