Which OXSEA mini scuba tank? OX500, OX500Plus, OX1000 and OX2000 compared

OXSEA makes four refillable mini scuba tanks in aluminium, all filled to 200 bar. Two things set them apart: how much air they hold, and how you carry them. Pick the one that matches your jobs rather than the biggest one.

The four tanks at a glance

	OX500	OX500Plus	OX1000	OX2000
Tank	0.5 L	0.5 L	1 L	2.3 L
Air once expanded, roughly	100 L	100 L	200 L	460 L
Time near the surface	Up to 8 min	Up to 8 min	About 15 min	20 to 25 min
Worn	In the mouth	In the mouth or on the back	On the back	On the back
Hand pump	Yes	Yes	No	No
12 V / 220 V compressor	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
OXAIR mask	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

For scale, a standard 12 litre dive cylinder at 200 bar holds about 2,400 litres of air. The times are measured breathing calmly near the surface: effort, cold water and nerves all shorten them.

Choose by the job

• A quick look: the prop, the anodes, an anchor that will not come up. The OX500.
• Tools in both hands: an anode change, scraping the leg, cutting a line off the shaft. The OX500Plus on your back.
• Jobs that run past 8 minutes: a full clean of the running gear, a mooring check from the buoy down. The OX1000.
• Big boats and long sessions: twin engines, regular bottom cleaning, long reef swims with the mask. The OX2000.

Choose by how you will refill

• Hand pump: about 20 minutes per half-litre fill, no power at all. Only for the OX500 and the OX500Plus. The pick for tinnies, beach launches and campsites.
• 12 V / 220 V compressor: about 12 minutes for 0.5 litre and 20 for 1 litre, from a 12 V battery or mains power. Fills every tank, and comes in the OX1000 and OX2000 packs.

Snorkelling with the OXAIR mask

The OXAIR full-face mask fits all four tanks. You snorkel at the surface and the tank takes over when you dive down. A tank on your back (OX500Plus, OX1000 or OX2000) is the comfortable choice, and you add the mask on any pack page on oxsea.shop.

Questions before you buy

Do I need a dive ticket? No. OXSEA tanks are used without diver training, at shallow depth, following the safety rules: breathe continuously, never hold your breath while ascending, ascend slowly. A first go in a pool is still the best start. Our safety guide and the guide to a first dive with a mini tank cover the basics.

Can I spearfish with it? In Queensland, NSW, the NT and South Australia, no: a mini tank counts as underwater breathing apparatus. Elsewhere it depends on the zone. See what each state allows.

Do I need a dive flag? Yes, the Code Flag A, and other boats must keep a set distance that differs from state to state. See our dive flag guide.

Can I take a second tank? Yes, add as many as you like on the pack page. One refill system does them all, so two of you can go in together or you can swap tanks between jobs.

Can I take it on a plane? Only empty: valve open or head off, and declared at check-in. Airlines set their own rules, so check with yours before the trip.

And the warranty? Two years on the tanks and the refill systems, plus 30 days to send an order back.