The Advantages of Dual Tanks in SCUBA

Learning how to SCUBA dive is an excellent way to explore the many animals, plants and objects that reside under the surface of the water, whether you are in an ocean or lake. Divers of all different ages can learn how to use a dual tank system, which gives them several advantages. Explore caves easier, extend the length and depth of your dive, and learn how to improve your buoyancy by mastering the dual tank diving system.

  1. Extending Your Dive

    • All divers must make sure that they have a sufficient amount of air relative to the length of their dive. Typically, you will only need a single tank. However, a dual tank system allows a diver to extend the length of his diving experience. If you are diving from a boat and surfacing on shore, use your first tank to get you to shore and your second tank to get you back to the boat. Additionally, a diver will consume more air as he goes deeper underwater. Diving with double tanks may be necessary for diving at deeper depths.

    Cave Diving

    • Diving in caves is a technical style of diving that requires training and instruction. Cave diving sometimes requires using double cylinders, so that the diver is ensured he has sufficient air for the depth. Additionally, cave divers often find themselves in tight areas where they must be able to remove their tank to get through. By using a dual tank system, the tanks can be mounted on each side of the diver's body. In this position, the diver has easier access to move the tanks through tight spots in the caves.

    Improved Buoyancy

    • Using a single tank system is common for divers, but at times a large single tank can cause buoyancy issues. Some divers find that using two smaller tanks improves their buoyancy, because the balance of the two tanks is inline with the balance of their body. Additionally, the dual tank setup uses a backplate and a wing for the buoyancy control system. This setup can improve the comfort of carrying the tanks, and your body will be held naturally in a horizontal position that is ideal for diving.

    Emergency Backup

    • Safety should be the first concern of any diver, especially when the diver is performing a technical dive. A diver can incorporate a second tank into their diving to increase their safety by decreasing their chances of running out of air while underwater. Any beginner diver should learn how to use their buddy's air in case of a failure with their own equipment, but carrying your own backup tank is the safest way to dive if there's a chance your buddy will not be nearby in case of an emergency. Backup tanks can be a small tank with a sufficient amount of air to get you from the depth to the surface, or divers can carry a full capacity dual-tank system.