Catalina 80 Cubic Foot Aluminum Scuba Tank

Catalina 80 Cubic Foot Aluminum Tank with Pro Valve: The Industry-Standard Recreational Scuba Cylinder

The Catalina 80 is the aluminum 80 cubic foot tank that fills more dive boats, rental racks, and personal gear bags than any other cylinder in recreational diving.

If you are a certified recreational diver looking to own your first tank, or replacing an aging cylinder, this is almost certainly the one your instructor, your local dive shop, and the dive operators you travel with already know and trust.

Why the AL80 Is the Default Choice

The aluminum 80 cubic foot format has become the de facto standard in recreational diving for straightforward reasons.

Eighty cubic feet at 3,000 psi (200 bar) gives most recreational divers a comfortable air supply for a single dive to typical sport depths, without the tank becoming unmanageable to carry or transport.

Aluminum does not rust. Instead, it oxidizes, and that oxidation forms a stable, protective layer that actually slows further corrosion. In practice, this means aluminum cylinders like the Catalina tend to hold up well over years of saltwater use and are less likely to be condemned at visual inspection due to internal corrosion compared to steel tanks.

The Catalina is also nitrox ready up to 40% oxygen, so if you earn your enriched air certification and want to extend your no-decompression limits on shallower dives, you do not need a different tank.

The Pro Valve: Yoke or DIN, Your Choice

The valve included with this tank is one of the more thoughtful parts of the package.

The Pro Valve is a convertible yoke/DIN valve, meaning it works with either regulator connection standard. Most recreational divers in North America use yoke (also called A-clamp) regulators. Many European operators and a growing number of technical divers use DIN, where the regulator screws directly into the valve for a more secure connection.

This valve ships ready for yoke. To switch to DIN, you remove the 200 bar DIN insert, and the valve accepts a DIN regulator. That one piece of hardware means you are not locked into one system, which matters when you travel.

The valve body is built from chrome-plated brass, a durable and corrosion-resistant material standard in quality cylinder valves. It also includes a multi-ported burst disc plug, a passive safety feature that vents gas if internal pressure climbs dangerously high.

Size and Weight in Real Terms

The buoyancy figure is worth understanding. At -1.8 lbs when full, the tank is slightly negative, meaning it sinks a little when you first enter the water. As you breathe down the air, the tank becomes progressively more positive, which is why most divers find they need less weight on their belt toward the end of a dive. This is normal AL80 behavior and something you factor into your weighting.

Certifications and Shipping

The Catalina meets US Department of Transportation (DOT) DOT-3AL specifications and Transport Canada TC-3ALM specifications. If you dive primarily in North America, you are covered.

If you plan to dive internationally, check with local operators or authorities. Not every country automatically accepts DOT/TC certification, and requirements vary.

One practical note on ordering: the valve ships removed from the tank. Before the tank can be filled for the first time, it will need a visual inspection (VI) by a qualified technician. Factor that into your timeline before your first dive.

Who This Tank Is Not For

The AL80 is a recreational cylinder. If you are moving into technical diving, doing extended range or cave diving, or need a stage or bailout bottle, you are likely shopping for steel cylinders, high-pressure tanks, or specific technical configurations. This is not that tank.

Similarly, if you are a smaller or lighter diver already struggling with weighting, the slightly positive buoyancy shift of an aluminum tank as it empties can complicate trim. Some divers in that situation prefer steel, which stays negative throughout the dive. It is worth discussing with your instructor or a knowledgeable dive shop before committing.

For the recreational diver doing open-water dives, resort diving, or liveaboard trips, the Catalina 80 with Pro Valve is as proven and practical as scuba cylinders get.