How to Make Sure Your Dive Tank is Safe

Scuba diving may be a thrilling underwater sport, but it is not without perils. One such peril can come from a faulty dive tank and this is why only a quality, well maintained and verified tank should be used to ensure the safety of breathing underwater. A diving tank is an essential piece of scuba gear, and it contains compressed air and a regulator that permits the diver to explore the underwater scenery for large amounts of time.

The main reason behind dive tank degradation is corrosion and this can affect a tank as long as moisture invades the interior of the unit. To minimize this risk, tanks are filled with extremely dry air, and thus, divers are taught never to leave their tanks empty, but to allow at least 100psi of pressure into the unit to prevent moisture from getting in once the valves are opened.

There are only a few things that divers can do themselves to check the safety of their tanks, but a quick and visual inspection cannot be held accurate and reliable in comparison with the conspicuous analysis performed by a scuba tank specialist. Only a professional can fill the tank and perform essential inspections to ensure your dive tank is safe to use, and whilst hydrostatic tests are required every 5 years, a visual checkup is necessary to be performed at least once a year so that any signs of damage to the tank can be spotted before the diver heads up to explore the depths.

After a visual inspection is performed, the specialist applies a special sticker with the EOI (Evidence of Inspection) marking to prove that one such analysis has been performed and at what date. The second inspection necessary to be undertaken once every 5 years is the hydrostatic test and this test is meant to assess the tank’s ability to hold the pressurized gas. As with the other analysis, the inspector will reveal that a hydro test has been performed by stamping the date of the pass on the tank, just below the valve.

An inspection is not only a necessary measure of maintenance for your tank, it is also a means to determine whether the tank you’re about to rent is safe to use or not. If the tank you’re planning to acquire has old test stamps and stickers on it, then this should prompt you not to accept the tank.

Another way to make sure your dive tank is safe is to take proper care of it by handling and maintaining it adequately. If you want to maximize the longevity of your scuba tank, you need to avoid any scratches, hits and other signs of damage that may occur, either by your negligence or the negligence of others. Damage to the tank can lead to serious health risks for the diver such as weakening the cylinder, connection problems between the tank and the other pieces of equipment, unseating the valves, and the most serious of all- a tank explosion which is potentially fatal. Never leave your tank unattended and make sure the valve area is not covered in sand or other debris.