|
Joined on
3/3/2009
|
What are the advantages or disadvantages of steel vs aluminium scuba diving tanks? I'm looking into buying a new tank and I'm just curious about the differences in weight, price and if one will outlast the other by a significant amount of time. These things are quite an investment and I'd like to think that I am considering all of my options before I trust my life to a scuba tank.
|
|
Joined on
7/1/2009
|
I like my steel 80. And I can carry less weight because the tank has weight. If i used an aluminum, I would have to carry another 8-10 lbs of lead into the water.
|
|
Joined on
3/31/2006
|
I do not understand the comment about trusting your life to a scuba tank. Except for tank volume, there is little about a specific tank's material or design that impacts life support issues. What did you mean?
As for the material, there are a few differences between steel and aluminum tanks. Aluminum tanks are less expensive so, especially if you are going to buy several of them, the initial investment is lower. Steel tanks are smaller and more negative for a giver size than steel tanks. Steel tanks may last longer. I have some that are 30+ years old. If you care about cosmetics, hot-dipped galvanized tanks look about the same when they are thirty years old as they do when they are one year old. Aluminum tanks get beaten up more quickly, but then, a beaten up tank is the mark of an experienced diver.
|