The best ScubaTanksin 2023

It’s an easy concept: No scuba tank, no scuba diving.

The scuba tank which we sometimes refer to as a diving cylinder or even bottle, holds the compressed air we breathe underwater.

If you have gone diving before, you know exactly how they look like.

Buying a scuba tank is usually only relevant for dive instructors, dive base owners, and divers who like to dive at home year-round.

Here, we have collected the best scuba tanks in 2023 for any configuration. Steel, aluminum, single or double tank setup.

Below the recommendations, you find a buyer’s guide to scuba tanks and what you should look out for.

The best scuba tanks in 2023

These are the best scuba tanks in 2023 for every budget:

• Best steel scuba tank:
• Best aluminum scuba tank:
• Best for double stages:
• Cheapest scuba tank:

Catalina S80 Aluminum Tank

Rating: 4.9 / 5.0

Catalina is one of the most prominent makers of scuba tanks in the industry and the Catalina Aluminum S80 tank is arguably one of the most used cylinder in existence.

No matter where you dive, you will find it in near all dive shops around the world that use aluminum tanks.

Besides its popularity and great quality, it also comes in a bunch of different colors which all look pretty sweet if you ask me.

Specs & Features

• Buy on Dive Right in Scuba

What is a scuba tank?

Scuba divers use scuba tanks or cylinders with compressed breathing gas underwater during their dives. They come in many sizes from 5L to 15L, different materials like steel and aluminum and need to be sturdy enough to hold pressurized gas of up to 200 to 300 bar.

Types of scuba tanks

Mono tank

Double Tanks

Pony bottles

Stage tanks

Should I buy my own scuba tank?

Owning your scuba tank is a little different from buying the rest of your scuba gear.

Unlike a regulator, scuba mask, BCD, or dive computer, the scuba tank will most likely not go with you on your next diving trip. Even if you buy one, you most likely still require a dive shop or dive center for filling up for you and incur gas charges.

Similar to your regulator, there are regular service intervals you need to observe and pay money for.

Last but not least, they take up A LOT of space…and somehow…magically…they seem to reproduce. And within a couple of years…there are 2,3,4…10 of them! 😉

Now that you saw some of the downsides to owning your scuba tank…let’s do a quick calculation to see if it’s worth buying your own scuba tank:

• Purchase price 12L tank: €400
• Rental charge per tank: €15
• Filling fee: €7
• Rental charge empty tank: €8
• Number of dives to amortize purchase: 50
• Servicing: €70 / 3 years

Total for 10 years to buy: €400 + €210 = €610

So in essence, this means it will cost you €610 in 10 years to own the tank, which means if you do at least 90 dives with it in 10 years…it is worth it.

For those who hate maths, that’s a mere 9 dives per year you have to do to make the scuba tank worth it.

Of course, this leaves out the fact that owning your own scuba tank saves a lot of gas money and time in which you do not have to return or rent scuba tanks from someone else…as well as the freedom and independence off of dive shops when it comes to diving.

That alone is priceless to me!

I would say if you like diving in your home country, owning your own scuba tank is definitely worth it.

Scuba tank materials

The most popular materials for scuba tanks are steel, aluminum, and sometimes carbon. Aluminum tanks are the most common type of scuba tank as they are the cheapest and easy to maintain. Steel tanks are lighter and thinner, but more expensive and most often used in coldwater diving. Carbon and other materials are usually reserved for stage and pony bottles.

Scuba tank sizes

Scuba tanks come in all sizes from 5L to 15L, as well as in different configurations.

10L and 12L tanks are most common, while 15L tanks often come at extra charge at many dive bases around the world.

Smaller scuba tank sizes like 7L or 8L are often reserved for stage bottles while decompression diving.

The smallest scuba tanks of around 5L are very rare and are usually only used for diving with very young children or as pony or bailout tanks.

Scuba tank service intervals

Scuba tanks need to be serviced regularly like the rest of your scuba gear and other gas tanks. The service interval depends on the material, your usage, and local regulations. In most countries, the normal scuba tank service interval is 3-5 years.