SCUBA and SCBA cylinders should be handled with care, never overfilled, and not dropped or otherwise abused. All scuba cylinders should receive a Visual Inspection following proper "VIP" (Visual Inspection Procedures) annually or even more often with frequent use. This process involves a thorough inspection of the cylinder's condition both inside and out, and helps ensure that the tank is safe to fill and safe to use.

There are specific federal requirements and manufacturer guidelines that govern visual inspection of high pressure cylinders. As per DOT (Dept of Transportation) and PHMSA (Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration) guidelines, we follow PSI/PCI as well as SDI/TDI standards of visual inspections.

An annual VIP inspection is $20. The service includes an updated VIP sticker and an air fill.

Cylinder inspections are typically completed within a week, however our schedule can vary by season and demand. We can let you know the day you drop-off your cylinder approximately when your cylinder will be available for pickup. We will call you on the day it is ready, or to advise you of any issues we may have discovered.

Tank valves are often neglected, and many divers don't service them until there is a problem. We recommend having your tank valve serviced with each hydrostatic test ("hydro"), but if your cylinder valve was not serviced with your latest hydro, or you do not know if it was, we can easily perform this service during a VIP. Some older valves do not have o-rings, or if you have an older valve with o-rings, we recommend upgrading to the newer kits that use teflon washers instead of o-rings. Tank valve services and prices depends on your type of cylinder valve and its condition.

Eddy-current testing (also known as "eddy testing" or ECT) is used to detect sustained-load cracking (SLC) in aluminum alloy cylinders. All aluminum alloy 6351-T6 tanks require Eddy-Current Testing at least every five years, however aluminum alloy 6351-T6 has not been used in aluminum SCUBA or SCBA cylinders manufactured after 1990. We generally recommend annual eddy testing for all aluminum alloy 6351-T6 tanks. Steel tanks or tanks made from aluminum alloy 6061 do not require eddy testing.