truck1
Contributor
cummings66:Steel HP120's are what I use, that and the steel HP100. The HP100 is the perfect tank, it's almost exactly like an AL80 but has 23 cf more air. Assuming you can get a full fill that is.
If you suck air the larger tank isn't really the solution you think it is because you're still limited by the air in his tank. Think of it this way, if you had a tank failure of some sort and lost your air you need to use who's air? If your buddy is using an AL80 you still have the same limits you did on your own AL80. Now for you with the number of dives you have your SCR should be pretty good and the larger tanks may work well for you, especially if you're going to use Nitrox.
IMO the larger tanks are great for one thing, diving Nitrox because if you have the low SCR needed you can extend your dive times with the larger tank. IMO if I was you and wanting a larger tank I'd buy the steel HP100's and that will be fine. The buoyancy is good, weight is good, air is more than an AL80 and later can be doubled up and still not kill your back.
Generally speaking I dont suck air,and dive nitrox.I generally come up a good 500 psi above everyone else on al80s when I dive the same.I have 3 tanks which are in the luxfer slc range and want to replace them.I plan on using the 120s for lobstering off a beach where I will run out of air before bottom time or reefs where i do burn more air than normal lobstering.In those instances, I do run out of air before bottom time.
I might rent a 100 as a comparison since I have used 120 and 131 before.