The Great Helium Hunt of 2021

[Jared0425]

Currently in Detroit area, I can get it for $2.35-50 per cubic foot. Paid $155 for 21/35 on superfilled LP 95s.

 

[Vicko]

I just paid 350 usd for a T here in Croatia, is that good or bad in US standards?

 

[Scuba Client]

AN/Helitrox starts in a couple of weeks. It’s going to be an adventure getting helium, so I decided to have some fun with it.

I’m in the Chicago area and several shops do He fills. If they have it is another matter.

Shop A - closest to me (still an hour), plus will overfill my 85s a bit.

Shop B - bit further away

Shop C - my instructor’s shop two hours away. Not a ton of He. Their divers are overwhelmingly CCR. Gas hog OC divers take a lot of He so I’m doing my best to source it elsewhere.

Shop D - near dive site 4-4.5 hours away. They have He (talked to the owner a few days ago when diving up there), but logistics make it difficult to get It here.

Shop A does not currently have He. Not sure if they can get it. Checking on availability. Has had several other requests for He fills.

Waiting for Shop B to get back to me.

I’ve contacted Shop D, but waiting for a response. My issue is that I would arrive in town about 10pm and it’s unrealistic and not nice to expect the shop to do fills for class the next morning.

If I got really desperate, I have sources in the Detroit area and Ohio, but those are 5-7 hours each way.

And, no, going CCR is not an option.

What grade of He are you going to use?

 

[Wookie]

What grade of He are you going to use?

If she is buying it in the USA from a dive shop, it’s likely uhp or 5.0 or 99.995% pure

 

[J-Vo]

I only use UHP

 

[Marie13]

I just paid 350 usd for a T here in Croatia, is that good or bad in US standards?

For current prices in my area, that’s pretty decent.

 

[Marie13]

Messer in Ottawa quoted me $600.00 for a T of helium!

If that’s CAD, just under $500 USD.

 

[Jimchris]

The last time I swapped out bottles at the fill plant (couple months ago) it was ~ $1.00/cuft for industrial (99.998%)

 

[Jack Hammer]

Helium pricing is why a lot of tech divers mix their own gas. It helps to keep the cost down. No businesses I know locally sell enough helium to really be worth the time, hassle of mixing, and risk of loss. They carry it mostly as a courtesy.

 

[Tracy]

Currently in Detroit area, I can get it for $2.35-50 per cubic foot. Paid $155 for 21/35 on superfilled LP 95s.

Is that bulk pricing or at a shop?