Which Size Steel Scuba Cylinder Is Right For You?

Divers in cooler temperate waters most commonly use the following three Faber steel tank sizes:

Faber 10.5 Litre (85 cubic foot), 232 bar — This smaller cylinder size is preferred by many women because it's lighter and easier to handle. If you are a diver with a very good surface air consumption rate, as many women are, then this cylinder has enough air capacity for most dives. A pair of these steel tanks is also popular with sidemount divers, and women technical divers.

Faber Standard 12.2 Litre (100 cubic foot), 232 bar — This standard size, 178 mm (7 inch) diameter, cylinder size is used by the vast majority of divers. A pair of these cylinders is also the most common choice for technical divers.

Faber Standard 15.0 Litre (125 cubic foot), 232 bar — This larger size, 204 mm (8 inch), cylinder size is the choice of divers with a poor surface air consumption rate. However, it's larger size and weight makes it awkward for many divers to use.

Faber 3 Litre (25 cubic foot), 232 bar, 100 mm (3.9 inch) diameter, are the popular choice of rebreather divers.

Low and High Pressure Steel Scuba Diving Cylinders

Faber Low-Pressure Steel — 232 bar — Lighter on land than standard aluminium scuba cylinders, these Faber 232 bar steel cylinders feature a higher working pressure than most aluminium cylinders, thus delivery a larger gas capacity for the same internal volume. The 232 bar Faber cylinders come equipped with a DIN/K type valve that easily converts back and forth depending on the type of First-Stage Regulator to be used in conjunction with the cylinder increasing the versatility of the tank. When diving with these cylinders less weight is needed, making them perfect for divers that use drysuits, or wetsuit divers in cold/temperate waters. The Faber steel cylinders are popular for cave diving and have a strong following among technical divers everywhere. The average working pressure is 232 bar.

Faber High-Pressure Steel — 300 bar — Much heavier than standard aluminium and steel scuba cylinders, these Faber 300 bar steel cylinders use much higher working pressure to provide a huge gas capacity in a small size. Like their low-pressure steel cousins, less weight is needed with these cylinders. A favourite with wreck divers, the average working pressure is 300 bar.

Faber is the leading manufacturer of steel scuba cylinders in the world and is the market leader in Europe and Australia where diving with steel cylinders is the norm. Faber's cylinders are manufactured from deep drawn 34CRMO4 Chromium Molybdenum steel plates to ANSI specifications. This process results in a light cylinder with the right buoyancy characteristics allowing the diver to reduce the amount of weight from their weight-belt. The interior of the cylinders are shot-blasted followed by their exclusive phosphatised coating which creates a perfectly cleaned internal surface, highly resistant to rust. The exterior of the cylinder is triple protected with zinc spraying, epoxy primer coat and polyurethane finish coat for durability.

The service life of a properly cared for modern steel scuba cylinder is widely considered to be 50 years or more. The service life of a properly cared for aluminium cylinder is more controversial. Most dive shops, including The Scuba Doctor, won't fill an aluminium tank manufactured before 1990.

The Scuba Doctor carries an extensive selection of Faber steel cylinder sizes starting with the 2 litre (16 cubic foot) all the way up to the 18 litre (150 cubic foot) cylinder. Faber cylinders are available in 8-inch, 7.25 and 7-inch diameters with working pressures of 232 bar and 300 bar.

All dive cylinders from The Scuba Doctor dive shop are visually inspected and shipped with a current hydrostatic date (except where indicated).

Environmental Policy

Our Commitment to the Environment

Statement of Responsibility

The Scuba Doctor operates in Rye, Victoria, Australia and acknowledges a responsibility to maintaining sustainable environmental practices.

The staff at The Scuba Doctor must at all times demonstrate commitment towards implementing practices which will promote environmental sustainability. The following policy governs the management of the environmental aspects of our company, with specific focus on education, best practice and ensuring respect for the land and marine environment.

Policy Statement

The Scuba Doctor will consistently strive to promote environmental awareness, encourage participation in local environmental activities and follow best practices in waste reduction, conservation of energy, spill mitigation, water preservation and protection of marine wildlife and habitat.

Implementing Principles

Comply with any laws governing the environment
Actively look for ways to implement our Environmental Policy
Work towards the conservation of energy, water and resources in all our operations
Strive to better understand both the direct and indirect impact that our practices may have on the environment.
Promote environmental awareness on every dive outing or trip with every client
Each month have at least one environmental focused Facebook post or email to our clients.
Dispose of waste thoughtfully, and develop an attitude of "reducing, recycling and reusing".
Lessen our environmental impact by purchasing environmentally-friendly products and services where possible.
Regularly review our business practices and determine whether each practice is suitable in an environment friendly context.

Guidelines for Environmentally Friendly Diving and Snorkelling

"As divers and snorkellers, we are the ocean's partner in conservation."

Diving and snorkelling are fantastic activities to introduce people to the marine environment and create new ocean advocates. However, unmanaged, these activities can have acute negative impacts for fragile ecosystems.

Our policy and guidelines are based on the Green Fins conservation management approach which leads to a measurable reduction in the negative environmental impacts associated with diving and snorkelling. We aim to protect the marine environment through environmentally friendly guidelines promoting sustainable diving and snorkelling.

Do Not Step On The Coral Do Not Step On The Coral
Consider where you're placing your feet and fins at all times. Most damaging contacts to the reef and marine life come from your fins. Corals and other marine growth are very fragile and some take a long time to grow. Stepping or kicking the corals can break it, damage its surface, or cut your feet. Improve your buoyancy and save marine life, plus try not to hit the sea floor on decent.

Do Not Stir The Sediment Do Not Stir The Sediment
If you are not careful, your fins can stir up sediment and debris, upsetting small habitats and covering corals and other marine growth. This not only reduces the ability of the coral to photosynthesise, it can also lead to devastating coral diseases. Stirring sediment can also lead to small animals being washed away, or increase their chance of predation. So watch your finning and how much you are disturbing the sea floor, and especially watch out for the little critters, they are amazing too.

Do Not Chase or Touch Any Marine Life Do Not Chase or Touch Any Marine Life
This can cause great stress to any animal. This can also transmit diseases or remove protective coatings of fish, mammals, invertebrates and other species. Look, but never touch and try not to get too close. Harassing marine animals, chasing them, trying to catch them or interfering with their homes or activities causes them undue stress. It is unnecessary and wrong. How would you like an alien to come down and messed with your house, knocked over everything, rode you around like a motorbike and conducted unnecessary anal probes. Remember when you dive with us, we believe that marine Animals and plants are not made to be touched by us land lubbers. If we see you doing it you wont dive with us again.

Do Not Feed The Fish Do Not Feed The Fish
Feeding fish and any other species can cause them to rely on that food source. This also makes fish more aggressive towards divers because they expect to be fed. It can even lead to corals getting smothered in algae, as the reef fish no longer eat their natural food sources, like algae. So we do not allow feeding activities such as burley or feeding fish to entice them in for photos or viewing as it changes behaviours. Even if it's their natural food, the activity is harmful and damaging. Be reasonable and resist the urge.

Do Not Throw Trash Into The Sea Do Not Throw Trash Into The Sea
There are many problems with marine pollution, ranging from animals eating plastic bags and cigarette butts, to chemicals in the waste contaminating the water and entering the food chain. Marine pollution can be dangerous for humans too, after all, whatever we put in the ocean comes back to us when we eat seafood.

Do Not Buy Corals or Marine Life As Souvenirs Do Not Buy Corals or Marine Life As Souvenirs
Buying corals and other souvenirs encourages people to remove tons of marine life, dead or alive, from marine ecosystems to sell as souvenirs. Many of these species play vital roles in maintaining healthy reef ecosystems. If the buying stops, the killing and collecting will too. Corals look great in the ocean, but should not be taken home.

Do Not Support Shark Finning Do Not Support Shark Finning
The Scuba Doctor is against the shark fin trade that causes over 100 million sharks to be killed each year. Sharks are primarily killed for their fins, which are used for soup. In some countries shark liver oil is believed to be a nutrient supplement and a cure for certain illnesses. Removing these top predators can create an imbalance in the marine ecosystem. Don't eat in restaurants that sell shark fin based dishes.

Do Not Spearfish On Scuba Do Not Spearfish On Scuba
Spearfishing tends to remove the largest and slowest reproducing species, which can change the balance of the ecosystem and upset the food chain dramatically. It is also likely to injure a fish if it is not speared correctly, leading to a slow death. Spearfishing can also be dangerous to divers, snorkellers, and swimmers. While we appreciate the skills and techniques used to spearfish while apnea diving (i.e. by breath hold), we think doing so while scuba diving is unfair. It's also illegal in many places.

Do Not Anchor On Reefs Do Not Anchor On Reefs
Anchors are heavy and typically have a long chain attached. When dropped onto a fragile reef, especially a coral one, they cause great destruction. If the boat changes direction with wind or currents, the anchor and chain will drag and cause more damage to our valuable reefs. Besides, keeping the dive boat live when diving at most local dive sites is usually a much safer option. See also Boat Diving Safety.

Do Not Take Marine Life — Dead or Alive Do Not Take Marine Life — Dead or Alive
Everything that originated in the ocean needs to be left there. It is all part of the marine environment. Removing species that would normally break down and be recycled into the sea leaves other animals without nutrients or elements that they need for growth. Hermit Crab shells are swapped from crab to crab and by removing them you are taking a potential home off the market. Even empty shells on the beach play an important role. Feel free to take rubbish, plastic or any dumped human items that are less than 75 years old, but shells, rocks, and coral should be left alone. (Please note: All shipwrecks and shipwreck relics/artefacts that are 75 years or older are automatically protected by The Victorian Heritage Act 2017 and the Heritage (Underwater Cultural Heritage) Regulations 2017.) Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but bubbles, unless you are hunting for crays, abalone and scallops while abiding by all relevant laws and proceedures for doing so sustainably.

Do Not Wear Gloves In Order To Be Able to Touch Things Do Not Wear Gloves In Order To Be Able to Touch Things
Wearing gloves gives you a false sense of protection and encourages you to hold onto things underwater. In addition to potentially damaging marine life and spreading disease, wearing gloves can be damangerous for you too. Often gloves will not provide adequate security against marine life that can be life threatening, and thus only give divers a false sense of security. Wearing gloves is only acceptable for protection from the cold in temperate and cold waters, plus when hunting for cray, abalone and scallops.

Wear A Life Jacket At The Surface Wear A Life Jacket At The Surface
This is recommended for all levels of snorkellers. From beginners to experienced snorkellers, wearing a life jacket helps you to avoid standing on or kicking shallow reefs, coral and marine life that can take many years to recover. Only when snorkelling in temperate and cold waters where the snorkeller is already wearing a wetsuit with appropriate buoyancy would wearing a lifejacket not be recommended.

Use Mooring Buoys Use Mooring Buoys
By using mooring buoys provided, or shot lines, destructive impacts on reefs, coral and wrecks can be avoided or at least minimised. This practice also sets a good example for others and raises awareness of the highly damaging practice of anchoring. See also Boat Diving Safety.

Report Environmental Violations Report Environmental Violations
Report destructive practices and violations of environmental laws. Tell your dive guide, dive operator, or community leaders and government officials. Informing key authorities of your observations can lead to appropriate action. By letting them know your concerns, you are being part of the solution.

Participate In Marine Conservation Projects Participate In Marine Conservation Projects
The ocean is the largest ecosystem on Earth and is the primary life support system that is connected to nearly every economic activity on earth. This is why there should be more awareness on preserving the ocean. By participating in marine conservation projects you can have a possitive effect on the environment and help educate others. A little help from everybody goes a long way.