Large tanks question

[Christi]

Don't think I've ever dove with aluminum 100's? I've used HP steel 100 and 120's. I reserved a larger tank from Blue Angel for our upcoming trip, I hope it's a HP tank.

It will not be an HP tank. The larger tanks they provide are AL 100's.

The ONLY operators on the island (aside from the tech guys) with STEEL HP tanks are Aldora, Liquid Blue and Living Underwater. Anyone else that has larger tanks available are AL100's and will range anywhere from $5 - $10 more per tank.

I still encourage divers to work on gas management vs. relying on larger tanks if that is the reason they like the larger tanks. With a properly profiled dive, most of my divers still get 60 - 70 minutes from an AL 80 - and if they aren't getting that at the beginning of the week, they are by the end of the week from the tips and help from myself and crew to help them improve their gas management!

 

[Invictys]

With the AL80 I get about 35-40 min bottom time, how much more time will the HP100 and HP119 give me ??
I'm trying to some research before buying my first two tanks. I'm looking into buying XS Scuba Worthington Cylinders HP Steel 3442 psi. Tanks, but can't decide if to get HP100 or HP119. Any one has anything to say about these tanks ?? Also anyone know the best place to order these tanks ??

Thanks

Filled to capacity (3442 psi) and All Things Being Equal regarding other dive parameters like depth, air consumption rates, etc..

If you get 35-40 min time with Al80 then the simple answer is that you'd get 45-52 min (29% increase) with the Steel HP100 and 54-62 min (55% increase) with the Steel HP120.

The more precise answer I believe would depend on how many psi you end the dive with and how that relates to the cu. ft. left in each of the respective tanks (available air vs absolute capacity)

 

[Bearkeley]

I can't see why I would want to dive with an AL100 over a Steel 120 unless I were really short and the 2 inches of tank height mattered to me. Steel 120 vs AL80 is still a no brainer in my opinion though I think a Steel HP100 seems best overall since its shorter, lighter, better buoyancy, and holds substantially more when filled to capacity. Even underfilled to 3000psi you still have 15% more air than an AL80

I actually was concerned about the Steel tanks because I am 5ft tall with heels (no, still trying to find someone who sells fins with 2 inch heels!) and weigh less than 100 lbs....Aldora reassured me that they usually give women 100s and men 120s...I'm glad to know it's shorter than the AL80s, because 2.1 inches would definitely be a big deal to me....unfortunately, diving with a tank that weighs 33% of my body weight would too! ;-(

 

[Brules]

I still encourage divers to work on gas management vs. relying on larger tanks if that is the reason they like the larger tanks. With a properly profiled dive, most of my divers still get 60 - 70 minutes from an AL 80 - and if they aren't getting that at the beginning of the week, they are by the end of the week from the tips and help from myself and crew to help them improve their gas management!

Amen Christi!

I am 6' tall 285lbs and I am last one out of the water 95% of the time......so if my big butt can do it without a larger tank - ANYONE can! Learning to breathe like the DM's is the best thing I ever did.

90min on Columbia shallows on AL80 is as good as it gets!

 

[Mike]

still trying to find someone who sells fins with 2 inch heels!) and weigh less than 100 lbs..

Jessica Simpson has a few pairs out you might want to look at, a little pricey at $120.00, but if a girl has to have em...

 

[Prop Joe]

I like the steel 120's with the 50% more air/gas. I don't wear lead with the steel tanks and like the buoyancy characteristics (1mm full wetsuit with 3mm beenie). Stuff sometimes happens when your down there, or you see something at depth you want to photograph. To much air under water is a good thing, to little air can possibly kill you. I really do not mind surfacing with 1500 psi after a 60-70 minute, 100' dive. If you are ever in a situation when you have an obligation to the nitrogen police I'd rather have the extra breathing gas. I'll spend the extra money for the bigger tanks, when given the option, every time.

 

[Ron Lee]

Had the three Scuba Mau divers used 120 cu ft tanks, we may have never heard of that dive.

 

[Dave Dillehay]

As an aside, you are not limited to HP 120's and HP 100's. That is just our "normal" fit, HP 120s for men and HP 100s for ladies, although many men are fine with 100s and ladies with 120s. We match the air supply to the diver. For the really small people and children we also have HP 80s which are about half the size of am aluminum 80 but with the same amount of air. WE also use the 80s for beach dives from our Villa.


Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers

 

[cvchief]

Amen Christi!

I am 6' tall 285lbs and I am last one out of the water 95% of the time......so if my big butt can do it without a larger tank - ANYONE can! Learning to breathe like the DM's is the best thing I ever did.

90min on Columbia shallows on AL80 is as good as it gets!

I like to swim SLOWLY behind the group with my camera to save air....

 

[Mike]

Amen Christi!

I am 6' tall 285lbs and I am last one out of the water 95% of the time......so if my big butt can do it without a larger tank - ANYONE can! Learning to breathe like the DM's is the best thing I ever did.

90min on Columbia shallows on AL80 is as good as it gets!

That's jaw dropping. For my own self-esteem I'm going to have to say this has got to have something to do with your genetics. You must have been born with some extra red blood cells or something.