Opinion of OMS tanks

[LUBOLD8431]

First of all, you should be getting cylinders that fit the style of diving you are doing. Using E8-130's for reef dives, or shore dives in rec depths is overkill. Not to mention lugging around all that extra gas and weight. I have two sets of OMS 112's doubles, and a couple of E7-100's from PST, and Faber Hp-80's. I choose which tanks to use for the dive I am doing. That being said, I wont be buying anymore OMS cylinders. My next cylinder purchases will be Pressed Steel. I have dinged my tanks, rubbed off paint, and the bands have taken chunks of paint off of the cylinders, right down to bare metal. Every year that I take them apart for visual, same thing happens. So, I have to repaint them, get rid of the rust, and basically bring them back to life for use in salt water. I like the cylinders, they have a good height, good weight, good buoyancy characteristics, and plenty of gas for the dives that I do. I just hate the paint job.

Do yourself a favor, and get some PST cylinders.

 

[D-Diver]

I'm slow to equalize,my best time to about 45 feet is 5 mins.
After which I'm in pretty good shape. I'm 6'1/2 " I am considering the PST E120 for this reason as my descent time can be real slow, leaving me little time on the bottom ...how am I doin so far? I'm not absorbing much nitro on the way down so how about it? Secondly, Can U have the galvanize painted with automotive paint and clear coat?....I really don't care for sludge grey. I need a little fashion.. Thanks 4 any help U can give.

D-Diver,OW

First of all, you should be getting cylinders that fit the style of diving you are doing. Using E8-130's for reef dives, or shore dives in rec depths is overkill. Not to mention lugging around all that extra gas and weight. I have two sets of OMS 112's doubles, and a couple of E7-100's from PST, and Faber Hp-80's. I choose which tanks to use for the dive I am doing. That being said, I wont be buying anymore OMS cylinders. My next cylinder purchases will be Pressed Steel. I have dinged my tanks, rubbed off paint, and the bands have taken chunks of paint off of the cylinders, right down to bare metal. Every year that I take them apart for visual, same thing happens. So, I have to repaint them, get rid of the rust, and basically bring them back to life for use in salt water. I like the cylinders, they have a good height, good weight, good buoyancy characteristics, and plenty of gas for the dives that I do. I just hate the paint job.

Do yourself a favor, and get some PST cylinders.

 

[drbill]

I prefer using HP 120-130's (last tank a PST HP-120) for a very simple reason. It costs no more to fill them than to fill an 80. I get two good dives (60 min or more) out of the 120's, so my air costs are about half that if I used an 80. Given the number of dives I do in a year, this adds up and pays for the extra cost of the larger capacity tank.

I have tried swimming my HP-120 up from 100+ feet with BCD evacuated as much as possible. I guess I've got strong legs because it wasn't a problem. Even if my tank valve failed (as has happened when debris clogged the tube), I have my pony to allow me to surface safely.

Dr. Bill