bringing your own tanks on boats?

[dagrath]

I just bought HP130s for shore diving, but obviously would like to bring them when boat diving in the area as well. One of my buddies said that boats don't like you bringing your own tanks, as you would then stay down so long it would mean everyone else is waiting. From that point of view, it seems logical... but I was still surprised to hear it.

Truth? Fiction? Perhaps regional?

[crpntr133]

Might be true in your area but I have never dove a boat that I didn't bring my own tanks.

[No Misses]

I have brought my HP120's on Charter Dive Boats. No Problem.

Listen to the dive briefing. If they say "be back on the boat in one hour" That means you too.

The reasons that I dove my 120's while my buddy (and everybody else) dove AL80's was for the wieghting and for an added safety margin (more gas for emergencies). I had to pay $25 more per day for fills. But, it was worth it for the peace of mind.

BTW: 130's may not fit in the tank holders on the dive boat. Check with the operator prior to the trip.

[MSilvia]

It might be true in some areas, but not around here. As far as that goes, you don't get much "be back in an hour" stuff here either... you can pretty much dive whatever profile you like, even decoing solo while the rest of the divers are doing two dives with a SI.

[texdiveguy]

Originally Posted by MSilvia

It might be true in some areas, but not around here. As far as that goes, you don't get much "be back in an hour" stuff here either... you can pretty much dive whatever profile you like, even decoing solo while the rest of the divers are doing two dives with a SI.

Now that's just pure heaven!!!!!

[MSilvia]

Yeah... there aren't maany baby-sitting cattle boats in this neck of the woods. The operators I use all pretty much trust that you know what you're doing, so long as you don't give them reason to believe you don't.

[CompuDude]

Just contact the boats you may be diving on and ask their policy.

SoCal, all the boats pretty much expect you to be bringing your own tanks. There are a few out there that provide tanks, but they are the exception, and they just leave tanks behind when people show up with their own, so no problem there.

On a full day of diving, where there is a given amount of travel time and people want to make 3-4 full dives, the boat crew will sometimes limit gate times, else the one guy with double 130s and two stages is going to be down for 2 hours while everyone else is back in a more reasonable amount of time. So I can understand them limiting the gate times. No local boats limits gates to less than an hour, though, except sometimes on the last dive if it's getting late.

When it's your charter, of course, they'll go anywhere you want, for however long you want, as long as they're back at the dock at a reasonable hour.

[Lone Frogman]

Originally Posted by dagrath

I just bought HP130s for shore diving, but obviously would like to bring them when boat diving in the area as well. One of my buddies said that boats don't like you bringing your own tanks, as you would then stay down so long it would mean everyone else is waiting. From that point of view, it seems logical... but I was still surprised to hear it.

Truth? Fiction? Perhaps regional?

Not so in the SE area I dive. Last trip to the Keys I found that one 130 was enough air for two one hour dives at 25-40ft deep. You may find some boats that are not set up for 8 dia. tanks with boots on.

[bubble-head]

I dive HP 130's. Like the other posts said ask the boat but I've never even had anyone bat an eye when I bring my tanks on-board. In addition I bring a 30 pony. Luckily, our boats pretty much assume you know what you are doing too. Heck, we've had re-breather divers with 3 hours of bottom time on some dives.

[warscout2]

the boats around here expect you to have your own tanks