When to buy tanks?

[thomasj1107]

At what point/frequency of diving is buying tanks financially beneficial when considering the maintenance/upkeep of having your own vs just renting?

 

[Wibble]

Its normally when you may start to dive elsewhere other than the local dive shop. Or the hire fees are a bit too much.

But most of us buy them because we want to


Warning: cylinders breed like bunnies. Start with one and end up with twenty odd - some in for test, some on the table, some too small to show...

 

[Lorenzoid]

There is also a convenience factor. Some people like to have their own tanks so they are always ready to dive. In addition, people have preferences for certain kinds of tanks, such as steel tanks, which are rarely available as rentals. If all you need are Al 80s for diving once a week, maybe you don't need to own tanks.

 

[Bob DBF]

I bought tanks because of the convenience, the shop was a long drive in a different direction than the ocean. I would have to rent for two days if the timing was wrong. I had to buy two so I could make two dives, distances were too far for a fill.

 

[thomasj1107]

Where do you start on what tank to buy? Brands? Etc?

 

[Marie13]

Where do you start on what tank to buy? Brands? Etc?

You have a choice of steel or aluminum. Only one manufacturer of steel tanks for US market - Faber out of Italy.

What sort of diving do you do? Warm, cold? Do you dive wet or dry?

New tank supply is rather sparse these days due to manufacturing and supply chain issues, especially transportation.

 

[inquis]

I would nail down steel vs aluminum first. Buoyancy characteristics, care/maintenance, capacity, and pressure to which your shop will fill do are all considerations.

 

[Wibble]

Where do you start on what tank to buy? Brands? Etc?

If you're in Europe it's simple. You need a steel 12 litre 232 bar cylinder to start. Buy second hand WITH A RECENT TEST. Sometimes it's just easier to buy new.

In the US of A you've a bewildering array of different cylinders that confuse the hell out of Europeans. I wouldn't know where to start, so will leave it to one of your compatriots to explain...

 

[Bob DBF]

What sort of diving do you do? Warm, cold? Do you dive wet or dry?

I dove wet in cold water and bought Al 80s because I could buy two for about the price of one steel. The weight was a pita, but I could make two dives a day that way. I got steel later. Cost tempered all my buying decisions.

 

[thomasj1107]

I will mostly be diving both coasts of/and south Florida. So mostly warm, in wet suit, but will do occasional cold water dives and eventually dry suit but I’ll cross that bridge later.