Thinking of buying (steel) tanks

[rjack321]

We popsicle our friends. Especially the Wetties. It starts with diving slower, and therefore divinb longer. So many of them over the past 18 months have gone dry.

Once dry, they are more comfy for these long dives, and want more longness. So many of them now own 130's.

Many of us now own dry gloves now, too. When you're doing these long, slow dives in the big steel tanks in your drysuits, being comfy is important - I mean comfy all over. A few fall dives here with blocky hands and more of my SoCal buddies who have moved to 130s and drysuits will be in Dry Gloves, too.

Its like anything else - many of them believed diving a drysuit would be too constrictive. That diving a big tank was too tough. And many still believe they have better dexerity in 5mm Neoprene gloves over dry gloves. Oh well. One diver at a time, as we say.

There is maybe one dive I can see not using the 130 for in SoCal - its called Malaga cove. Max depth is like 27 feet, and the entrance is over what we call the "pumpkin patch"... an expance of shin-deep big round rocks. Makes for an interesting entry. Its supposed to be a great dive "when its good...." which for me, has been never.

Like OCal.

One day, maybe.

---
Ken

I don't even know anyone in a wetsuit! I've got a 200 gm undie, vest, long underwear, wool socks, dry gloves, pretty much the works.

Up here in Seattle its easy to get 48-49F temps for a couple months. That's when I'm really cold. The 12mm hood helps a ton, but the SIs are not really a time to warm up. Not much sun and what there is pretty danged low on the horizon.

Summertime, our max surface temps are usually around 55F. We never get into the 60s.

Since I've had a cervical disk removed, the "more gas is always better" concept has fallen by the wayside. I bring the right tank for the dive, from an hp80 through double 100s. I have a variety and some definately get more use than others, but I'm not getting rid of any. In fact, I'm looking for more AL80 stages in lieu of getting bigger doubles.

 

[Mo2vation]

I don't even know anyone in a wetsuit! I've got a 200 gm undie, vest, long underwear, wool socks, dry gloves, pretty much the works.

Up here in Seattle its easy to get 48-49F temps for a couple months. That's when I'm really cold. The 12mm hood helps a ton, but the SIs are not really a time to warm up. Not much sun and what there is pretty danged low on the horizon.

Summertime, our max surface temps are usually around 55F. We never get into the 60s.

Since I've had a cervical disk removed, the "more gas is always better" concept has fallen by the wayside. I bring the right tank for the dive, from an hp80 through double 100s. I have a variety and some definately get more use than others, but I'm not getting rid of any. In fact, I'm looking for more AL80 stages in lieu of getting bigger doubles.

I get the back thing - you may not want to carry all that weight about. For now, and by His amazing grace, I'm fit and very strong.

Tonight for example - I have on double 85's, a 2 pound tail weight and a SS plate, 21 Watt HID. Rig weighed easily 95 pounds. Probably closer to 98 pounds. Then there is the drysuit, turtle fins, etc, etc...

We had 2+ feet of surf with the occasional 3+. First time going in at the lull - rogue wave. Rare, but happens. I got smacked down - right in the face and chest as I was standing in about thigh deep water I couldn't get "under" it. So I back out (moon walking) to the shore and wait.

I go in again - buddy and I get through. We kick out and drop. We're in the dive for like 7 minutes and something comes up - we need to go back. So now I'm getting OUT through this mess with FULL double 85's (beats getting out with double 104's, I guess!) I get out without incident. A complete walk out. Up the shore to the bench.

10 minutes later, we re-group. Now I'm going back IN again.... OY. Better this time, and we get through the rising surf the first time. Others on the shore got turned back. You gotta be decisive, commit and be quick about it.

We do a short 42 minute dive (we're hungry, and dinner is calling!) So now I gotta get these things out through the surf again (with about 1300 PSI.) No biggie. Kenny strong like ox.

We come up, and start to kick in. Its looking rough, but the sets are wide. I kick in, and the retreating tide exposes a shelf... I get to the shelf right as a 3 footer comes in. I look back (I won't have my back to surf) and I get smacked right in the grill. I mean pounded. Full on Daffy Duck Mask (duck bill) spinner. I thrust myself to my feet in the retreating surf (as I prepare for another biggie) and I run up the shore. (fins are off and in hands) I get out with mask sideways and reg in mouth - and its all good. But I'm puffin' like a mofo. I didin't get rolled ("sand - sky - sand - sky") but I did get pushed to my knees.

I'm saying all this because I believe a very, very important element of diving these big steel tanks (like the 130's... or even the little double 85's) is strength and fitness. I work very hard on strength training and do 30 to 40 minutes of mad cardio almost daily. It pays dividends. There is simply no way many of the divers I see around here could take a set of doubles in and out of the surf we had tonight twice in an hour.

That's not a "yeah Ken" thing. Its a reality check. You gotta be able to keep your head together when its foam and sand all around you, while you manage the load, the task load and the conditions if you're going to be diving doubles - or a big single steel tank.

They're heavy. They're not for everyone. But they are so worth it. It will change your diving.

---
Ken

 

[Rafael]

Hey Raf, I think the temps are about the same as ours. I'll find out for sure in a week!

What are you diving Raf? - are those HP130's or 119's you have. I def liked the feel, whatever it was...

Hi, John, how are you?, i dive steel 120's HP, and the more i use them the more i love them, as you know i do my dives from a boat.

They are ok for Shore dives if you can park your car close to the site, but i wouldn't recomend this tanks if you need to walk long distances with them. Well i'm sure is some very strong people out there who are in great shape, but if you are 5' 8'' 190 pounds "like me" gets hard, is possible i done it, and the dives were great, but i like boat diving the most anyway.

 

[LobstaMan]

I dive steel 72s for shallow shore dives and PST E7-100s for the deeper shore dives and boat diving. Even w/ Nitrox, you'll most likely run out of time(or get chilly) before you run our of a gas using the 100s. Never owned ALs and hardly ever dive them unless I fly and dive. I went through the same thought process you are going through and had the same questions. I eventually bought a E7-100 used and one new to make an exact pair. No matter what you decide on, I'd strongly recommend that you buy two tanks that are identical(same mfger, size, type, etc.).

LobstaMan

 

[Cecil]

Well here's another opinion, I love my steel 72's more than enough air for a hour + dive, especially shallow New England shore dives. Now that I have a dry suit I can actually use most of the tank without getting cold. I still bring back 500 #'s after an hour dive.

Twelve pounds less to carry (vs. an Al 80) over the rocks, surf and kelp.

 

[Rainer]

I think the 72s are great for shore dives, but they really suck on the deeper boat dives off of Gloucester/Rockport. Lobstaman, why the recommendation to get two tanks of the same size? I'm curious what people think of the idea of getting one 100 and one 119. For days where I'd only be doing one shore dive, the 100 would be a lot better than the 119, and the 119 offers a lot more BT for the deeper stuff (esp on Nitrox). If/when I go to doubles, I could then just buy one more tank. Anyone else using the 100s or 119s and have any opinions about pros/cons?

 

[LobstaMan]

Answer--you don't have to change your configuration or weight pouches/belt from dive 1 to dive 2. The less I have to think/worry about the better. Also, if you do decide to double them up, you can't(or shouldn't) double up two different size/type cylinders. I don't know much about doubles, but I've never seen anyone with a LP steel and an HP steel doubled up or a 119 & a 100. They've always been identical cylinders.

I guess if you don't mind tinkering/changing your weighting during your SI and you have no thoughts of doubling, then I guess two different tanks wouldn't be a big deal. Besides, I'm anal and everything has to match! I freak out each time I look into my gear bag and see that my back-up light(yellow) doesn't match my primary one(green)! Ugh!

LobstaMan

 

[paulthenurse]

Besides, I'm anal and everything has to match! I freak out each time I look into my gear bag and see that my back-up light(yellow) doesn't match my primary one(green)! Ugh!

LobstaMan

I'm not. I'll take one or the other off your hands for you. Never can have enought stuff. Even if its different colors.
Paul