Hydro Catalina Alum S53

[rob.mwpropane]

Very new to diving. Just started classes and getting into it after being fascinated for years. I've been lucky that a friend gave me a bunch of hand me down equipment, all of which I took to my local dive shop to have them go over. My friend called me back yesterday and said he found a tank, but it needed hydro test done.

It's a Catalina Al S53 3000psi (from research it holds 53cf@3000psi). It was totally empty when he gave it to me. I'm not sure if it's worth going through all the hassle to get it hydro, vis, filled, etc. I would love to get it done and take the kids in our little pool to have them see what it's like, but I don't want to spend a tremendous amount of money.

I've read that I can take it to a fire protection company to get the hydro, but just wanted to see what others have done in the Maryland area. (I wouldn't mind taking one tank to my local shop, but I may be coming into more than just this one, and I can't see me spending $67/tank for hydro, vis, and fill which is what my local price comes to)

With all that said, I do support my local shop (don't think I don't). They rebuilt my regs, and the few things that I've bought there I knew were way cheaper online. I knew it before, during, and after the purchase....

Thanks for any info, if you don't want to stear people away from there LDS, feel free to pm me....

 

[DogDiver]

Hhhmmmmm, putting kids in a pool on scuba being supervised by an uncertified parent. Please have your local ems phone number handy.

 

[guruboy]

Find out what year it was made.
Technically, all Catalina cylinders are safe but sometimes shops will draw hard a hard line at 1990.

If 1990 and later, you can get it hydro'd for probably $20 directly at the hydro facility. Pay another $10-15 for a VIP+fill from your LDS.

If you decide you don't want it anymore, sell it on CL for $100.

 

[rob.mwpropane]

Hhhmmmmm, putting kids in a pool on scuba being supervised by an uncertified parent. Please have your local ems phone number handy.

Really? In an above ground pool with 4' water and me right there? I've had less supervision at my own classes. I appreciate your concern and would agree if it was a quarry or larger pool, but that's a little harsh don't you think?

Edit: I thought about this a little, and I didn't mean to get defensive right away. I appreciate your concerns. My son initially wanted to take the class with me, but he's really timid about being in water anywhere but the pool (they just make too many shark movies). I told him I would take the classes, and we could ease him into it at the house. I'm not waisting all that money if he'll never do it but in the pool. My plan was to wear my BCD and let him breath through the octo, then at some point switch him into wearing the BCD. I don't see any harm in this, but please enlighten me if you do. Believe it or not, my # 1 concern with my children is their saftey....

 

[rob.mwpropane]

Find out what year it was made.
Technically, all Catalina cylinders are safe but sometimes shops will draw hard a hard line at 1990.

The date code of the factory hydro is 04c00, so it it a year 2000 tank. I'm looking for a place to do the hydro now.

If anyone in Maryland / Southern PA knows a place, please let me know?

 

[divad]

Really? In an above ground pool with 4' water and me right there? I've had less supervision at my own classes. I appreciate your concern and would agree if it was a quarry or larger pool, but that's a little harsh don't you think?

What would happen if one of them held their breath of compressed air and bolted to the surface? Curious, I really don't know.

 

[runsongas]

If you decide you don't want it anymore, sell it on CL for $100.

I don't think he's going to find many takers at that price for a out of hydro al53.

OP,

there are 4 places in baltimore you can call to ask about getting a hydro.

harris fire protection, vane marine safety, fireline corporation, and coastal hydrotesting.

You may want to call around your local dive shops too. I have seen prices range anywhere from 35 dollars to 70 dollars for hydro/vis/fill.

 

[rob.mwpropane]

What would happen if one of them held their breath of compressed air and bolted to the surface? Curious, I really don't know.

Interesting question. I think it would increase by ~ 13%.

Now I don't know if that's an issue, but in my first class there were a bunch of boys (they weren't there for the class, just happened to be working on something the same time as my class). It was mentioned that they shouldn't hold their breath, but I can't guarantee that they all adheared to this or not. This was in a 4' lap pool. I moved to the deeper pool (10'-12') with a dive master well before they came over, so I would have assumed that before they got in that pool it was stressed to not hold their breath even fruther. This was all 13-15 year olds, and no one had any issues.

 

[rob.mwpropane]

there are 4 places in baltimore you can call to ask about getting a hydro.

harris fire protection, vane marine safety, fireline corporation, and coastal hydrotesting.

You may want to call around your local dive shops too. I have seen prices range anywhere from 35 dollars to 70 dollars for hydro/vis/fill.

Coastal will not work with anyone who's not doing bulk. I will try the other companies 3 Monday. $35 would be a great price. My local shop charges $67 before taxes

 

[tech3324]

My LDS charges +$10 over what the hydro facility charges, so $45 total for the basic hydro. I pay it just for the convenience factor. $67 does sound high.