One of the last piece of equipment divers would buy to complete their gear is a scuba tank.

 

ADVANTAGES

The main advantage of having a full tank of your own is that you can plan a dive with greater comfort and flexibility, avoiding enough… logistics. Such as going to a diving center to rent a tank and then return it within a reasonable amount of time. You fill it whenever you can, you store it in your place and whenever a diving opportunity presents itself you are ready to go!

The other advantage is financial, since the cost of filling a tank is clearly less than renting one and a diver with 40-50 dives a year can recoup the cost.

 

ALUMINUM OR STEEL

In Greece, the majority of tanks used for recreational diving are made of steel. One of the main reasons for the dominance of steel is their buoyancy. An aluminum tank has more buoyancy than a steel one and for this reason you will need about 2 kg in extra weights. In addition, aluminum tanks are more prone to wear and tear. On the other hand, aluminum tanks are harder to rust; however a properly maintained and painted steel tank can last for over 50 years.

 

CAPACITY

The main dilemma that the prospective buyer is faced with is the capacity of their tank. The most popular sizes are 12, 15 and 18 liters and this decision should not be made in a hurry. Divers should buy the tank they need. An 18 liter tank may make you feel safer with its extra capacity, but it adds more weight and a difficult-to-manage volume to your back, which will create extra difficulties during your dive.

As a rule, there are very few divers that will actually need an 18 liter tank, since usually the size of the tank is proportional to the size and weight of the diver. It is extremely difficult for a 50 kg woman to need a 15 liter tank, but you can calculate all this after diving.

 

DOES A BEGINNER NEED A TANK?

The quick answer is no. When divers are new to the water and have not perfected their buoyancy they cannot calculate their air consumption well and they cannot be sure of their needs. Therefore, when they feel that they have reached a good level of buoyancy and familiarity with their equipment then it is the most appropriate time to decide on a tank depending on their needs.

 

SIMPLE MATH

A 12 liter tank filled to 200 bar holds 2.400 liters of air, a 15 liter 3.000 and an 18 liter 3.600. If a diver uses a 15 liter tank and comes out with 80 bar after a relatively deep dive, he/she has consumed 1.800 liters of air, that is, he/she can make the same dive with a 12 liter tank and have at least 50 bar upon exiting, not counting he/she will be carrying less weight on their back.

Buying a tank, therefore, is according to our view, an important piece of equipment that offers great flexibility, especially for active divers, but it does not need to be done in a hurry and without taking into account the above factors.

Happy shopping!

You can check our complete equipment guide, here!