Steel deco bottle in warm water????

[Hoosier]

Question to warm water divers.


When you are diving in a wetsuit (3 or 5 mm) and AL80 double with the deco diving profile, those steel tanks below are too much heavy. Is there any experience diver with a steel deco bottle and wet suit.

Worthington X-30 3130+10% 30 5.4 Galv 14.75 14.9 -3.9 -6.0
Worthington X-40 3130+10% 40 5.4 Galv 18.75 18.1 -3.3 -6.3

My diving is mostly dry suit diving in cold water. So, please let me know your expertise in warm water...

Thanks in advance,

 

[texdiveguy]

IMO--- I have one steel 72 stage/deco bottle....have dove her both wet-dry....great balance....you will hear tons of folks swearing it is 'to heavy' and bad trim....BULL....I really think those divers have just been relaying what they hear--lol....no issues using with wet suits. Steel slung bottle work best for an O2 deco or stage bottle use....they also trail fine off your kit. I have and use Al deco bottles also.

 

[Hoosier]

Thanks for you input...

I knew that you would post because we discussed the steel tank doco bottle before... LOL~~
And, I remember you are one of the strong supporters on the steel deco bottle. I grabbed two 72CF tanks since then.. But, I have used 72cf only for a dry suit so far..

One more question. Moreover, do you think, is there any pros to use a steel deco bottle with AL80s and wet suit instead of an AL tank based on your experience.

My question starts from the Phil's sale on Worthington tank, 30cf and 40cf.

 

[Meng_Tze]

You would have to look at two things here.

First off how do they work in the entire rig and can you create a balanced rig with the steel deco/stage bottle(s) and the BG and all the other gear.

Secondly, if you do loose them (intentionally/unintentionally), will you be able to finish the dive safely (have enough BG, able to have a balanced rig- see above).

There is no straight answer for this. Look at the problem from both a gas management as well as a weight standpoint. Both standpoints should include keeping as well as loosing the bottles completely.

 

[texdiveguy]

Thanks for you input...

But, I have used 72cf only for a dry suit so far..

One more question. Moreover, do you think, is there any pros to use a steel deco bottle with AL80s and wet suit instead of an AL tank based on your experience.

Alright...glad you got 2 steel 72s---hope you like them with your dry diving.....!

I don't dive Al doubles...only steel.....I have no experc. with Al doubles and the steel deco bottles so I would only be speculating.

 

[Hoosier]

You would have to look at two things here.

First off how do they work in the entire rig and can you create a balanced rig with the steel deco/stage bottle(s) and the BG and all the other gear.

Secondly, if you do loose them (intentionally/unintentionally), will you be able to finish the dive safely (have enough BG, able to have a balanced rig- see above).

There is no straight answer for this. Look at the problem from both a gas management as well as a weight standpoint. Both standpoints should include keeping as well as loosing the bottles completely.

Great points.. That's exactly what I want to hear from others who have some experiences in warm water.

 

[BarryNL]

You would have to look at two things here.

First off how do they work in the entire rig and can you create a balanced rig with the steel deco/stage bottle(s) and the BG and all the other gear.

Secondly, if you do loose them (intentionally/unintentionally), will you be able to finish the dive safely (have enough BG, able to have a balanced rig- see above).

Yep, this is crucial. You NEVER use stages as part of your weighting system. You must always be able to complete your stops even if you've lost or dumped the stages (not quite sure what you breathe there though ). This means that steel bottles with wet or dry suits is a non-issue because you always do your weighting without the stages anyway. The only issue is that you might need more lift capacity in your wing with a thin wetsuit to compensate for the negative stages.

Also, you can get some thin walled steels that are barely negative anyway.

 

[karstdvr]

IMO--- I have one steel 72 stage/deco bottle....have dove her both wet-dry....great balance....you will hear tons of folks swearing it is 'to heavy' and bad trim....BULL....I really think those divers have just been relaying what they hear--lol....no issues using with wet suits. Steel slung bottle work best for an O2 deco or stage bottle use....they also trail fine off your kit. I have and use Al deco bottles also.

I have to agree. I have used everything as a deco tank (alE,al40,st46,st63,st72,al80,st95). If it is rigged correctly I've never experienced a problem.

 

[fweber]

IMO--- I have one steel 72 stage/deco bottle....have dove her both wet-dry....great balance....you will hear tons of folks swearing it is 'to heavy' and bad trim....BULL....I really think those divers have just been relaying what they hear--lol....no issues using with wet suits. Steel slung bottle work best for an O2 deco or stage bottle use....they also trail fine off your kit. I have and use Al deco bottles also.

I have to agree. I have used everything as a deco tank (alE,al40,st46,st63,st72,al80,st95). If it is rigged correctly I've never experienced a problem.

O.K. Not to start an arguement. But, from our direct experience diving wet(3-5mm) in warm water with al40, al50, al63, st72 and al80 as deco/stage cylinders, two out of three in our team experience significant head down trim when carrying the st72 O2 bottle. This seems to correct itself when replaced by an aluminum cylinder. Don't know why, not going to worry about why too much, just a real world observation. Mind you this isn't a big deal and if swimming the effect is diminished. If I were diving cave I wouldn't let it stop me from carrying a 72 to drop at 6m. But, if you're carrying all your cylinders as we are, the al cylinders may in fact change your trim slightly.

 

[Meng_Tze]

...even if you've lost or dumped the stages (not quite sure what you breathe there though )....

Backgas, share gas, other deco bottle