Oxygen Scuba Tank Sizes
The capacity of a scuba cylinder is an important consideration.
Oxygen scuba tank sizes. The standard aluminum 80 cubic foot cylinder is the most popular size for recreational. However this is a misnomer since these cylinders. Before buying a scuba tank it is good to ascertain the oxygen compatibility. Note that this concern does not apply to high pressure steel cylinders depending on the service pressure of the scuba cylinder it may be filled with oxygen rich gases up to a maximum of 3442 psi.
Back mounted cylinders range from 45 130 cubic feet plus. The term diving cylinder tends to be used by gas equipment engineers manufacturers support professionals and divers speaking british english. You should avoid high pressure aluminum scuba tanks such as the 3300 psi compact or neutral buoyancy aluminum tanks or the 3300 psi al100. There is no perfect size tank for all diving types and all divers.
80 cubic foot tanks are the most popular among recreational divers and are also the most commonly found tanks on the water. Divers who require higher percentages of oxygen such as nitrox have to buy the ones that are compatible with higher oxygen percentages and the valve has to be labeled as both oxygen. Divers direct also carries the 40 cu ft 50 cu ft 63 cu ft and 100 cu ft. Steel scuba tanks are denser than aluminum tanks meaning you have to be less concerned with buoyancy issues especially at the end of a dive.
Standard psi in an aluminum scuba cylinder is 3000. Smaller than an aluminum tank of the same capacity a steel scuba tank is a more compact air supply solution a fact that becomes doubly important for twin tank setups. There are many sizes of scuba tanks but you will find common standards throughout the industry.