Stage bottle

In scuba diving, a stage bottle refers to an additional cylinder of breathing gas carried by a diver to extend their underwater dive time or to support specific aspects of the dive, such as decompression stops or increased safety measures. This secondary cylinder is commonly referred to as a “stage bottle” because it is staged or deployed at a certain point during the dive. Stage bottles are typically smaller than the primary scuba tank and may contain specialized gas mixes suitable for specific portions of the dive. Divers often use stage bottles for decompression or to switch to a different gas blend for technical or deep dives. The stage bottle is secured to the diver’s equipment, often using specially designed rigging, and is managed carefully to ensure a controlled and safe deployment when needed during the dive. In essence, the stage bottle is an additional breathing gas source that allows divers to execute more complex and extended dives beyond the capacity of their primary scuba tank.