New LP121 tank

[Scuba_Vixen]

Gary, I'm glad you accepted my post constructively, that's how I wanted it to be. There are so many new and eager divers that come on and they've been bitten hard by the "bigger is better" bug. They want double 130's and 100# wings etc. Right after their OW cert. ... What's worse is that their LDS's are ready to sell them the gear. Sometimes it's really difficult to get them onto a reasonable track again. Big tanks for newer divers are essentially a band aid fix to not having enough experience and skills work done to master the fundamentals yet. If you have massive amounts of gas, you'll be slower to learn good breathing technique, much as when your pockets are full on cash, you tend to be less frugal. There's kind of a vicious cycle with big tanks, ... they are more cumbersome and have more drag, so you breath harder. The more you breath hard, especially inefficiently and under stress (like from swimming big tanks in a current before you have good breathing technique) the more CO2 builds up ... gives you nasty headaches and presents increased DCS risk when pushing NDL's.

Your HP100 is a nice size tank, swims easy, trims well, low drag, and comfortable to "fall in the water and go for a swim in". Once you get to where your bottom time is limited by NDL's ... not PSI with the hp100 (at least with air) ... Then I think would be the right time to move into that 121.

Very good choice in learning Nitrox early on, BTW.

Dive every chance you get,

Darlene

 

[drbill]

ScubaVixen is right on the potential for a large capacity tank to get you in trouble IF you are new to the sport and not attentive to your bottom time at depth. I believe she said she uses her 121 to get two dives per fill. I use mine for the same reason. Doing 300-350 dives a year, that eliminates 150-175 air fills @ $4-5 per fill. More than pays for the more expensive tank!

Dr. Bill

 

[Scuba_Vixen]

ScubaVixen is right on the potential for a large capacity tank to get you in trouble IF you are new to the sport and not attentive to your bottom time at depth. I believe she said she uses her 121 to get two dives per fill. I use mine for the same reason. Doing 300-350 dives a year, that eliminates 150-175 air fills @ $4-5 per fill. More than pays for the more expensive tank!

Dr. Bill

Of course (in my case at least) that was after a bazillion dives (well, pretty many anyway) with single 80's to where I had the "watermanship skills" and sac rate to make that a practical tank alternative.

Those 100's make sweet singles and then double up nicely as well.

Darlene