What tanks would you buy for a child.

[Flatliner]

My son is a 75lb 11y/o. I want to get us both two tanks so we have a little more diving freedom. I want to purchase HP120s for myself (I am 6'4" 245lbs) but am not sure what I should get for him. Any advice is appreciated.

Flatliner
aka Robert

[comet24]

I would go for a AL 63. Should hold enough air for someone his age and size. Don't really want to push the limits with children no need for a huge tank.
What has he dived with in the past.

Now with that said the shop I DM with does a SCUBA camp every summer. Most of the kids dove with AL80's this year because our 63's where all condemned recently.

What has he dived with in the past. Is a 80 to big for him.

[ertechsg]

I'd get him an 80 so hill have it later on . That young he will grow like a weed. Might as well prepare for the future.

[mike_s]

The 63 sounds good, but it's not always available for a rental while on vacation.

he should get used to diving an 80 at least some so he can use it on vacation dives. Just something to think about.

[fire diver]

Why not get him an AL40 or AL50? sure he would have to use an 80 on vacations, but you could help him with it then. I think the 80 might be too heavy for him right now.

FD

[cummings66]

Yeah, while the 80 is nice it's too heavy for many kids. Plus you didn't say how tall he was either. Consider the tank height when you buy it. You don't want to make him suffer to dive in other words. Go to a shop, put him in a BC and try on some tanks and find one that fits.

[skdvr]

What about steel tanks? I know that there is a HP 65 out there that looks like a coffee can, or how about a HP 80. The 80 would be plenty of air for him for quite a while, and still be in a smaller package. Or do you not think you should spend that kind of money for a tank on a kid that may not want to dive anymore in a year? Or maybe being a liitle kid you may not want them to have a neg tank when it is empty because they do not need much in the way of weight anyway? I have never dove with a kid so I do not know.

Phil

[Black-Gorrilla]

get him some steel 80's... small and not bad on weight... there was a 100 # girl (13yo) diving them.

[Flatliner]

I don't think he could do an 80. He has dove a AL50 and an AL63. Both worked fine and I have another one behind him when he moves to a bigger tank.

I had thought about a hp steel 80, I am glad you mentioned the weight. I hadn't thought of that and he is only wearing 4 to 6lbs right now anyway.

Thanks for the input.

Flatliner
aka Robert

[Xspect]

AL63 should be just right for him