When to buy tanks?

[Ben Prusinski]

I try to dive locally in Monterey at least once a month. When should I buy my own tanks rather then rent them?

 

[grantwiscour]

I would say the first time that you want to dive and the rental shops are closed. We bought tanks when we wanted to dive a lake in Central Texas but no shops were close enough to rent gear.

 

[electrix]

My LDS was offering 10 free fills with Al 80 tank purchase thats when I bought my tanks. Actually I think it was 15 fills worked out to be the same price as the tank.

 

[eelnoraa]

If you own all other dive gears already, so tank is the only thing you need to rent if you go diving, then it is the time to consider buying your own.

 

[t-mac]

I think you are close to justifying it. I haven't confirmed the math, but my instructor says if you do 10-15 local dives per year, factoring tank cost, annual viz inspection and 5 year hydro, you've crossed that line. I think if you get the 10-15 free air fills for purchasing like electrix did, I would jump at something like that -- I might do it now while I'm only doing half a dozen local dives a year!

 

[Ben Prusinski]

Cool thanks for the tips. Well my local dive shop has a good sale next weekend where if you buy 10 air fill cards they throw in a free tank so thats a winner for me.
Now need to get a drysuit so I don't freeze my butt off in Monterey as it is chilly! Need to figure out way to fit tanks in my small car thats the next challenge!

 

[rhwestfall]

for me, economically, it isn't justifiable... however, logistics say "yes". Shops here have "stupid" hours, as well as the pain in the neck of getting the tanks back to them on time (again, see above comment on stupid hours of operation) to avoid charges. Plus, when someone calls Sunday at 4:00 pm and says "lets dive", you are only a packing job away from being ready.....

Those "amazing deals" have resulted in me owing 10 regular tanks + two ponies. Around here, visuals are $20 (full robbery), and hydro is $40 (worse robbery). You do the math..... the cost piles up pretty badly.

 

[Ben Prusinski]

Well if the shop gives you a free tank with air fill card purchase thats a no-brainer if you plan to dive a lot on weekends as you need to rent a tank and pay for the fill anyways. The freedom to load the car with gear and dive is nice. Now steel tanks are EXPENSIVE compared to aluminum but from what I've read so far they have easier to deal with buoyancy and require the diver to use less weight versus aluminum tanks.

 

[boulderjohn]

Now steel tanks are EXPENSIVE compared to aluminum but from what I've read so far they have easier to deal with buoyancy and require the diver to use less weight versus aluminum tanks.

That is true. In addition, you can get bigger volume steel tanks than aluminum, assuming that additional bottom time is important to you.

 

[lowviz]

If you own all other dive gears already, so tank is the only thing you need to rent if you go diving, then it is the time to consider buying your own.

That was exactly my assessment, never looked back or felt badly about it...