Scuba Diving Tanks

[lukemillar]

Hey,

I know there are a lot of divers kicking round here! Just wondered if many of you own your own tanks? Recently, I decided to get over the whole cold water diving thing and have since been doing quite a bit of diving/fishing in NZ waters!

Given the cost of tank hire and the amount of diving I'll do in NZ in the future, I'm really considering buying my own tank(s). However, they are f***ing expensive, so I'm going to try and score some secondhand ones.

Question is - what size and do I go Aluminium or Steel? These will typically be used for water temps ranging from 9c -> 19c. Ideally, I'd like something that can be used as a set of doubles for wreck diving or individually.

I know a scuba forum would be a better place to ask these questions, but there are a lot of attitude and bull**** on there and I trust and know a lot of the users here!

Any thoughts would be most welcome.

Cheers
Luke

[yorkie_chris]

Aluminium 80s (11ltr/200bar) seemed de riguer for all the dive shops in Gib when I was doing a bit, hence cheap enough when they'd sell on the battered looking ones.
Factor in you might need them hydro testing* which might mean they're not quite as cheap as they look.

*Does NZ have the same test laws as here?

[Berlin]

Aluminium, 12 litre. Thats your puppies there!