w ripley

The metal-to-metal connection systems tend to require a lot of hardware and to be expensive. Some add weight, as well.

I'm up to 1 set of female Shadow Mounts and 3 sets of male, which require 8 SS hose clamps. Adjusting for diving trim with the SMs, and it appears to be true for most metal-to-metal systems, requires multiple dives with small adjustments. Worst, the adjustment for one size tank doesn't seem to be the same for a smaller, larger, heavier or lighter tank. Traveling with gear is difficult enough and certainly complicated by having to set up new tanks before you can get in the water.

The cam-cleat approach requires nothing mounted on the tanks themselves. In addition to using less hardware, they allow you to grab any suitable tank close by and make your dive, not limiting you to only tanks that have been set up specifically to mate with your metal-to-metal connection system. While the cam cleats are usable for just about any size tank, they can even be adjusted for trim at the beginning of your dive -- and underwater -- by your buddy.

Before I saw your photos I had a garage full of cam cleats that I used to put on stage bottles (with a few pounds of lead) to control them during a cave exit when they were "floating" and I was on OC. I had been wondering what to do with them.

Bill