Super steel tanks

[Meldives]

Doe anyone know if it still possible to get 'super steel' tanks and if so where from? I used to have a couple of mannesmann dumpy tanks and with only had to use 6kg of weigh with my drysuit and undergarments. I unfortunately sold them when I moved to Ireland and diving on the weekend for the first time since I moved here, using fabers I needed 13kgs!

I'm never going to be diving twins so that's not an issue with the actual weight of the tanks.

Thanks,
Mel

[Sipadan]

no idea, but are 300 bar cylinders an option?

[lostdiver]

First off, if it was your first dive for a while, for some unbeknown reason probably a little bit of stress everyone needs a bit more weight to get down.

Then what kit are you using, a S/S Back Plate will shed a lot of that weight if you haven't got one already. Neoprene drysuits take a lot to sink so if you have a neoprene suit maybe sell it and swap it for a cordura drysuit.

Last comment of all if you haven't done much diving you will find over time and with natural progression you will use less, if you need weight to sink, as long as you aren't using too much then thats what you have to take.

Oh and just thought try a 15ltr tank will help shed a few more kilos.... Hope that helps

[lostdiver]

Sorry completely went off the subject, rambled and forgot my point. Beauchat do a heavier steel tank which is a french company so even if they don't sell them in Ireland possible to get sailed over at a price.....

[Meldives]

Thanks for the suggestions. I haven't done a lot of diving since October 2007 due to moving (only about 10 dives) but have around 350 all up so I'm comfortable in the water. My drysuit is membrane so that's not an issue. I've got an ally backplate, so I could look at getting a SS one.

I don't think I want a 15L tank as from my memory those things are HUGE. Plus my air consumption is pretty good so I don't need a tank that big. I don't know much about 300bar tanks so extra info would be good.

Thanks,
Mel

[lostdiver]

using a 300bar cylinder will work as long as you have din 300bar fitting and the fill station near you does for filling it. They are a lot heavier though so should take some weight off.

Erm the ally BP swapped for S/S is a good swap, and would say that my gf used a 15ltr and she is pretty small, it worked fine for her.

Even if you don't need the extra gas its always good and the added weight is quite a lot. Does anyone know how much more negative a 15 is compare to a 12?

[Sipadan]

there are no other issues with 300 bar as long as your regs fit (i.e. NOT A-clamp and they are 7 thread DIN).

you may also want to carry a 232 to 300 bar adaptor if your filling stations don't have one.

you don't have to have 300 bar fills just because you have 300 bar cylinders. not a lot of people seem to catch on to that. i have been criticised for having 300 bar cylinders as getting a true 300 bar fill is a rarity. in reality, i have them for the same reasons as you, i want the extra weight

[scubacoach]

I used to use the Mannesman tank where I used to work had excellent with my Avon suit and light undersuit during the summer no weights required.
Believe the company that made them was bought by the controlling company of Mares so the firm I used to work for stopped getting them.
They were expensive though and maybe that is why they are not available.

[lostdiver]

Originally Posted by scubacoach

I used to use the Mannesman tank where I used to work had excellent with my Avon suit and light undersuit during the summer no weights required.
Believe the company that made them was bought by the controlling company of Mares so the firm I used to work for stopped getting them.
They were expensive though and maybe that is why they are not available.

The company that bought Mares is Head the tennis racket make.... Hope that helps