Do you turn the air off or leave it on after setting up on a tank?

[scubadada]

I recommend handling your gear the same way every time so that you are unlikely to forget anything.

I nearly always rent tanks. I quickly check fill pressures with a checker gauge and analyze the tanks. After assembling my gear, I turn the pressure on to make sure everything works (regs, inflator) and that there are no leaks. I turn off the pressure off and purge the system. I turn the pressure back on just before donning my BC and then test breathe it while watching my SPG.

Works for me.

 

[Belzelbub]

I recommend handling your gear the same way every time so that you are unlikely to forget anything.

Totally agree. Following the same process every time is a good way to make sure you don't forget something.

I don't believe I've ever rented a tank, but still follow the same process as much as possible if I'm using my gear or borrowed gear (aquarium).

The only difference is that I'll likely do the initial pressure check the night before on my own gear as I don't set it up until loading on the boat. At the aquarium, I set everything up, do a pressure check on the setup bench, then shut down. Depending on the habitat we are working, the gear will either be loaded onto a cart or we will walk it on our backs. In either case, valve is turned on and checked just prior to donning.

 

[Baker_Dive]

Hm

 

[Boarderguy]

Added wear and tear on your first stage threads and the tank o-ring (yoke) or din o-ring. Leave it on and compressed mechanically until it is time to remove it. What works for you is fine, you're just adding additional cycles to your gear that could affect its useful life. For din you're also increasing the risk of cross threading by removing and reinstalling the 1st stage. Excited on the boat about the dive (your words) and mistakes are more likely. Leave it assembled and go through a full check before getting in your kit.

 

[Dan]

After 1300 dives, I have muscle memory of fully opening the valve without 1/4 turn back BS, just before donning the BCD.

Also I’m still flexible enough to reach back and turn on the valve while in the water, if I need to.

 

[CT-Rich]

I usually set up my tank and leave the air on until I splash. Usually.

I think what every one is missing, is not how you set up the tank, BUT CHECKING IT IMMEDIATELY BEFORE GOING IN THE WATER.

I take a couple of full draws on the regulator while looking at the gauge as soon as swing the regulator in front of me. If the needle moves, it is not open. I know my SPG is where it belongs, my tank it full, I have air full on. I give a spritz on my BCD. Anything else going wrong is an inconvenience as long as I have air and buoyancy control.

 

[Boarderguy]

I didn't include this in my previous post...

I mostly shore dive but do like to giant stride off docks to avoid a swim if a can. I pre-breathe all 3 2nds (primary, air2 and pony). Pony gets turned off and tank stays on since I don't get my rig ready until I'm getting ready (usually within 20 minutes of splash). I then get in my rig and breath my primary and hit the inflator to give me some float as a just in case for ALL dives. Giant stride I fully inflate so that I pop back up quickly. When staging for dive 2 I swap the tank and turn on to verify gas and then it goes off until our SI is nearly complete. I then repeat my process of donning and breathing everything. I can also reach back and feather my valve if needed when the kit is on both in and out of the water.

The point is you should always breathe each 2nd and imo gas your wing before any entry. Easy enough to dump gas otw down for a neg.

 

[SlugLife]

As a bonus: For anyone worried about their tank being off, you can get indicator valve-knobs for many brands of valves.

Vindicator Valve Knobs

The Vindicator Handwheel for scuba valves is a safety device that can help divers avoid inadvertently starting a dive with a cylinder valve in the wrong position.

www.divegearexpress.com

My challenge at the moment is I have about 8 tanks, and only 4 have indicator valves.

 

[azstinger11]

As a bonus: For anyone worried about their tank being off, you can get indicator valve-knobs for many brands of valves.

Vindicator Valve Knobs

The Vindicator Handwheel for scuba valves is a safety device that can help divers avoid inadvertently starting a dive with a cylinder valve in the wrong position.

www.divegearexpress.com

My challenge at the moment is I have about 8 tanks, and only 4 have indicator valves.

I’ve seen those get jammed with sand. So fine for boat diving, but if shore diving with sand present can potentially be an issue.

 

[RobPNW]

Can you just set up your gear and then open the valve and then back it off about a 1/2 turn, and check everything functions. Then, make it a practice to always open it up right before you jump in? That way, you check all your gear works early enough to swap out a piece of gear before the dive if you have to, and you're always touching the valve again right before jumping in the water. If someone "helped you out" by closing the valve, it'll be pretty obvious when you're expecting a 1/2 turn until it's fully open.