Steel has been used as a tank material since the begining of Scuba diving. Extremely durable and useful as a tank material but steel rusts. Buy a steel tank, assume that over the life of the tank it will cost you for a few tank tumbles to remove interior rust. Pay more for a steel tank than an aluminum one. Steel will last (almost) forever if you take care of it. There are steel tanks still in service today that were originally manufactured in the 50s.
Aluminium tanks came out in the 70s. It's a softer material, the walls of aluminum tanks are thicker, making them a little larger than steel tanks of the same capacity. The big advantage of aluminum is that it doesn't rust and it's less-expensive than steel. You can find aluminum tanks cheap, for $100-150.
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Steel tanks are generally heavier than aluminum tanks but hold more air at higher pressures, making them more suitable for deep dives or technical diving. Aluminum tanks are lighter and more buoyant, making them easier to transport and suitable for recreational diving. The choice between the two depends on your diving needs and preferences.
Scuba divers use weights to sink during a dive because the air tanks on their backs make them buoyant. By adjusting the amount of weight, divers can achieve neutral buoyancy underwater. This allows them to control their depth and movement throughout the dive.
Scuba tanks are typically filled with compressed air, which is a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen. However, some scuba tanks may also contain a noble gas such as helium as part of a special gas mix called trimix, which is used for deep dives to reduce the risk of nitrogen narcosis.
Yes, it is possible for a human being to dive to 400 feet with the use of specialized equipment such as mixed gases and technical diving techniques. However, diving to such depths requires extensive training, experience, and equipment to manage the associated risks of deep diving, such as nitrogen narcosis and decompression sickness.
The Dive Quest saltwater aquarium contains 5.7 million gallons.
Every year they need a visual inspection, same as Steel cylinders. Additionally, every five years, they need a hydrostatic test - the date of the last one is stamped on the cylinder, in the format MM_YY(VE) where VE's presence indicates an electrical current test called Visual Edy - not required but recommended. Finally, if you have a Nitrox tank, it needs an additional cleaning usually every year. Go to your local dive shop for more info and to get your tank looked at, you can find one with the locater on PADI's website.