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2 Sep 2018

Top 5 Tips for Maintaining Your Scuba Diving Equipment

It is estimated that there are as much as 2.87 million active scuba divers in the US. Despite this large number, we’re willing to bet that a significant portion of scuba divers aren’t maintaining their diving equipment as well as they could be. Whether you’re a pro or a complete novice, you should know how to properly care for your gear. In this article, you’ll find 5 tips for doing just that.

1. Rinse Everything

Think about the rocky cliffs on a shoreline or the hull of a boat. Have you ever noticed how quickly these surfaces erode when you come into a contact the sea? This is because the salt in saltwater is very corrosive if you keep it in direct contact with a surface for an extended period of time. So after each dive, you should rinse all of your gear with tap water from a hose or sink before storing your gear for the next dive. This rinse will also help get rid of sand, other abrasives, and little creatures that may be hiding in your wetsuit.

2. Store Away from Sunlight

UV rays from the sun can also do considerable damage to your gear if left exposed for too long. The sun can dry out your wetsuit and other gear too fast, leading to cracks in the rubber and breakages in other materials. So if your gear is dry, consider placing it all back into your dive bag instead of leaving it out in the sun on the boat. If your gear is wet, consider letting it dry in a shady area. It’ll take longer to dry, but your equipment will last longer too.

3. Give It Room to Breathe

Moisture and dark, close spaces don’t mix very well. So if you need to let your gear dry, don’t stuff it all in your dive bag or shoving it in a cramped area of your garage.You should give your equipment room to breathe so that it can all dry out properly. Just remember to lay out your equipment in the shade.

4. Handle Your Gear Carefully

Scuba equipment is expensive so you should treat it with the care it deserves. Never throw your fragile pieces of equipment on the floor, like your mask or regulator, and try to always pack and store your own dive bag when heading out on a dive boat. The only person that will be careful with your equipment is yourself. An overworked dive boat captain will be less considerate.

5. Pay Special Attention to Your BCD

Your Buoyancy Control Device should also be cleaned with special care after usage. BCDs take in water frequently during use. When this water evaporates, salt crystals are left behind, which can poke tiny holes into the bladder of the BCD. So make sure to give this bad boy an extra thorough rinse before drying and storing it.