Over the last eight years of being in the scuba business, we have seen lots of innovative new products come onto the scuba scene.  Some of the products gain a solid footing and become part of nearly every scuba diver’s regular assortment of gear.  However, some products are not designed with that large market in mind.  The newest item we have recieved will certainly be in that second smaller category, and will serve a very small segment of the technical diving community.  This new product is a set of bands and isolation manifold to fit 5 1/2 inch diameter cylinders.  The Dive Sports Staff members have actually talked numerous times about the idea of doubling small aluminum or steel cylinders to make a small compact set of doubles, but we were sure that no manufacturer would put forth the initial expense of designing such a system.  Well, we were wrong. 

Dive Rite has designed a manifold and stainless steel tank bands to fit any tanks with a diameter of 5 1/2 inches.  We assembled a set today using Worthington 40CF  Steel Cylinders rated to 3130PSI.  The bands and manifold would also work on any 5 1/2 inch diameter tanks, like those from Faber and other manufacturers.   This set of Worthington Doubles is quite a neat little set.  They provide complete tank and regulator redundancy, while not weighing you down like a typical set of steel doubles.  They will also sit closer to your back so they will make for a very streamlined rig, probably more so than even a standard single cylinder.  I think they will be perfect for the diver who wants the trim, balance, and redundacy of doubles, but just doesn’t need all of the gas supply that conventional doubles provide.  I’m certainly looking forward to giving them a try myself.

Brad Ellis

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