Scuba tanks or hookah, what do you prefer and why???

[makahaman]

Just wanted to find out what everyone is using these days for diving underwater. Is hookah better than tanks? Why? How long does a hookah unit go until it needs some kind of service? Tanks are very simple and less moving parts. I would love to hear you guys imput on this one. Also, hookah units go for an arm and a leg, $2500 plus!! Would love to hear all of your comments.

 

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[Sandman]

Hookah rigs can be had new for half that money. You don't need Brownie's Third Lung, the highest priced. Hookah lets you stay down about 2 1/2 hours on a qt. of gas and 12 Volt regs longer. A lot depends on your air demand and depth. Tanks have to be refilled and only last a short time. They are heavy and you have to figure in the cost of transporting them back and forth for refilling. http://www.airlinebyjsink.com/

I know you are trying to save some money, but you either just wade the beaches or go at it to spend more money and end up making a job out of it. Me, I hate work.

 

[wreckdiver1715]

I enjoy the freedom of using tanks, and going anyplace I want without that teather to the boat. However, the older I get, the more I appreciate the ease of Ingress, and Egress from the water while diving a hookah system.

 

[Sandman]

Oh, I forgot to mention about the hookah rig I used was the floating type so I could pull it along where I wanted to go. I too don't like the extra weight the tanks and other equipement put on my old weaker body.

 

[Seaweednh]

I have to agree with the Sandman. I stop diving because of all the hassle to get into the water. The weight of the tank(s) and 36 lbs of weight belt. I have no butt which made things worse, can count how many times I almost lost that belt. When I snorkel, all I need is 12 lbs of weight. With all the weight, entering and exiting from a rocky shore is a challenge. From a boat, getting back in was always fun, removing the weight belt and tank in the water (and tying them off to the boat) just to climb up the ladder. The Hookah I guess would be the same as snorkeling except you could stay down and enjoy a lot longer. Getting back into the boat would be no difference than taking a swim. Filling the scuba tanks is a hassle, the closes dive shop is a 1/2 hour east of here and then you have to make sure they will be open. The nearest gas station ... ten minutes any direction and some are open 24 hours.

I'm hoping to pick up an Excalibur and I would definitely like to pick up a Hookah if I can find one at the right price. I would love to be diving again but without the added weight.

Ron in New Hampshire

 

[southern maine diver]

Hey Ron...

Nice to see a fellow "New Englander" up on the forum.

As to your question... each system has its' own aplication, advantages/disadvantages. I use both systems, but I dive for a living. I like the surface supplied hose gear (Hooka) for less weight, more time, comfort underwater, but you are limited in your depth, overall movement, entanglements, hose getting pinched, etc.

I use steel, high pressure 120's for scuba. I can use a set of doubles in 20 feet of fresh water wearing no weight belt and be underwater for nearly three hours!!! Once you get underwater with the tanks, you don't feel the weight, so this is more a question of personal prefference. I'm with Wreckdiver1715 on the "freedom" issue with tanks. Sometimes, for reasons unknown, some force "pulls" you in a certain direction in our underwater quests... being on a hose can limit you and the direction your search may take you.

The "Hooka" gear will pay for itself over a long period of time depending upon how much diving you do. The tanks will allow you more freedom and reduce entanglements. If you dive all day with hose gear at 40 to 45 feet, then you're gonna get bent, so the same rules as far as bottom time/no decompression limits still apply. Using scuba kind of forces you to come up and take a look at your bottom time. So you must plan accordingly.

Shallow water, pulling the hooka behind you, it is great for allong the beach. I use surface supplied/hose gear when I'm working, but often times I switch to scuba depending on the job.

OK... now that I have confused you more... airfills and shop availability is a concern, so floating down the river with a gas engine running overhead may be better, but watch out for the entanglements. If diving at the beach, I would think there may be a risk of a wave tipping the engine/float "hooka" system upside down? I've had a compressor "walk" (vibrate) of the end of a dock many years ago and let me tell you... it was no fun having nothing but water in your breathing hose!!! Even though I was only in ten feet of water, it was still a big suprise!!!

Anyway... I go through Raymond every once in a while on my way up to Manchester. Maybe I'll give you a call the next time I come through...

Have a good one and dive safe,

Wayne

 

[China-Clipper]

Checked out a few "hooka" rigs

I found a dealer selling a one-man (could support two with another regulator) unit that had a 110 volt compressor that could be run off a 1500 watt inverter with a 12 volt battery for about $500 less shipping. The unit would run about 1-1/2 hours on a deep cycle battery. Plus, I could use it at home on line voltage to clean my pool. I'm still thinking of taking a dive course to learn the safety aspects, but might go hooka over SCUBA for cost and convenience.

 

[Seaweednh]

Wayne,

What part of southern Maine are you in?

I will agree that the two systems have advantages and disadvantages. Diving in the Cape Ann area you wouldn't want anything floating above you. The lobstermen believe you are stealing their lobsters and will gladly take you in tow.

I still have my tanks and regulators and a bc I've only used once, unfortunately my wet suit shrank a few sizes. I would love to get back into diving but I don't want to deal with the weight of all the gear. If I manage to pick up an Excalibur then I would like to find a Hooka(h) mainly for shallow waters, 10-15' and probably mostly fresh water.

By all means, give me a heads up when you will be going through Raymond, I was just up to Freeport this past Sunday

Regards,
Ron

 

[southern maine diver]

Hi Ron...

I live in South Berwick, so I do a lot of work in the Portsmouth, Rye, Newington, Kittery areas. I'm about ten miles from I-95. I haven't been in the water since Jan 30th... I had a total shoulder replacement on Jan 31st and I've been on the mend ever since. Doc says I could be back in the water in mid April, so I have some time on my hands.
I guess I'll have to work on my dive boat and maybe get a "blower" for my motor...

You might be interested in an upcoming "antique bottle show" that is scheduled for April 1st in Somersworth, NH. I go to the bottle shows and you can see a lot of "glass" and what the value is. I know several bottle divers that attend the show... might be of some interest to you.

Wayne

 

[OutBack Duo]

I have enjoyed reading this topic and now its time for my input. I just completed my Scuba Certification and have already purchased my dive gear. I chose scuba over hookah because of the freedom to basically go anywhere. I am a big time metal detectorist and will detect while diving but I am sure I am going to dive without metal detecting. If someone wants to know what it costs to get scuba certified and get your own equipment here is what I paid:

class, student package, open water dives $350
mask, snorkel, fins, BC, regulator, gauges, 2 wet suits $1075 (I shopped around and got some great deals)

Either way you go you are going to pay out some serious money so make sure you weigh the pro's and con's of both very carefully.

Good luck and let us know which way you decide to go.

 

[aquacop911]

Hookah is the only way to go.....jmo, i have the Hookah by airline and love it! I scuba'd for 20 years and will not be going back to tanks for a long time.