Getting back into diving in a new location with no shops or dive buddies.

[84CJ7]

My thoughts on this are a little rambly and disorganized.
I have been out of diving for several years and now am temporarily (for several years at least) banished to Rice Lake, WI.
My main issue of a lack of people to dive with I think I will work out when I get the first issue sorted and that is tanks.

Now that I can't just pop over and pick up some rental tanks from the local shop I am tempted to buy them since most places I would go have fill stations somewhere in the vicinity and then I wouldn't have to worry about returning them by a specific time before driving the long distance home. This also would suit me much better for gear standardization and weighting.

There might be some sort of local dive shop like places but I am not sure. If I look up scuba on the net locally I find several places that seem to be more of a large trailer parked next to a guys house than an actual shop when viewed on Google Maps though they seem to at least do training among other things. I will have to call each one and figure out exactly what they are before I make my decision.
If I do buy tanks I have decided on an HP100 steel if I have to buy new, though in all honesty I would prefer to go used steel so I can pick up a pair of identical tanks (whatever I can find) rather than just one as multi tank dive days are common and I can't afford 2 new HP100's. I have reviewed the pitfalls of buying used steel tanks in another thread so we don't need to cover that.
I have heard you are not supposed to store full scuba tanks for any length of time, however there seem to be many people (and shops) doing it seemingly without issue so I don't know what to believe.
The other issue is that other than a buddy in Chicago who I would visit for Lake Michigan wreck diving, I would be diving with strangers which basically translates to solo diving in a group as far as I am concerned and so thoughts of a pony bottle are crossing my mind, maybe 6 or 13, not sure. That would be yet another expense as well especially with the extra reg though I would get a used basic reg for that.
EDIT: also considering putting my Mares proton octo on a used MR12 DIN (more compact?) 1st to use on the pony and just keeping the abyss/mr22 on the main tank, I see huge arguments both ways already on that topic on other threads.
I don't expect to have many regular dive buddies here as I have an irregular work schedule that requires taking weekends off in advance if I want them off.
I have even considered just putting off diving for several more years until my circumstances change.

 

[OtherHalf]

Never underestimate the guy servicing gear out of his garage. Some of the best tech divers I know do just that, and I trust my service to them.

Get a pony if it'll make you feel better, but get one with enough air to actually help. At 90' you probably will burn through close to 6-8cf/min during an emergency, plus air to go up, plus safety stop. Consider a used 30 or 40cf tank. Go for the used reg. They go for cheap online all the time. Just get it serviced.

Why the hp100? In a rural area you're more likely to get a short fill. Personally I like the lp steels. Easier to get a full fill, and I think the larger physical size is easier to trim out.

I store my tanks full. Never heard of not doing it. Most shops seem to do the same. Certainly never store them empty. Especially the steels.

Once you start diving you'll find out there are likely more divers than you knew about.

Just my .02 worth...

 

[84CJ7]

I can service my own stuff actually so I just need the shop because I don't feel like investing in a scuba compressor, and as a hub for activities maybe.

6 obviously isn't big enough I suppose, but for non tech diving I don't think I will need larger than a 13 to abort a dive. I won't actually be diving solo or doing serious wreck penetration or anything, this is just added insurance, so if its too big and bulky a backup it will be more of a hindrance than a help.

If I get a used tank from the looks of what I have seen it will likely be an LP cylinder of some size or other so that's the most likely outcome anyways. If I were to buy new, a great deal of the time I would probably only LP fill the HP100 if that was all that was needed for a dive (about the same as an LP 85 I think when the HP100 is at 3000psi), less stress on the stronger tank so it will last longer though by how much would be debatable. But I would also want the extra capacity from the same tank on some dives like if I were going to a deeper wreck in the great lakes where there would obviously be places that do HP fills so I would have it filled to HP pressure for those dives.

 

[Michbo]

I will be certifying this weekend (taking the open water PADI program). I obviously have no dive experience but I am looking forward to finding dive parteners to dive with this summer. I have been banished to Rice Lake for the majority of my life. I'd love to dive with you sometime if you can manage a newbie -Michelle

 

[Rich Keller]

You all ready do your own service and can buy on line so all you need a dive shop for is a fill. This site lists the DOT approved hydro inspection stations around the country. Not all of these stations deal with scuba tanks so call and confirm before you go to one. These are the places your dive shop goes to for the hydro as the LDS does not do that. They can also fill your tanks but they do not do nitrox fills.

PHMSA - Cylinders - Authorized DOT Cylinder Retesters: Domestic

 

[DiverGuam]

I would stop worrying about tanks being stored full. There is a real issue for a class of aluminum tanks, and maybe even aluminums in general, but you are not saving any trouble, and maybe buying trouble, to short fill steel tanks to save stress on the tank. Tanks have a working pressure rating for a reason.

Banks for compressors are basically full all the time, and they never fail hydro.

(Not to mention the whole period of using 2400 psi steels as 4300 psi tank not resulting in a bunch of failed hydros.

I don't think I have ever heard someone come back from a dive and say "I wish my tank did not have so much air in it". On the other hand, almost every dive I hear someone say the opposite.

 

[84CJ7]

OK, so update time I guess, I ended up buying used 2 steel LP 85 OMS/Faber tanks with thermo DIN doubles manifold, highlander bands and he included the original single OMS tank valves which are DIN with yoke adapters in them for $275. Had them both +hydroed, VIP with sticker and internal shot blast to remove very light rust spots by the tank place that all the shops go to for a total of $85, they passed easily. I have the single tank valves on them though I am keeping the expensive doubles equipment for down the road.
I also found a scuba shop close by (sorta) that I can get air fills from so I will keep them filled to 2640 and then can just go diving whenever I want.
That shop also does boat charters to the Apostle islands ($70 for 2 dives, $140 for 3), which I am so going to take advantage of.
Plus there is always Lake Wazee and a few other less interesting places for practice.
Michbo, will PM you.