Do you use steel or aluminum scuba tanks?

Question

Steel or aluminum scuba tanks? Why do you like one over the other?

Answer 1

Great question

Steel and Aluminum tank work equally well.  But there are some important considerations.

Aluminum tank are lighter, therefore easier to move on land and boat.  Aluminum is a softer metal so the tanks are more easily damaged (extremely rare).

Steel tanks are heavier.  Steel tanks are more susceptible to rust/corrosion.  Steel tanks can be filled with more air.  For example, most people dive with Aluminum 80’s.  But dive shops will also offer you a steel tank that is 100 or 120.  They are a beast to handle on the boat, but offer significantly more dive time.

Here’s the big one to remember.  Aluminum tanks are positively buoyant-they float.  So you need more weight for your whole dive to compensate for the end of the dive when you tank is empty.  Steel tanks are negatively buoyant-they sink.  So you need to carry less weight on the dive and you don’t have to worry about not have enough weight at the end.

Answer 2

I personally have never been offered a choice when diving.  I think all the scuba shops I've visited have used aluminum tanks.  I suspect they use them because they are the cheaper of the two when you consider initial price and maintenance.  I don't have my own boat or dive regularly enough to own a tank, but if I ever get my own tank, I would probably buy a steel tank.  My understanding is that they are lighter and more durable.  You also apparently don't have to use as much weight because the steel tanks do not become positively buoyant like the aluminum ones do as they have less air in them.

Comments

I literally don't need any added weight when I dive with steel (unless I'm wearing more than a 3mm wetsuit)

Answer 3

I like aluminum. No rust issues. They are easier to handle when side mount diving. I add 5 lbs to my weight check to account for weight of air in the tank at the end of the dive, If I dont my safety stop is more difficult.

Answer 4

Both, depending on the Dive and how much the Dive boats compressor can pump too. If the compressor only pumps to 2200 then your better off with steel.

Answer 5

I like and use steel HP100. It would also depend on location, suit or no suit and bouyancy

Answer 6

I typically use aluminum 80s and my husband tries to use steel when he can, if we do this, we are pretty close in air consumption by the time we need to ascend. If we are both on alum 80s then I gotta go up when he does, even if i still have 1500psi left (ugh) - but I'm a good buddy :)

I have used steel once and loved it because I didn't need to carry any weight, but at the same time... what would I ditch if I needed too lol

Answer 7

I use both, pending on dive profile,  considering also your buddies setup.

Answer 8

I use aluminum but steel definitely have a place in the sport.

Answer 9

I like steel because I can get 100’s.