Last Updated: April 20, 2022
When you go deep into the sea to tour the underground depths of the ocean, you would need something to help you get oxygen for you to breathe there. Scuba tanks serve that purpose. It is the essential equipment needed for scuba diving.
Have you ever wondered if scuba tanks float, especially the empty ones?
Well, in general, the answer is no, scuba tanks do not float as they are negatively buoyant. Scuba tanks are made of heavier materials like aluminum and steel. These, according to their buoyancy and heavy material built, sink.
What about when it gets empty? It leads to the critical question, do empty scuba tanks float?
Do Empty Scuba Tanks Float?
We know that when oxygen is compressed it has some amount of weight. Then, what about when tanks lose the oxygen. Do they float then?
Well, the simple answer would be no, but the answer is a little more complicated than that. It depends on a lot of factors. The most evident one would be on the kind of material it contains. It also depends on the material’s buoyant effect.
What is Buoyancy?
The law of buoyancy, given by Archimedes, states that anybody immersed in a liquid either entirely or partially gets applied by an upward force called the buoyant force, which is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced.
Thereby, we can say that the scuba tanks also go by this theory as they get suspended in water. The scuba cylinder, while starting, might weigh around 40 pounds, but by the end, it might become empty. Then, the material of the cylinder is considered. This weight depends on how heavy the material used is.
Since steel tanks are naturally heavier than aluminum, they sink more than aluminum ones which, in contrast, float. The floating happens since aluminum is lighter than steel.
When the compressed air gets off, only the weight of the material remains. Hence, the lighter material can then float. Accordingly, the aluminum is negatively buoyant when it is complete, but it’ll flow as it is positively buoyant when it’s empty. Steel, on the other hand, is negatively buoyant when it’s both full as well as when empty.
Recommended Read: How to Fill a Scuba Tank
Are Aluminum Tanks More Advantageous?
Now the question arises if the empty scuba tanks floating is an advantage.
The empty aluminum ones float, and it can be advantageous to select a lighter tank for beginners. Moreover, they are cheap and easy for heights and are more preferred.
When the tanks are needed to get balanced according to your weight, it is advisable to use Buoyancy Control Devices (BCD). These devices can assist in regulating the tank’s weight according to your wishes. Still, steel cylinders are more durable and have more volume and pressure.
Also read: How Long Does a Scuba Tank Last?
Final Thoughts
Scuba diving is an excellent activity to have fun and get wild. However, it is also equally essential to be properly equipped and have knowledge about your gear before taking the plunge. It is better to clarify all your doubts before going underwater as it can be dangerous.
Scuba tanks do not float when you’re going in since they would contain compressed air. So, do empty scuba tanks float? Yes, if it gets made of a lighter material, it will float when the compressed air has gone out. I hope this article has provided you clear answers to your questions.
My unbounded love for the oceans and everything it has to offer motivated me to pursue my passion and become a professional scuba diving instructor.
I keep reading, exploring, and learning more about scuba diving and the underwater world all the time, so I’m excited to share my knowledge with fellow scuba enthusiasts and hopefully contribute a little to your development as a diver. I want people to fall in love with the oceans with as much passion as I have. Read more about me here.