End of summer time maintenance plus top tips for next season

Most of you have invested a sizeable amount of money in dive gear, so it's essential you do some basic husbandry as you want it to look after you during use.

Follow these pre and post-dive steps to keep your kit in good working order:
With your regulator, first make sure the dust cap has no saltwater in it, if it has, wash it out while keeping your thumb on the opening of the first stage, so water doesn’t go in. Blow the dust cap dry and then put it back on the first stage and seal tightly.

Slide the hose protectors away from where the hoses connect to the first and second stages and rinse.

Rinse mouthpieces and exhausts of the second stages. Do not press the purge button while doing this! If you do happen to press the purge button, make sure that you put your regulator back on a tank and purge the second stages.

Inspect the mouthpiece for damage, replace the mouthpiece if required. Check your hoses for any wear and tear. Replace if needed.  

Submerge the entire regulator in a bucket with fresh water, soak for at least 5 minutes. Make sure the hose protectors are not covering the metal parts. Once dry, use spray silicone on the thread of 1st stage clamp.

Your regulator will need a regular service (most manufacturers recommend every 100 dives or every two years, whichever comes first).

Remember it’s most important to clean all your gear thoroughly after a days diving.

Wash your BCD thoroughly, inflate it, to make sure it holds pressure, make sure the inflator works correctly and that all dumps are working. Inspect all fittings and hoses for cracking.

You should dry dive gear completely before storage. This may take quite some time; in humid environments it may take several days. Do not dry gear in the sun. While equipment may dry quickly in the sun. UV rays and sunlight can be very harmful to fabrics, neoprene, silicon, and rubber.

Don't be tempted to throw all of your dive kit into your gear bag and put it in the shed or leave it at the bach. Not the best way to store your gear! Dive kit is a favourite hideout for all sorts of beasties. When totally dry, seal your gear in plastic storage container. Put a couple of desiccant packs in with it, these are quite cheap to purchase.
When you get your kit out of storage, assemble and do a pre dive check prior before going diving.

Warning:
Safety first Divers. Do not pull your dive equipment apart unless you are trained to do so, remember it's life support equipment, and you are the user.

Top tips for next season

• If you are drift diving or expect to travel vast distances underwater use an SMB (surface marker buoy) big enough for the boat to see or follow. It may well prevent emergency services being called. • Before you dive, get professional training and certification from a reputable training agency. If you haven’t dived for while, a refresher course is a good idea.
• Before you dive, get a medical assessment (at least every five years)
• Let somebody know you are going diving and where. Always dive with a dive buddy.
• Always dive under a Dive Flag.