UPDATE

The International Standards Organisation has recognised BSAC's proposal of a risk-based approach with a separate classification for 'recreational diving cylinders'.  While this is a step towards keeping the 2.5 year test it hasn't been ratified yet so we all need to keep our fingers crossed.   So it seems that the 12 month cylinder test might actually happen despite lobbying against it.  In February a British Standards Institute meeting was held in South Africa to organise the amendments but BSAC are still discussing a work around similar to the American system that defines recreational SCUBA cylinders as 'sport and recreation' equipment, separate from commercial equipment so can be given a different testing schedule. The change stems from the Vienna Agreement to standardize procedures across all those who sign which means we automatically adopt the new standards as we signed it back in the 1990s.  Right now the estimate for when the new standards are enforced is October '17 so a lot of cylinders will need testing before they can be filled after that so don't be surprised if you're refused at a filling station. This has sparked fears of underground testing and filling in some circles and actually increasing the chances of incidents instead of reducing.  Some divers already test and fill their own cylinders but fears are that more divers will try it themselves with less knowledge which can lead to an accident.   The question if another type of test such as a Visual 'Lite' Test will be introduced as a yearly test and what will be included or required has arisen. The price of a Lite Test seems to be estimated around £8-10 that some service centres are considering which includes a visual inspection of the outside and inside of the cylinder only similar to the way the Americans currently operate.  This means that the yearly cost of testing a cylinder won't actually change that much just the time it takes to drop your cylinders off to be tested.  

POSITIVES