Equipment maintenance
EQUIPED?
TIME TO WORK!
Have you purchased all or part of your equipment? This is very good. Now, maitain it, and it is important.
Mainly one objective here: remove salt, sand and other particles that you have brought back from your dive.
Salt is your worst enemy. It will attack almost everything if you are not careful. Diving equipment, although robust, will suffer in the long run. The good news is that, if you are careful, it will last long.
AFTER DIVING
Drop everything into fresh water. You can either rinse your equipment several times in the tubs provided (they look like tanks or big coolers) or let them soak in it. Whether you are on a boat or onshore, you will always find these tubs. Rinse your clothes and accessories -gloves, knife, hook, buoy, everything- in one tub and your computers, compasses and cameras in a different one. You will quickly discover that camera users are very picky about not mixing tubs...
The second option, also effective, is to take everything in the shower if you have one either at the dive center or one at home.
If you do several dives during the day or the week, rinse clothes, computer, compass and camera after each dive. Do it only at the end of the day for your BCD, regulator and accessories.
WETSUIT
You may use solutions to clean and de-salt such as the brand 500psi. I am not making a particular publicity here but its the one I usually use. Personally I use it for wetsuits, shorts, rash-guard. A little of this solution in a tub of water and done, let rest few hours.
I have seen dive shops cleaning wetsuits in more or less elaborate ways. Some just sink them in water, others in water with a conventional detergent. And I anticipte your question (as I imagine your horrifid look right now): is the wetsuit am I am getting from the dive shop clean or has the previous diver urinated in it. The answer is; you don't know, and you won't know. So don't think about it and focus on diving.
FINS, BCD, ETC.
For fins, boots, BCD, mask, snorkel and accessories (knife, hook, etc.) I spend a long time in the shower. Use clean water.
For your BCD, make sure to remove all the water left inside using the valves. Press the vest against your chest and purge.
COMPUTER
COMPASS
Your computer and compass can simply soak for a few hours in cool water. For your computer, refer to the manufacturer's instructions. The classics (like Sunnto I use) are very reliable and require little maintenance. The first problem you'll probably have will be the battery. Take it to a dive shop. Ideally a competent one so it doesn't do more harm than good.
REGULATOR
For regulators, rinse them several times in a tank. The regulator requires professional maintenance on a regular basis. I am not going into the details here. Be disciplined. This is your life line under water.
I skip the air tanks since I doubt you will clean them. Be informed that tanks are also inspected on a regular basis, but that's not your job.
Last but not least, do not let your equipment dry under the sun. We often dive in tropical zones and its tempting to let the sun work but no, bad idea. Find a dry area in the shadow, no under direct sunlight.
Have a pinch of military discipline and you will keep your equipment for years. Your return on investment will be maximized.
Frequency of use, maintenance, and storage conditions all have an impact.
