STEELS for stages?

[Captain Deco]

Your breathing will get better (assuming that you are an air hog because you are newish to the sport - if not then no offence intended).

If you aren't new, then there are loads of tips and tricks and exercises you can do to improve your air consumption.

12L stages would not be a good thing though. I think that to offset the ginormous weight of them you would be wasting alot of air to suspend the things, not to mention the effort needed to propel yourself. That said, you can't go wrong by having a go. 2x 7L will be more than adequate for deco stages though. Like someone said - any more than that and you are heading into deep exploration territory.

[Mark Chase]

Go for steel 10s or Ali 80s.

I am not so keen on the Ali80s as they float like bugger when empty and I used to empty my 10s on a regular basis doing 120 180min dives. Thats even with my 10ish SAC for deco.


Tens are negative but if your running two nitrox mix and staging left right then thats fine, the wing will sorrt it. If you add a third travel mix, go ali or it will put you off balance.

HTH

Mark

[adamaldred]

I alreasy have an ali 7 and will prolly be getting another in baout a month. I do breath a crap load though and will be doing trimix next year so wanted to see what others thought

[Digger]

Sounds like a sensible option. I have seen ally 7 and AL80 work, but it really depends on the diving you want to do. Right now I'd suggest another ally 7 to go with the one you have. 2 7s should be fine for 60m trimix dives with sensible bottom times. The bigger tanks are a lot more weight and hefty on the boat, and not worth the gain unless you're going to use the gas. But then if you want to be doing 60-100m dives after a few months/years then there's no point getting small tins if you're planning on outgrowing them. I would say that I know a lot of divers who are doing those dives regularly, and they still have a lot of use for ally 7s, if nothing else because by then you will most likely have 5 or 6 stages anyway. Some larger than others. Start small and build up.

Digs.

[Bardo]

Originally Posted by adamaldred

I alreasy have an ali 7 and will prolly be getting another in baout a month. I do breath a crap load though and will be doing trimix next year so wanted to see what others thought

Personally I'd either turn the two 12 litre steels into a second twinset (useful for boat diving when you want to do a second dive) or sell 'em on and get yourself a couple of AL80s...

[Mal Bridgeman]

Originally Posted by nigelH

I have a pair of alis but they don't hang nicely and want to float up under my arms.

For some, having them float up under the arms *is* "hang nicely"

[Steve S]

Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman

For some, having them float up under the arms *is* "hang nicely"

But that's annoying for us BSAC types

Safe diving,
Steve

[Paul Oliver]

Originally Posted by Steve S

But that's annoying for us BSAC types

Safe diving,
Steve

Definitely

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by Moz

If they are the older type then would you consider..............................

Then I wouldn't have a spare.
They are probably a much older type.

Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman

For some, having them float up under the arms *is* "hang nicely"

That's OK. You'll understand one day.

[Mark Chase]

Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman

For some, having them float up under the arms *is* "hang nicely"

Not on a CCR they get in the way of the valves.

No argument the Ali 80s with only 160bar in them are the ideal choice if you only need 100bar of gas (ie less than what you get in a 7). If however you plan on filling them to 220bar and running them down below 50bar, then id advise against them. Two empty 80s are a right handful. Steel 10s just float neutral when empty.

Full the 10s are bloody heavy but if its nitrox on left right thats fine. If your stages left they are a bas#ard and id suggest unusable. Trimix in one Nitrox in the other they are annoying.

I dive a steel 10 of 18/45 and an Ali80 of 50% in a left right config. That trims out well and at least if i empty the 80 I only have one positive tank to handle.

ATB

Mark