SCUBA Tank Buoyancy Full vs Empty, Steel vs Aluminum

How much weight do we need to compensate for a full vs empty Aluminum Alloy SCUBA tank such that we do not float away at the end of a dive but rather come up slowly at a safe rate of ascent, ideally making a safety stop at 20 - 15 ft for 3 minutes.
Also we look at the Steel tank and the buoyancy of the steel tank full vs empty.
#scubadiving #divetank #diverbuoyancy

[@chrisphilhower6029]

I can Vouch for the AL80 Buoyancy. When I did a Lake Cleanup I used my Aqua Lung Omni Custom BCD for the First time. Once I got there I found out Trim Pockets were Extra. Used a 7/5mm FS in 55F Water. Ok in the beginning of the dive. Got down to around 1500, Had trouble staying down. Hit about 1200, Floating with an Empty BCD. Went back to the shop 2 days later. Spoke to the Owner. Who was Surprised the Omni didn't include Trim Pockets for the $800 Cost. He sold me a set. Switched some of the Weights he sold me. I should be good now for the next Cleanup.

[@chrisphilhower6029]

I realize there are some Lessons to be had here. As I was Certified Aug 2023. Check the Gear before heading out. And to Test the Gear in a Pool. Which unfortunately I wasn't able to do. I swim at a College Pool. They may not allow me to. They do allow me to do Breatholds the length of the Pool along the floor. Max Depth 13 1/2 Feet. Roughly a 90 Foot run each time.

[@unclemilton815]

Thank you Ron, love your work mate.

[@rontiah]

My pleasure Uncle Milton.

[@houseofallena5953]

Great video, simply explained 👏🏾 👌🏾

[@oceanificinc]

Thanks :)

[@williamadams4054]

I agree with fluffyhamster! I just completed my advanced open water cert. , and the instructors did not let me use my steel tanks. Just as it was proven in the video at about 1500 psi I was starting to float and had to fight to stay a depth. When it came time to do our deep dives they did not want an uncontrolled ascent I was so overweight if I stopped swimming I sank. 100 ft down this is not a pleasant situation to be in.

[@SuperOperator4]

I use steel tanks, with a 6 pound tank weight for my back inflation bcd. Keeps me vertical on the surface.

[@billtaylor5875]

Great video, but how does she allow her octo free flow for half of the video.

[@oceanificinc]

hello Bill and I do agree with you ... we do have a reason which is not great but ... I have several videos with her diving and alternate properly secured, in this video it had a slight free flow (needed service after Covid lock down for 2 years) and rather than defer video, we hung it such that the bubbles would not take away from video content. Many thanks for your comment, stay well and she now has Octopus free flow sorted and Alternate clipped on as it should be! Thanks for catching that!

[@earlinstanford9254]

I love your experiments

[@rontiah]

Not to mention my scientific assistant ;)

[@joejeans7913]

I think you sacrifice the light weight of the aluminum anyways by using weights so that's cool I will just stick with steel.

[@rontiah]

While I do agree, i recently tried to hydro test a steel on a caribbean island and cannot get it done to DOT regulation / Standards … I love my steel tanks, but this has now become a serious problem and issue. My point simply being that whilst i prefer steel, depending on where it is used and the divers live, they may have only 5 yeas use before having to ship back to USA for hydro. Thanks for your comment joejeans.

[@desertscubachronicles3806]

Nice experiment. Your rescue diver needs to secure her octopus.

[@oceanificinc]

Thanks for your message, no argument at all on the alternate and I agree and she does also, in fact I have several videos with her diving and alternate properly secured, in this video it had a slight free flow (needed service after Covid lock down for 2 years) and rather than defer video, we hung it such that the bubbles would not take away from video content. Many thanks for your comment on our experiment and documenting same :)

[@robertwilson3250]

Great video but the free flow octopus reg is so distracting.

[@rontiah]

Def I agree with you Robert, lesson learned. Thanks for your comment, Note to self well made,

[@dredd183]

hey ron

[@rontiah]

Hey Dredd ... good to see you!

[@ahmedsamy8406]

Were they empty or full

[@rontiah]

at the start they wee full and the last one the tank was at 500psi (so empty)

[@ivoryjohnson4662]

You got anew sub

[@rontiah]

she did :)

[@fluffyhamster550]

This is why I don’t understand why 80 cubic feet Aluminium Tanks are so popular in the US and similar places! Is it because of lower price?? And they are not lighter because the material needs to be thicker, in order to cope with the pressure! So you end up with bulky annoying tanks in my opinion, and on top you need to add weight to the tanks, just to prevent them from floating in the end of the dive, which in itself is ridiculous in my opinion! Instead when doing recreational Dives for the masses, they should use 10 litres Steel tanks 230 Bar. (10x230 = 2300 litres of air) Or as in Europe and Scandinavia where they use 12 litres 230 Bar. (12x 230 Bar = 2760 litres of air. Smaller heavier tanks with higher pressure more air is the way to go, because the amount of air in an 80 cubic feet tanks is too low in my opinion, unless for a very shallow Dive.. And with steel Tanks you need far less weights, compared to the Aluminium 😉Tanks..

[@pierremathonnet9591]

tu est allé longtemps a l'école pour nous sortir cette vidéo >??? déjà, utilise le Bar, le Kilo et le centimètre, sort un peu de ton trou...

[@rontiah]

thanks for your comment, vey inspiring :) stay well!

[@OrthovisionNL]

Better take care of your octopus 🤙

[@rontiah]

We did change the seat on that second stage and its all good again, thanks for that :)

[@aliasincognito0]

This is someone that knows what's he is talking about

[@rontiah]

Thanks .... 40 years of diving and teaching probably had something to do with that :)