I inspected this cylinder myself.

[2airishuman]

I have accumulated a large number of dive cylinders due to the fact that my kids dive and we tend to shore dive in remote areas where air fills aren't readily available. VIPs are starting to come due on these. Cost is a consideration, and I want to know firsthand whether there are any problems with wet fills.

So I obtained a light, a mirror, a stack of stickers, a bunch of neck o-rings, and a syringe of tribolube. I read a copy of the relevant CGA pamphlet. My cylinders are steel. I have a 3-ring binder with a sheet for every cylinder with details of everything that has been done to the cylinder and valve, so I can keep track of condition and changes over time.

Took some cylinders in for fills this morning and the dive shop asked who inspected the ones where the VIP sticker did not specify a shop name. I told them that I had inspected cylinders myself, and invited them to open them up also if they thought they were more paranoid than I am.

They declined, and I got my fills.

 

[WarrenZ]

I support anyone taking responsibility for their gear and maintenance however I would look into getting the plastic card to have something to backup the fact that you probably know more than the average tank monkey at a dive shop.

I have yet to be asked about who VIPed my tanks but I am always ready to show the card if needed kind of like my nitrox card the only card I normally have to carry says Visa on it but you never know.

 

[tbone1004]

no one ever asks who has vipped my tanks, though all but probably 2 of them don't have vip stickers on them. the only ones that get vip stickers are the ones that get filled at dive shops that aren't in cave country. glad your shop didn't give you grief about it. VIP's are really simple to do and the tools required aren't bad at all, so I encourage people to DIY vips

 

[2airishuman]

I I would look into getting the plastic card to have something to backup the fact that you probably know more than the average tank monkey at a dive shop.

The classes aren't available locally.

 

[_Ralph]

No TDI shop around?

I do my own VIP as well, but do put my name, contact and cert on the sticker just in case someone really wants to know.

Paperwork is out in cyberspace for the 1-2 shops with the overcautious fill person/owner. Haven't had a problem as most places I go for fills, know their stuff, and know I know my stuff as well.


_R

 

[2airishuman]

We do have one TDI shop. They don't list any cylinder inspection courses on their web site. I suppose I could ask.

 

[WarrenZ]

The classes aren't available locally.

Believe me I know the feeling.

 

[RayfromTX]

Charge a man for an inspection and you feed him for a year. Charge a man for an inspection certification course and you feed him for a lifetime....

I wouldn't advertise that if I was fish salesman, er, I mean a dive shop accountant.

 

[Wookie]

Charge a man for an inspection and you feed him for a year. Charge a man for an inspection certification course and you feed him for a lifetime....

I wouldn't advertise that if I was fish salesman, er, I mean a dive shop accountant.

I can just hear the dive shop owner now: "Uhhh, we only teach that class to our cylinder inspectors, mumble DOT....blah blah CGA blah blah mumble don't know what they are doing...mumblemumble".

 

[redacted]

Just be prepared to have some ops refuse to honor your VIP sticker even if you have the training and can prove it. For example, those tanks would not be allowed on the M/V Fling.