Aluminum vs Steel Dive Tanks

[scubastu]

I replied last night a little hurriedly. Its all about displacement an AL tank has a larger surface area therefore displaces more. If itwas just about weight then fat people would sink like a stone and skinny people would float - ask anyone has taught diving, the opposite is more often than not true.
Now the more important issue here is the wearing of a BCD. It is crazy NOT to wear one. You will only need to surface 2K down wind from your boat in a chop to never forget that swim !. Not to mention a cramp or sickness whilst at the surface. A lot of diving accidents happen at the surface. Steel V Al is a personal issue wearing a BCD is a safety issue. If you use your BCD to maintain neutral buoyancy throughout your dive you will use less air and therefore be able to dive for longer

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by scubastu

Steel V Al is a personal issue wearing a BCD is a safety issue. If you use your BCD to maintain neutral buoyancy throughout your dive you will use less air and therefore be able to dive for longer

Assume this is directed at me. I wasn't saying I dive without a BC and in fact recommended that one should use a BC. I have but a shore dive in a protected cove in 15' of water. Would not dive in the ocean without buoyancy but actually dive with a backplate, harness and wings instead of a BC.

The comment was only to make a point about buoyancy control.

Steel vs Al can be a safety issue. I have seen divers in the ocean with big Pressed Steel tanks that would sink like a rock if their BC sprung a leak. You have to rig so you can make yourself positive at the deepest and heaviest point in your dive.