what is everyone doing about the Helium shortage?

landonnin1

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• Jul 25, 2012

• #1

I mix my own gases and lately in my area I can not buy any Helium. So I wanted to see what others might be doing to get helium for their tri mix
or if any one in the Michigan area can help me get a bottle as I have some diving coming up for research the is going to require helium

Thank you
Matt
[h=1][/h]

 

dumpsterDiver

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• Jul 25, 2012

• #2

I just fill my tanks with hot air.. It is light and cheap.

 

flots am

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• Jul 25, 2012

• #3

landonnin1:

I mix my own gases and lately in my area I can not buy any Helium. So I wanted to see what others might be doing to get helium for their tri mix
or if any one in the Michigan area can help me get a bottle as I have some diving coming up for research the is going to require helium

Click to expand...

Money talks. If you talk to a gas supplier and offer to pay higher than market rates, they'll probably find some for you.

The problem is that you've been used to an artificially low price and and artificially high supply, courtesy of the US government dumping it's helium reserves.

It will never be this cheap again, so you may end up changing the kind of dives you do or get used to paying a lot more.

flots.

 

scubadiver888

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• Jul 25, 2012

• #4

I don't dive trimix but my shop owner does. Half the guys in our area and saying we have helium. We did. Now my shop is calling around asking who has helium. Only one shop has admitted to having any. He'll probably be out in a few days.

Most the OC divers are talking about CCR. I was going to go technical next year. Now I'm thinking if a dive is going to cost me $200 I might go rebreather. With the 'recreational' rebreathers getting pushed a DEMA last year, maybe they'll come down in price over the next few years.

 

Last edited: Jul 25, 2012

PfcAJ

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• Jul 25, 2012

• #5

I choose my dives carefully

 

decompression

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• Jul 25, 2012

• #6

It's still availible here at about $1 per cuft.

 

wedivebc

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• Jul 25, 2012

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I use about 6cuft worth of 10/50 for a typical deep dive

 

Avonthediver

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• Jul 25, 2012

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geezz I'm going to get my ballons filled

 

nadwidny

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• Jul 25, 2012

• #9

I dive a rebreather now. I have a set 130s that have enough trimix (12/65 premix) in them to last me a year or more. That is what is getting me through this shortage, and beyond.

I feel sorry for the OC guys. I remember when we did Halifax 5-10 years ago and ordered up 20-30 T's of He, no problem. There is no way that would happen now.

 

decompression

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• Jul 25, 2012

• #10

wedivebc:

I use about 6cuft worth of 10/50 for a typical deep dive

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