Schedule a Regulator Servicing
Your regulator is one of the most important pieces of dive equipment. The first and second stages of your primary regulator, your octopus, or secondary air source, should be serviced annually to ensure it is functioning properly. Many manufacturers only suggest maintenance of the regulator every other year, however, to keep it in tip-top shape, we suggest you have it tuned up annually.
Check Your Dive Computer
Be sure to turn on all of your dive computers! Your main system and backup wrist model to avoid any computer malfunctions during a dive. Make sure each of your dive computers is functioning properly and is fully charged before you go or visit your local dive shop service center to get a battery change. Do this before you go on any dives or leave on a trip!
Rinse Your Equipment After Every Dive
Regardless of if you’re diving in fresh or saltwater, it’s vital that you thoroughly rinse your diving equipment after each dive. This is number one on our dive gear maintenance tips because rinsing off your equipment is one of the best ways to prolong the life of your gear. It not only helps to dislodge dirt and natural debris, but it also helps to wash away any microorganisms that may have hitched a ride on your body during your dive.
Check For Dirt and Defects
Dive equipment such as buckles on your BCD, inflator buttons, regulator purge buttons etc. should be checked before every dive to be sure that all moving parts are clean and working properly. This also ensures there is no dirt, sand or salt crystals stuck in your diving gear causing friction or abrasion that might cause a malfunction during a dive.
Allow Your Equipment To Fully Dry After Every Dive
While it isn’t always feasible to allow your gear to dry after every dive, especially if you’re going on more than one dive a day, drying your gear before you store it is extremely beneficial to prolonging the life of your equipment. If your equipment (especially your suit) remains damp, this allows for the growth of bacteria and even mould, causing your suit to degrade faster and potentially causing it to have an odour. Try to hang up your gear in a sunny and breezy spot to thoroughly dry inside and out after each dive.
Deep Clean Your Equipment Regularly
While rinsing your equipment after each dive is important, a deep clean is required periodically to expel any build-up of dirt, grime, and natural debris from your equipment. If you’re a regular diver, your equipment should be cleaned thoroughly with a cleaning solution designed for dive gear at least once a week. If you’re a casual diver, be sure to thoroughly clean your kit after each trip.
Store Your Equipment Properly
The last of our dive gear maintenance tips is to simply store your gear properly. Storing your kit in a cool, dry storage space is extremely important. Make sure your gear is completely dry before packing it away, and never stand your fins on blade-ends as that will cause them to become misshapen over time. Last but not least, make sure your scuba mask is dry, clean, and placed somewhere carefully where it cannot be scratched or damaged in storage.
Renting Is A Viable Option
If you’re going on your next scuba adventure, and you don’t want to take your equipment out of storage or on the plane, renting your equipment is a great option. Belize Dive Haven offers affordable and quality scuba equipment rentals to make your trip easier, plus, this ensures that the gear you’re wearing is professionally maintained and ready for your dive.
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Just 30 miles from Belize City, Belize Dive Haven is located in pristine Turneffe Atoll. Consisting of creeks, lagoons, mangrove islands and cays, the atoll is home to over 500 species of fish, 65 different species of stony corals as well as birds, turtles, manatees and dolphins.
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