Want to purchase a tank

[jepuskar]

I want to purchase a tank for my girlfriend and I (2 tanks total for all you smart arses out there) and would like some help. We are just starting out and will have our C Cards very soon. We have already purchased all the other equipment and just want the freedom of having our own tanks.

Most of our diving will be done in freshwater, but we will do saltwater dives as much as possible.

What are some of the criteria I should be looking at when purchasing a tank?

I found a Aluminum tank that is nuetrally buoyant at the end of the dive and holds 80cu and is around -4/5 lbs at start.

The price difference between steel/aluminum is irrelevant to me and will not be a consideration in my purchase. I am more concerned about bouyancy characteristics and the amount of air it can hold. DIN is not doable!

Hope this helps if you choose to respond.

Jason

 

[large_diver]

Jason -- here is a thread that will get you started on this. I guess it all depands on HOW and WHERE you dive. If cold water with thick exposure protection...you may want to consider steel to help get weight off your belt. Then you need to look into high pressure (HP) vs. low pressure (LP) steel. Buoyancy characteristics can vary by mfr. as well, so look at this closely.

If in warmer water, AL is probably the way to go.......don't want too much non-ditchable weight in the form of a tank.

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6578&perpage=15&display=&pagenumber=2

Hope this helps.

-Chris

 

[MikeFerrara]

Why is din not doable?

 

[jepuskar]

Well, I just purchased all my equipment last week and my first stage is a yoke setup. Besides, isnt DIN used for HP tanks? above 3000 or 3500psi? I don't see a need to use a DIN right now as LP should suit us just fine. Agree?

 

[boomx5]

http://www.tanksforsale.co.uk :tease:

 

[nickjb]

boomx5 once bubbled...
http://www.tanksforsale.co.uk :tease:

LOL

Seriously, If you are buying new then it is worth getting tanks (scuba) that are DIN with a screw in yoke centre. It should be the same price and might save you some problems in the future

 

[large_diver]

Most regs can be converted to DIN....

You can use DIN on wither HP or LP.......on LP DIN is not required, but offers a more secure connection

 

[SDAnderson]

If you haven't taken delivery on the regulators, I'd stop for a minute and maybe rethink a few things.

First, it's my recommendation that new divers not rush into buying gear. Frankly, it's hard to know enough to make an informed decision and typically newbies end up spending a fair amount of $ on equipment that they end up not being in love with. It's a good idea to own your own equipment, but rent for awhile until you've had a chance to get out into the real world (and away from the LDS) and see what you like/don't like and what some other divers are doing.

That said, my version of the right stuff:

Tanks: Go with LP steel tanks, at least initially.

• You can use the weight diving in our neck of the woods.
• They help with your bouyancy - slightly negative when empty.
• They help with your trim - better weight distribution.
• They'll last forever if treated well.
• They come in a variety of sizes to suit your particular needs/situation.

My clutch includes 104's and 120's, more conventional sizes are available as well. The 120's are monsters, but they can replace two AL80's or doubles on many dives. The 104's will give me bottom time galore on a double-dip boat ride. PST's come EAN ready from the factory.

Valves: Go with LP DIN H valves.

• They are more secure.
• They give you redundant valves - a good thing.
• They give you redundant first stages - a good thing.
• Get them with the yoke donuts - you'll be able to instantly convert them for yoke regulators.

OMS makes a good EAN ready set, so do some others. If you want to get real finicky, get the soft knobs, too.

Regulators: Get regulators with HP DIN mounts.

• They're more secure and reliable.
• They can be used on LP DIN valves, too.
• Most have a yoke converter available that works well. Important for trips to warm water dive locations.

This is something of a "money is not an object" list, but it's also what experience has shown to be where many long-timers end up. Welcome to diving in Chicago. Hope to see you on the lake soon!

Steven

 

[jepuskar]

Thanks for the suggestions and hints, but we already purchased all of our gear. Fortunately, we are very happy with our setup and are very comfortable with all of our equipment.

Also, thanks for the tank buying suggestions.

Jason