Local dive shop tanks out of vis AND hydro. Is this common?

[wetb4igetinthewater]

I'm sure the shop's Agency as well as their insurer would be impressed...

No to the first part. Absolutely yes to the second part.

As a commercial operation, DOT and OSHA/PESH might be thrilled too..

That's the biggest issue. If the shop claims "oh we filled these before the hydro expired", I don't think the DOT is going to buy that. They should then audit all their paperwork for rentals. I would bet a lot of money they have been renting these tanks out regularly.

Definitely find a different LDS for fills/cylinder rentals. That's insane.

 

[rhwestfall]

@wetb4igetinthewater - an agency wouldn't care if a shop isn't following standards? Or is this part (taught in my classes), not a part of instruction (anymore)?

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

@wetb4igetinthewater - an agency wouldn't care if a shop isn't following standards? Or is this part (taught in my classes), not a part of instruction (anymore)?

An agency would not get involved with a dive center violating DOT requirements. They should care, but with all the dangerous practices that I know of that have been reported to various agencies by their own dive pros but ignored, I believe there is basis for my answer. 《MOD EDIT》

This is the DOT's wheelhouse.

 

[Tracy]

@wetb4igetinthewater - an agency wouldn't care if a shop isn't following standards? Or is this part (taught in my classes), not a part of instruction (anymore)?

Most agencies don't even care if they aren't following instruction standards. I really doubt they care about DOT liability.

 

[fiveoboy01]

I wouldn't rent from them.

I also don't believe that the stickers are getting stolen. Inspections are cheap. That is just a lie to justify not putting stickers on the tanks. They are required, anyways.

 

[SlugLife]

Hey guys!

So me and my wife went to our LDS to rent a set of steel 100s for some diving in our quarry this weekend. When I went to pick them up, they were 4 years out of vis, and 3 years out of hydro. When I mentioned that I would not like to dive them I got a very... condescending look back from them. They told me the only danger is during the fill, and that since they are already filled I wouldn't have a problem. I told them I understood, but I would prefer to do things the correct way (we are tech divers, and not very fond of bending rules because they "technically" have no risk).

They told me they stopped putting vis inspection stickers on the cylinders because people rent tanks, steal them, and then put them on their own tanks.

They told me they didn't do the hydro because the steel 100s rarely get rented out and "most people don't actually hydro their tanks".

Was I being a stuck up A-hole? I was being talked to as if I was being overly cautious, but it seemed very black and white to me.

P.S. We ended up diving single tanks that were in hydro/vis, and are now looking to just purchase our own set of doubles.

There are some small half-truths in there, however my guess is if I brought in a tank a few days out of hydro or VIP, they would insist I hydro or VIP the tank.

Onto the half-truths: The VIP is widely considered to be a complete waste, completely unnecessary, and an industry "scam" by many people I've talked to who are certified to VIP tanks. This includes random Scubaboard members, but also random people I've met in person.

To my understanding, Hydro is required by law in the US, and many other countries have similar processes.

"most people don't actually hydro their tanks".

I'd bet good money that's a complete lie. Would that scuba-shop fill a customer-tank with hydro out of date?

They told me they stopped putting vis inspection stickers on the cylinders because people rent tanks, steal them, and then put them on their own tanks.

That also sounds like a lie as well. 1) You could quickly inexpect tanks as they're returned and 2) removing most VIP stickers intact is very difficult. You'd need a very sturdy sticker, that was not very sticky for it to be removable like that.

Thanks for the advice guys! I agree, I need to stop using this shop. The issue is they are SO CLOSE to me (under 10 minute drive) and everything else is at least 40 minutes AND a toll bridge away. But I suppose that's the price I must pay for a quality shop.

I had a Scuba-shop scrap a tank I had, for completely illegitimate reasons. Unfortunately, it's also the most convenient scuba-shop, and going to the next one would add about 30 minutes to my drive.

I wouldn't rent from them.

I also don't believe that the stickers are getting stolen. Inspections are cheap. That is just a lie to justify not putting stickers on the tanks. They are required, anyways.

This is where I lean. If they're skimping on hydro and VIP, what else are they cutting corners on? Is there carbon-monoxide or oil in their tanks? Do they properly filter the air? Are they tanks actually full? Are the tanks even safe?

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Simple, report the shop to DOT.
No hydro’s in eight years or vis’s in three?
So that means the valves have not been off in how long? Maybe not even during their last supposed vis?!
Plus an attitude to go along with it, wow!
Find a new shop.
And as @tursiops said, please out the shop as a public service. If all this is true then you have nothing to hide.

 

[CT-Rich]

Why would someone RENT a tank ($15) to steal a sticker to avoid PAYING for a Visual inspection ($15)?

I agree that if they are cutting corners on rental gear maintenance, they are not taking care of their compressors the way they should. If you drop off gear to be serviced are they actually doing the work properly? Or just giving it a look, adjusting the cracking pressure and handing it back?

If they have a rental fleet of tanks that aren't going out regularly, maybe they should sell some of it off after getting the testing updated.

This a theory I have, so correct me if I am wrong. Destination dive centers us Aluminum tanks because a little water in them from careless renters are unlikely to have the effect that saltwater will have on a steel tank. Steel tanks just take more care because small inclusion of sea water from a careless rental customer would shorten the service life of the tank.

If they are not following best practices that are easily visible to the customer, I would not be worried about the ones that aren't as easily seen, like compressor maintenance.

 

[fiveoboy01]

Why would someone RENT a tank ($15) to steal a sticker to avoid PAYING for a Visual inspection ($15)?

100%. That's why it's likely that the shop is just lying. People aren't jacking inspection stickers from tanks.... they're just not doing the inspections.

 

[Degenerate]

Rules are rules and all that, a shop not following them would definitely be a good enough reason not to trust them with your money (or life).

Then again, here in Sweden we have zero requirements for visual inspections and it's just the 5 year hydro.
Look over at Finland and it's the same except they've got 10 year on their hydro tests instead.

The VIP is a cash grab and I am willing to bet good money that people in the US who have their own compressors/blending systems give very few ***** about hydro tests as well.