This blog is the first post in a short series we'll be doing about "bad diver habits;" what they are and how to fix them. Many times divers do things just because "that's the way it's always been done." But there are so many of these bad habits that are easily fixable and may end up saving you money (or even your life). So listen up and see if you need to fix any of your "bad diver habits."
"Tanks"
Most divers don't give much thought to their scuba tanks. They sling it over their shoulder, carry it to their dive site, use it, take it into the dive shop for fills, and then store it until their next dive. Well, here are two BIG mistakes already made if you ask me. The first is that long, skinny, heavy, cylindrical thing you wear on your back is NOT a tank....it's a CYLINDER. A tank is something our military men and women drive around to defend something. You breath from a cylinder. Period. End of story.
The second mistake is that most divers don't give much thought to their scuba cylinders. You may want to think twice about that, given the fact that you are carrying a device that holds highly pressurized air, and if on Nitrox, highly pressurized oxygen-rich air, which can be combustible in the presence of heat. You are carrying it right on your back. So, in light of wanting to keep yourself safe, you may want to listen carefully to the following common mistakes many divers make with their cylinders so you can keep yours in the best condition possible.
Common Mistake #1: Breathing through ALL of your air
NEVER bring your cylinder back from a dive empty! Once you completely drain your cylinder of all its air, there is no pressure keeping things out of it. This is a great way to allow water into your cylinder. And since most folks dive in salt water, and salt water mixed with metal equals rust, this is a great way to corrode the inside of your cylinder.
Common Mistake #2: Improperly storing your cylinder
I know your Open Water scuba instructor may have told you never to leave your cylinder standing upright, but laying it down on the floor of your garage is not the proper way to store it. You actually DO want to store your cylinder in an up-right position. The reason for this being that if any moisture (aka water) happens to get into your cylinder without your knowledge, and you lay in on its side, that water covers a larger surface area of your cylinder than it would if it were standing upright. If the water is left there long enough, it will start to corrode your cylinder. Unfortunately, the center of the sidewall of the cylinder is its weakest point, so it is not where you want corrosion to happen!
Common Mistake #3: Allowing your local dive shop to overfill your cylinder.
Overfilling is a BIG no-no! Every time you fill your cylinder to beyond it's normal rated capacity, you permanently expand the metal of the cylinder just slightly. Enough expansion over time will greatly decease the integrity of your cylinder.
Common Mistake #4: Not rinsing your cylinder after every dive.
You should be rinsing your cylinder with fresh water after every dive, just like the rest of your gear. Metal and salt water do not mix! So why would you want to leave it on your aluminum or steel cylinder? The most common place where corrosion will occur from lack of adequate rinsing is around the boot, if you have one, therefore, it is very important to take the boot off the bottom of the cylinder from time to time and rinse thoroughly.
By changing any of these scuba cylinders "bad diver habits", you will significantly improve your safety during every dive. You could also save a little money by making your cylinders last longer and keeping more money in your wallet is always a good thing!
