Me

Scuba Diving Gifts – I’ve got a spare air tank free for a gift. It’s never been used. I still need to get better at swimming to take scuba lessons. So I’m not going to take lessons for at least a year. It needs a hydrostatic check soon. There are similar tanks going for 300 dollars on ebay. Should I sell mine? When I take lessons would a spare air tank be usefull? Would I be better off selling it and buying a new one when I get better at Scuba diving? Or should I keep it and use it for occasional snorkling?

Rockstar from another dimension

Cheap Scuba Gear – So I’m sure alot of people might find this a silly question, but basically I’ve always wanted to be able to breathe underwater. But I don’t live in an area where there is any good place to do any scuba diving, not to mention that scuba gear is way too expensive. I don’t have enough money to buy scuba gear or travel anywhere to do it.

What I’ve been trying to find out for a long time is if there is any way I can actually get a very cheap device to play with. I basically only want to use it as a pool toy, and not much more. I’d never be going deeper than 10 feet tops, and I’d never need more than 10 breaths at a time.

I just found about about the “Spare air” system that looks like exactly what I need although its definely very pricey, and I can’t figure out how much it costs to refill, or if there is any way to perhaps put a schrader valve in the tank, or hook up some other modified tank, so I can refill with a foot pump, or one of those little 12v electric compressors ( I know it will never get up to the true psi, but enough for 5-10 breaths would be good.

For what I’m looking to do (basically just stay under water longer at the pool), is this my best bet, or is there a cheaper option.

One other question on a side note. Before I even found out about this spare air, I actually started building my own device. I used some pressure rated pvc (up to 250psi), to make the tank, and a schrader valve to fill it with my foot pump/electric 12v auto compressor, and it has some air hose leading to a blow valve to blow air in my mouth. Along with a pressure guage and also a regulator I can adjust down to any psi so the air doesn’t blow in my mouth too fast.

Haven’t used it yet since its winter, but it seems like it will work, seems like I’ll get about 5 breaths off the tank if its filled to 120psi, its just so clunky though. Is there any other plans out there for something similar, or a way to cheaply modify my device to have a regular regulator type thing instead of my blowgun valve?

Also, judging by the way my device is made, are there any safety concerns I need to know about? Like I can’t get the bends in 10 feet of water right? And the air from my foot pump or 12v compressor is safe to breathe right? Since neither makes exhaust or takes oil.

Thanks.