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One of the things that has us looking at STX as a retirement spot is the relative availability of shore diving. It would take me a long time to get bored with the Fredriksted pier, and then there's Cane Bay and so on. So the burning question: do y'all ship your tanks from the mainland, get 'em inspected and keep 'em filled all the time, or do you just do rentals? Not the most pressing question, but I've been wondering... Never saw this asked/answered.
Posted : June 20, 2016 11:17 pm
Don't know the answer to that one as we just rent for now but I'd be asking the dive shops how much to buy tanks to compare to shipping them in and what they do for tank inspections, how much they charge for air fills v.s. rentals. One shop charges $12 for a tank, $8 to fill or $60 for 10 fills paid up front.
Posted : June 20, 2016 11:39 pm
Well, if you save $6 a fill vs renting, you can pay off the price of a tank in about 30 dives. If you already own tanks, shipping them would be a no brainer since all you get is about $75 for a used tank and a new one on the island will cost at least $250. I have not seen any used tanks for sale on Craigslist on STX in the sat 6 months.
Posted : June 21, 2016 12:30 am
You can rent a tank for $8. I honestly don't see the benefit of owning a tank when it costs the same to refill. Even if one of the shops has a $6 prepaid deal then you're netting $2 a fill but then you have to pay to have it inspected.
Posted : June 21, 2016 12:44 am
Diver's Direct ships to the VI (from FL) but tanks don't qualify for free shipping.
Posted : June 21, 2016 12:45 am
If you're moving here...bring them.
You can always call a couple of local dive shops to see what they sell them for to help make your decision. Some friends visited me a couple years ago and mailed their tanks here in advance since they were staying for a month.
Posted : June 21, 2016 1:49 am
If you dive yoke valves rent. If you prefer din valves then I'd buy.
Posted : June 21, 2016 9:48 am
Topic starter
Thanks everyone for the feedback! I'l have to call around to some of the dive shops for visual and hydro prices, then sort out the shipping costs to see what we want to do. Deb has her 50 and 64 that are so much easier to lug around, so she'll be voting to bring.
Posted : June 21, 2016 9:36 pm
About $30 for vis, $60 hydro
I have my own tanks and am here 4 to 5 months a year
Posted : June 22, 2016 12:42 am
