OXSEA mini scuba tank comparison: OX500, OX500Plus and OX1000

All three OXSEA mini scuba tanks are built on the same base: a 6061 aluminium cylinder, a working pressure of 200 bar and refills you do yourself. They differ in only three ways: how long you can stay underwater, how you wear them and how you refill them. Those three differences decide which model is right for you.

The comparison at a glance

Prices as listed on oxsea.com on 1 October 2026.

Air time: 8 or 15 minutes

The OX500 and the OX500Plus hold the same volume of air, 0.5 litres, for a maximum of 8 minutes. The OX1000 holds twice as much and lasts about 15 minutes. You get these times close to the surface, breathing calmly. The deeper you go and the harder you work, the faster the air runs out. So treat these figures as a ceiling, and pick your model for the longest job you have in mind, not the shortest.

Freeing an anchor or taking a quick look at a propeller takes a few minutes: 0.5 litres is enough. Cleaning part of the hull or working under the boat takes longer: that is where the OX1000 comes in.

Wearing it: in your mouth or on your back

You hold the OX500 in your mouth, like a snorkel. It weighs less than a kilo once in the water and fits in a boat locker. It is the simplest and lightest of the three, with a built-in gauge to monitor the pressure.

The OX500Plus adds a harness and an external regulator: you wear it on your back and keep both hands free. You can also use it in your mouth, like the OX500. Its external pressure gauge can be read at a glance.

The OX1000 is worn on your back, with harness and external regulator. It is the most stable setup for working.

Refilling: the factor that changes everything

A mini dive tank is only useful if you can fill it when you need it. There are three ways to do it.

• The manual pump (€159.99). No electricity needed, about 20 minutes for 0.5 litres. It only refills the OX500 and the OX500Plus. It is not compatible with the OX1000.
• The mini compressor (€549.99). It runs off a 12V battery or 220V mains power. About 12 minutes for 0.5 litres, about 20 minutes for 1 litre. It refills all three models.
• Transfer from a full-size scuba tank. With a DIN or yoke transfer station, you fill the mini tank from a standard scuba tank. Allow about one minute for the OX1000.

The upshot: with no electricity on board and no scuba tank, only the OX500 and the OX500Plus are self-sufficient, thanks to the manual pump. The OX1000 needs a compressor or a full-size tank.

Which model for which use

• A quick job now and then, with no electricity on board: the OX500 with the manual pump.
• Both hands free to work, for short sessions: the OX500Plus.
• Longer jobs under the hull: the OX1000 with the mini compressor.
• Torn between 0.5 and 1 litre: the mini compressor refills both sizes. You can start with an OX500 and add an OX1000 later without changing your refill equipment.

What it costs, refill included

The price to compare is the tank plus its refill method. Each pack brings the two together in a single order.

Frequently asked questions

Can the manual pump refill the OX1000?

No. The manual pump refills the 0.5 litre tanks, the OX500 and the OX500Plus. For the OX1000, you need the mini compressor or a transfer from a full-size scuba tank.

What is the difference between the OX500 and the OX500Plus?

Capacity and air time are the same: 0.5 litres and up to 8 minutes. The OX500Plus adds a harness, an external regulator and an external pressure gauge. You can wear it on your back, hands free, or in your mouth.

Does the mini compressor work on a boat?

Yes. It plugs into a 12V battery, the boat’s or a vehicle’s, or into a 220V socket.

Can I refill from a standard scuba tank?

Yes. All three models can be filled from a scuba tank with a DIN or yoke transfer station.

For full details on each model, see our mini scuba tanks or browse all our products. Have a question before you choose? Ask us.