Flying with a 30 cuft tank

[simcoediver]

Thanks for your answers guys, couple more questions, ...when you arrive at the dive shop at your destination do you put the valve back on yourself before going into the shop or do you get the shop to do it? If you do it your self you need a wrench right?

 

[WarrenZ]

Valves are hand tight maybe just a little bump with your hand on the knob to seat it. A wrench shouldn't be needed for valves.

 

[guruboy]

For travel hand tight would probably be ok. I usually use a wrench to make sure I get metal to metal contact though but I don't go crazy and really torque it down. I just hold the wrench right at the base (end closest to the tank).

 

[WarrenZ]

I do all tanks hand tight with a little bump tighter it is the oring doing the sealing not the valve threads.

 

[redacted]

discuss the pony fill with the shop before you book. I would look elsewhere if the shop wanted to charge me for a vis knowing that the valve had to be removed for air travel. If you can't find a reasonable op, I would probably explain to the dive crew that the shop vis tech took the rest of their tip.

 

[KevinNM]

discuss the pony fill with the shop before you book. I would look elsewhere if the shop wanted to charge me for a vis knowing that the valve had to be removed for air travel. If you can't find a reasonable op, I would probably explain to the dive crew that the shop vis tech took the rest of their tip.

I paid over a thousand bucks for dives on that trip, $15 bucks for a vis and fill just isn't a big deal.

 

[redacted]

I paid over a thousand bucks for dives on that trip, $15 bucks for a vis and fill just isn't a big deal.

I would have happily paid more for a better dive op if I could find one. I do not like to reward stupid.

 

[Compressor]

As others have said:
1. Take valve off and travel; I would put tape over the opening unless you have the plug that came with the tank when you bought it
2. Put valve on at destination; hand tight with a bit of a nudge .

LDS may charge VIP when they see the tank pressure at zero.

 

[simcoediver]

OK 1 more quick question, at home I sometimes use my transfer whip to add air from one tank to another. However I do not want to bring it with me on a trip. Now if I were to kiss the valves from a regular tank to the pony would I be able to get enough air in the pony to pass VIP ?

 

[Compressor]

Now if I were to kiss the valves from a regular tank to the pony would I be able to get enough air in the pony to pass VIP ?

I've never done it but I doubt it. After a little increase in tank pressure, you will not be able to hold the tanks in kissing position.

I am not saying that an empty tank means automatic VIP. In fact it should not be like that. I think it varies from store to store.