Cleaning Your Gear

Any time that you dive there are a few things that you want to be able to clean afterwards. One of the main things you should always have is fresh water. You can Purchase a large 30/40 gallon bucket/tub from Home Depot or Target. Fill it with fresh water and use this to soak and rinse all of your gear in. If you want to just complete this in a tub you can, but you will find that its usually not the best smell or gunk to leave in your tub. Nothing shortens the life of your scuba equipment more than salt water, where the majority of scuba diving is done. Also don’t dry your scuba equipment in direct sunlight; the sun’s rays also shorten the life of scuba gear.

When cleaning regulators: The number one rule when washing your regulator is ensuring that your dust cap is securely in place. This ensures that no water enters the first stage regulator which has internal components that are sensitive to moisture. Before attaching the dust cap it is best to dry the inside of it and of the opening in the first stage regulator. The most common method is to blow it out with air from the dive tank, although this may sometimes be discouraged on boats due to the noise it makes. Once the regulator is rinsed you can hang it up to dry.
After completely rinsing off the outside of BCD the bladder must washed out. This is very important and probably the most overlooked step in the preventive maintenance of your scuba gear. First drain out any salt water trapped in bladder. Then put some fresh water in bladder and shake vigorously letting water run out of deflate valve. Repeat this process or 3 times. Be sure all water is out of bladder.

Masks & Fins: After rinsing and letting your mask and fins dry, store them in a cool dry place out of direct sun light. Excess heat can warp fins and distort the silicone around the mask and mask strap. Storing fins on their tips can also warp them. Avoid contact with oil, aerosol, chemical solvents, etc. as coming in contact with any of these materials can cause these items to begin to erode or degrade

When cleaning your wetsuits use a disinfectant detergent, available at most dive supply stores. Wash the suit, booties, and gloves by submerging them in water and dunking them up and down, turning them inside out as well to ensure that both inside and outside are completely clean.

Dive Lights & Cameras: Lights and cameras are extremely sensitive to water, sand and salt. Work all moving parts while soaking to loosen any salt and sand deposits. Allow the unit to dry completely after soaking and before opening any compartments. Once dry, loosen all connectors so they do not freeze in place. Then remove batteries, film or storage disks. Clean and lubricate all o?rings thoroughly before next use. Store the components in a protective case to prevent any seals from exposure to dust and dirt.
Make sure to rinse tanks, rescue sausages, whistles, dive propulsion vehicles, weights, catch bags, and anything else that may have been in the water at some point or another. Remove any batteries or other items that may corrode overtime from your gear. Tanks should be stored with at least 100 psi of air in them to keep out any moisture. You may also want to lubricate any zippers to make them easier to open and close the next time you need them.
Make this process a habit. Once you have made this routine a habit, you will see how quickly and easy preventive maintenance on scuba gear really is. Save yourself money and aggravation when on your next vacation trying to relax and enjoy.