Scuba Cylinders

We stock and sell aluminum and steel scuba diving tanks

Scuba Tanks and Cylinders in Nanaimo

Your scuba tank is more than just a container for air. The size, material, and configuration of your cylinder directly affect your buoyancy, trim, gas supply, and overall comfort underwater. At Nanaimo Dive Outfitters, we stock and service tanks for recreational, cold-water, and technical diving, and we help divers choose setups that make sense for how and where they dive.

We carry Faber steel cylinders and Catalina aluminum cylinders, two of the most trusted names in diving.

Aluminum vs steel scuba tanks

Both aluminum and steel tanks have a place. The right choice depends on your diving style, gas consumption, and configuration.

Aluminum cylinders

- Commonly used at dive resorts worldwide
- Lighter out of the water and corrosion resistant
- Tend to become more buoyant as they empty
- Popular for warm-water diving, stage bottles, and deco cylinders

Catalina aluminum tanks are a solid choice for travel, training, and technical stage use.

Steel cylinders

- Higher working pressure and increased gas capacity
- Remain negative throughout the dive
- Often reduce the amount of lead you need to wear
- Favoured by cold-water divers and technical divers

Faber steel tanks are extremely popular locally due to their durability, trim characteristics, and gas volume.

Common tank configurations we support

We sell and service tanks for a wide range of setups, from basic recreational diving to advanced technical training.

Single tank setups - Ideal for recreational and training dives. Available in aluminum or steel depending on your needs and weighting preferences.

Doubles - Used by technical divers and advanced recreational divers. Doubles provide redundancy and increased gas supply for deeper or longer dives.

Stage and decompression bottles - Smaller aluminum cylinders used to carry additional gases for decompression or extended bottom time.

Pony bottles - Independent bailout cylinders used as an extra safety margin, commonly seen with solo divers, photographers, and cold-water divers.

Our staff can help you choose the correct size, valve type, and rigging for your specific configuration.

Valves, bands, and cylinder accessories

We stock and service:

- DIN and yoke valves
- Manifold valves for doubles
- Valve replacements and rebuilds
- Bands and hardware for twin sets
- Stage bottle rigging kits

Proper valve selection and maintenance is critical for both safety and compatibility with your regulators.

Tank inspections and testing

Keeping your cylinders in compliance and safe to dive is essential. Nanaimo Dive Outfitters offers:

- Visual inspections (VIPs)
- Hydrostatic testing coordination
- Valve servicing and replacement
- Cleaning for oxygen-compatible use

If you’re unsure whether a used tank is in date or serviceable, bring it in and we’ll walk you through its condition and options.

Air, nitrox, oxygen, and trimix fills

We provide a full range of gas fills for recreational and technical divers, including:

- Compressed air
- Nitrox fills
- Oxygen fills
- Trimix blending

Whether you’re diving locally, training for technical courses, or preparing for a trip, we can help ensure your cylinders are filled correctly and analyzed properly.