Vis and Hydro Cost?

[CharleyT]

I am talking with my diving buddy about us getting tanks. Also talking to the wife about getting the money to buy a tank.

Looking at the numbers here is what I know:

Tank Rental (filled) $20.00 per weekend.
1 - Refill at local dive area $5.00

Total weekend cost: $25.00

New Luxfer AL80 with valve and one fill: $139.00 + tax = $150.00
2 fills per weekend: $10.00

Time to recoup 150.00 investment:
15 weekends $150.00 / (($25.00 rental + fill) - 2 fills per weekend $10.00)

Here are numbers I do not have:
Annual Fee for Visual Inspection
5-year Hydro Fee

Can someone ballpark those two figures for me, and also advise me of any cost I am missing. I own all my gear (mostly older 1996 used stuff, but still good). Just wondering if I should buy the cylinder as well (live in Dallas TX, so two freshwater diving areas close by).

Thanks!
Charley

 

[Aerodog]

Hydro - $25
Viz w/ fill = $7

Buy the tanks, in fact, buy a HP steel 80 if you are going to buy. Nothing beats having a tank ready to go at a moments notice. Buddy calls Friday night, got tank, no problem! Plus, its much easier to call a dive if you don't feel you are "wasting" a rental if you don't dive. In a sense, its the intangibles that make buying a tank worth it.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Cost of hydros and VIP's vary by area. They can range from $12.50 to $40.00 for a hydro and from $3.50 to $10.00 for a VIP.

 

[mossym]

just paid $82 for 2 hydro's, 2 visuals and 2 fills

 

[jbichsel]

Colorado Springs area -

Hydro - $15
Vis with fill - $10

Having your own tanks - priceless

I would agree to buying your own. I currently have 4 AL 80's. Wanting to move to steel, but haven't yet won the lottery.

 

[SDAnderson]

The costs for hydro's, visuals, fills (and other services) will vary by area. You should call some of your local shops and ask them what they charge - but here in Chicago an air fill is running $5 - $10, visuals are about $10 and hydro's something like $25 - $30.

Don't forget valve maintenance in your costs - especially if you're diving in salt water, you will need to periodically break down your valves, clean them and replace o-rings, seats, etc. Maybe $20 every few years. If you gunk your tanks up you'll need a cleaning, figure another $25 - $50 if that happens.

As far as I'm concerned, the biggest savings that owning my own tanks represents is the time savings - it's one less trip to the dive shop for every dive. Figure an hour for each trip and the ability to have tanks loaded and ready to go on a moments notice and I don't understand why anyone who dives more than a couple of times a year doesn't own their own.

 

[bradb21]

If you buy an air fill package from your LDS you can usually get air fills much cheaper. My package with my LDS equals $2.50 per fill.

 

[Debraw]

Arlington, Texas $45 for hydro and visuals and then free air after that

 

[Avalanche]

my LDS gives 10 free Air fills (not sure if it counts for nitrox) when you purchase one of their AL 80's. Thats a pretty good deal in my opinion. Of course the tank is $500....just kidding. Its like $130.

 

[spthomas]

In the Dallas area, I've just done a Visual ($10) with a fill ($5) total $15 for visual and fill. Fills can be found for $3 too. Hydro last year was $45, plus fill $5.

And ask about free fills with a tank. Some will do some at least.

But having your own tanks, pre-filled, is really a help. I'm in Dallas too, and at Clear Springs the wait for fills has been 1 hour + the last two weeks. Bringing two filled tanks has helped me keep diving and not waiting.