Scuba Tanks

Scuba Tank at Divers Direct

Let Divers Direct help you choose the correct size on your scuba tank. Our scuba tanks selection has a variety of sizes and materials for you to choose from.

SCUBA stands for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. In order to breathe underwater you will need the assistance of a scuba tank. Today's dive tanks come in many different materials and sizes.

Dive cylinders are made from either Steel or Aluminum materials. Steel tanks are offered in High Pressure or Low Pressure Tanks. High Pressure steel tanks allow up to 3442 psi to be pumped into a cylinder while low pressure steel tanks can fill up to 2640 psi. Steel tanks weigh more due to the material in which it was made requiring less weight to be used in a weight belt. This is a benefit for some divers. Divers Direct carries 4 sizes in Blue Steel tanks. Our sizes are 80 cubic foot, 100 cubic foot, 117 cubic foot, and a 133 cubic foot cylinder. The 117 or 133 cubic foot steel tank would be recommended for divers who are in the technical range and do very deep diving. If you are a recreational diver these tanks may be too heavy. An 80 cubic foot cylinder is the most often purchased steel tank. It's not too heavy but will allow you to go through your air a lot more.

Standard psi in an aluminum cylinder is 3000. There are 2 different 80 cubic foot tanks that we carry. There is the regular 80 cubic foot tank (sku 475) which holds the standard 3000 psi. The other 80 cubic foot cylinder is a Neutrally Buoyant Tank which allows for an extra 300 psi for a total of 3300 psi in this tank. As you guessed, this tank is also neutrally buoyant in the water. 80 cubic foot tanks are the most popular among recreational divers. They are the most commonly found tanks on the water. Divers Direct also carries the 40 cu ft, 50 cu ft, 63 cu ft, and a 100 cu ft. There is a size for everyone.

If you are technical diver or if you are just wanting that extra piece of mind, then a pony bottle is for you. Pony tanks are small cylinders that are used primarily as a back-up air source. The main difference between a pony tank and a spare air source is the air capacity. You will be able to get more air out of a pony tank. They will allow you to make your safety stops as necessary without running out of air. Pony tanks come in 6 cu ft, 13 cu ft, 19 cu ft, and 30 cu ft sizes.

When purchasing tanks, evaluate how quickly you go through your air in your cylinder, the frequency of diving you are planning to do and the type of diving you will be doing. There is no "one-size-fits-all" cylinder out there in the market. If you are in doubt and need assistance our trained sales staff is here to help you. Please contact our professional sales staff toll free 1-800-DIVE-USA or through e-mail at Divers Direct Contact Page.

Once you have chosen your cylinder, care and maintenance is the most important thing when owning a tank. Care and maintenance will determine how long your dive cylinder will last not whether you bought a steel cylinder or an aluminum cylinder. It is very important to treat all tanks the same. The most important thing to remember is to keep at least 200 - 300 psi in your cylinder at all times. Never drain your tank completely. This will allow moisture to enter your cylinder allowing rust and corrosion to take place as well as creating pitting in the tank which is grounds for condemning it. In this case you will end up having to get a new cylinder. Store your scuba tank in a cool dry place. Avoid rough handling that will cause dents, gouges or nicks in the tank. This will also invite corrosion of the metal and can weaken the cylinder. It is important to get a Visual Inspection (also known as a VIP) on your cylinder at least once a year by a certified VIP technician. They will check for pitting, neck cracks, thread cracks, and many other things to prevent your cylinder from failing on you during a dive. Every 5 years your cylinder will require a hydro-static testing. Keep up with the maintenance on your gear and it will keep you diving. Divers Direct has many certified scuba tank technicians on hand. Ask them about what processes your cylinder goes through during a hydro-static test and a visual inspection. The more you know about your gear the better.

Please note: all dive cylinders that Divers Direct carry in their stores are already nitrox compatible. Due to shipping restrictions all cylinders shipped via air will not include the air fill. All cylinders being shipped via ground transportation will only have 100 psi in order to keep the Visual Inspection current. If you are planning on purchasing in one of our stores please bring your certification card. All purchases in stores will require your certification card up front before a visual inspection or a fill will be done. No exceptions.

Cylinder selection can be summed up as follows: pick a cylinder that is light enough for you to carry and large enough to supply air for an ascent and safety stop from your planned diving depth.

For shallow reef diving, you may require only a Luxfer Aluminum Cylinder 63 cu ft or Luxfer Aluminum Cylinder 50 cu ft . For deeper diving you'll want to consider our most popular size - the standard Luxfer Aluminum Cylinder 80 cu ft . It can easily support an average sport diver on a 130 foot dive in moderate currents and weighs only 31 pounds. If weight is no concern and your air consumption is higher, choose the 100 cu ft. model.

For people with smaller frames, the Luxfer Aluminum Cylinder 50 cu ft and Luxfer Aluminum Cylinder 63 cu ft are the best bet. Tanks 40 cu ft. and less are generally known as Pony Tanks. For years, technical divers have recognized the added safety of redundant air supplies. Now, recreational divers are following suit by using Pony Tanks for wall and wreck dives.