Tips for all going to Egypt

[elmagnoon]

Well, the volume of the 15 liter tank doesn't change with pressure, what you do is you squeeze more air into the same volume. In Europe and Egypt they normally fill the tanks of any volume up to the 200 bar, so I believe this to be the standard procedure, not something to be disappointed about.

I think I didn't make myself clear, mostly because of the fact that 15 litres imply volume not amount of air compressed in tank.
It is VERY disappointing. The volume doesn't change but the amount of air does and that is the whole point of renting a larger tank. I am not renting a larger tank because I like the bigger size but because it can hold more air! Yes I still get more air with 15 litre tank filled @ 200 bars than I do with 11 litre tank @ 200 bars but I would not in any way accept that here in Vancouver. All that is made worse when they argue with me that the tanks were designed to be filled at lower rate than what is stamped on them.

This happend to me on two trips and that's why I'm determined to take my tanks with me and leave them there. They will still fill them with no more than 200 bars but with a 17 litre tank that's a lot of air still.

With regard to the heat thing and cooling off. I get my tanks filled regularly in Vancouver and the dive shop is familiar with filling steel tanks. I leave them overnight and get them next day @ 230 bars or more. That's called professionalism.

Having said all that, I contacted the the dive shop a couple of days ago and was told that they simply don't have compressor that can fill tanks more than 200 bars. They said there are a couple of shops in Sharm who can fill up to 300 Bars but that would be costly for them shuttle tanks back and forth to fill them properly.

 

[mania]

You are forgeting one factor. Whatever is written on the tank there is also a question of valves. As far as I know valves in Egypt are 200 bars ones not 300 bars. So you can even have a tank with 400 bars capacity but as long as the valve is 200 bar this all you can do.

And BTW 15 liter tank for Egyptian dives is a lot of air. Maybe you should work on your SAC or simply rent doubles. I normally use Alu80s there and it's enough for more than an hour long dives. Often deeper than 20 meters

Mania

 

[ofleisher]

230 bars that signed on the tanks are for tests only not for regular use !

 

[Rule62]

Not being familiar with the term "bars", does the 200 bars equal what you might find in Steel 120 tanks? Is alkl they have in Sharm Alu 80s?

 

[Red Sea Shadow]

1 bar = 14.7 PSI
So 200 bars is almost 3000 PSI

Yes the majority of tanks in Sharm are AL80.

 

[msdiver04]

Hi,

I'm planning to go to Dahab to do the dive master and instructor courses. Can anyone recommend a good, professionally run, friendly dive shop?

Thanks

 

[elmagnoon]

Desert Divers

http://www.desert-divers.com/

 

[elmagnoon]

You are forgeting one factor. Whatever is written on the tank there is also a question of valves. As far as I know valves in Egypt are 200 bars ones not 300 bars. So you can even have a tank with 400 bars capacity but as long as the valve is 200 bar this all you can do.

And BTW 15 liter tank for Egyptian dives is a lot of air. Maybe you should work on your SAC or simply rent doubles. I normally use Alu80s there and it's enough for more than an hour long dives. Often deeper than 20 meters

Mania

Interestingly enough I just saw your post now!

I'm not forgetting anything. I don't know what it is with people and assumptions. The valves are rated for 230 bars (actually 3450 PSI) and I'm not talking only about my tanks but the 15 litre tanks that they rent out also have valves that are rated for 230 bars. The reason those instructors argued with me was they were incompetent. As for why the dive shop refuse to fill beyond 200 bars is something I asked quite a few people about and the answer I got is that they most likely have some sort of a safety valve ( I don't recall the exact term) to shut off at 200 bars. The reason for that is they tend to connect several tanks at a time to for filling and the leave them and come back for them later. I don't know for a fact but that's one possibility.

Now I know my SAC rate is relatively high but what is "Egyptian dives" ? What gave you the impression that I dive the way you dive? Who told you that I like to take the scenic route and come up the way you do? This is not rocket science, I bought larger tanks for a purpose and they are made for a purpose and that is they have the capacity to hold more air. And I do have doubles and they are also rated for more than 200 bars. They are Luxfur S80N rated at 3300 PSI , would be unreasonable of my to want them filled at 3300 PSI

 

[JRenee]

thank you so much for this. my brother also turned me on to this site: scubatravel.co.uk

I am in Israel now. I am a rock climber/scuba diver and both are some of the best in this part of the world.

Can you give me a number to a place so that I can book some dives in egypt?

I would like to go soon.

thanks,
Joni

 

[Red Sea Shadow]

Joni,
Where do you like to dive in Egypt?