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Scuba Tank Sizes what's on offer?Scuba tank sizes vary significantly, but one thing is certain, there is a scuba tank right for you. Scuba Tank Sizes - The Imperial WayBefore you choose a scuba tank you need to know what type of diving you will be doing. If you are going to do a lot of deep dives you will need more air, the deeper you dive the faster the air is breathed out of your tank. If you are unfit you will probably exert yourself more and require more air, the opposite if you are fit.The standard scuba tank size is a Aluminum 80, which means it is a 80 cubic foot aluminium scuba cylinder. Now, the scuba tank's capacity is designated, by the volume that the air inside a tank is filled to it's rated capacity, would occupy. The markings on the shoulder of the scuba tank tell you what the capacity of the tank is and how much pressure can be put into it. So if an Aluminum 80 has an actual air capacity of 80 cubic feet it will require 3,000 PSI of pressure to reach the 80 cubic feet. The service pressure will also be stamped on the outside of the scuba tank. Scuba cylinder manufacturers actually round figures off, just to confuse things an Aluminum 80 only has an air capacity of about 77.4. For a smaller aluminum tank, the AL63 is a good choice for smaller people as it is a more manageable tank. It will hold 63 cubic feet of air and a pressure of 3,000 PSI, same pressure as the AL80 but smaller tank and therefore not as much air as the AL80. Steel scuba tanks are generally smaller and don't need as high a service pressure to fill. The Steel 80 has an actual air capacity of 78 cubic feet and requires 2,640 PSI to fill the 78 cubic feet. The length of the tank is shorter by just over 2 inches and is slightly lighter due to it being a smaller tank. Don't get confused by the pressure in your tank. The tank will be filled to the cubic capacity, that is how much air you will have in your tank. If you are using hire tanks check the working pressure stamp on the tank, that will tell you how much pressure you should have, next put your pressure gauge onto the tank and see whether you have a full cylinder or whether the dive shop needs to top your tank up. Scuba Tank Sizes - The Metric WayLife was not meant to be simple, some tank markings are in imperial measurements whilst others are in Metric measurements. As a rule of thumb imperial is used in the USA and metric in Europe and the Pacific.The capacity of a scuba cylinder the metric way is measured in litres, when the tank is empty, how many litres of water can fit inside an empty scuba tank. Metric uses bar as a pressure rating and not PSI. To give you an idea, you get approximately 14.5 PSI to 1 bar. So 3,000 PSI is equivalent to 207 bar. If you want to convert your cubic foot tank to litres then you times the cubic feet by 28.316. Which Scuba Tank Size is right for you?The main things to look for are:Don't forget that what ever tank you purchase you will have to carry it in and out of your car, from you car to the dive boat and up into the dive boat from land or water generally up a ladder in a rolling swell. Choose wisely. This is how much air your scuba cylinder will hold. Buoyancy when your tank is empty is what you will have to adjust your weight belt to. Air has weight, the more air you use the lighter your tank will become and the more buoyant you will become. How do I know what all the markings in my scuba tank are for? Easy have a look here. If you are interested to know more about Scuba Tanks then click here this will tell you all you need to know.
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