After spending a lot of money on dive gear it makes sense to look after that investment. An expensive wetsuit or buoyancy compensator can be quickly ruined if not cared for properly.
Salt Water
The biggest destroyer of equipment is salt water, and as most diving is done in salt water, a lot of gear has the potential to be ruined.
After a dive, if any equipment made of cloth, like a wetsuit or buoyancy compensator, is left to dry, the water evaporates leaving tiny salt crystals behind. These have sharp edges that act like small knives cutting the material. Usually the seams are the first to go and eventually the item just falls apart.
Rinse all equipment in fresh water to remove the salt water.
Regulator
Always rinse the regulator in fresh water. Fit the dust cap to ensure no water enters the high-pressure side. If the regulator is off the tank, don’t depress the purge button on the second stage while rinsing as water could enter. With the regulator on the tank and pressurised, press the purge button while rinsing so the airflow will prevent water entering. It is a good idea to purge air through the regulator after rinsing to blow any water out and dry the inside.
Saliva Build-up
Another problem with regulators is the saliva that accumulates during a dive. If this isn’t washed out it can breed all sorts of diseases. This includes the alternate air supply.
A small amount of diluted disinfectant washed through the mouthpieces of regulators, buoyancy compensators and snorkels should kill any nasties.
Buoyancy Compensator
Put a small amount of water into the bladder of the buoyancy compensator, rinse it around vigorously then pour it out through the mouthpiece. Repeat a few times.
Check Equipment While Rinsing
It is also a good chance to go over equipment looking for faults. Are the fin straps nearly shot? What about the regulator? Are the hoses getting worn, especially at the compression fitting where the hose-end joins the rubber hose? If so, replace them before the next dive. Check the buoyancy compensator for any seams coming undone or valves sticking.
Drying Scuba Equipment
After equipment has been rinsed, the next important step is drying. Avoid drying in direct sunlight. The sun is another big destroyer of equipment as the ultraviolet rays act against nearly everything.
Storing Scuba Equipment
When everything is dry it shouldn’t end up in a gear bag in a jumbled mess. Wetsuits should be left hanging or lying out flat. If folded, the neoprene sets in that position and the suit loses shape. Buoyancy compensators should be stored about half full of air. This ensures the rubber of the bladder doesn’t fuse together.
Regulators should be laid out flat. A hose stored with a tight kink means there is a point of stress that will eventually lead to a weak spot. The most common place for this to occur is the compression fitting.
As in most sports, prevention is better than cure, so if this rinsing of equipment sounds like a lot of work, remember it can save money on an expensive repair job or complete replacement of equipment.
The only time when it is not necessary is when diving in fresh water and then it is a joy to be able to finish a dive and have a bit less equipment to rinse. But as most diving is undertaken in the oceans, divers will have to keep washing!
