Off-Season Gear Maintenance: The Important, The Uncommon, The Weird

It's the off-season, and it's the perfect time to take care of your gear! It's time to go through it inch by inch, and make sure that it's ready for any upcoming trips, adventures, or just ready for the next season in general! Here's a list of things you should definitely do, along with some other less common items that you can also consider:

Get Your Regs Serviced!

They're your life support system! Don't skimp! Seriously! Take them to a REPUTABLE dealer who knows what they're doing, not some dude in his garage who's all like "I can service your breathy things, totally". Plus, your warranty (if you bought the regs new from a dealer) requires that they be serviced at certain intervals - refer to the documentation that came with your regs, or ask your favorite local dive facility!

Check Your Mouthpieces

Replace any that are on the verge of losing their bite tabs due to excited chewing.

Check Your Hoses

If you have rubber hoses, hook your regs up, pressurize them, and check the hoses for any bulges or cracks. Really, you should do this before every dive. But what the heck. Let's add it to the list.

Get your BCD Inflator and Valves Serviced

Did you know you can get those serviced? If you have a sticky inflator or dump valve - get it checked out!

Rinse the INSIDE of Your BCD

As in the bladder (the big inflaty bag thing that makes you float). Check your BCD documentation, but on most models you can unscrew the inflator to really get in there. If

you can't remove the inflator, just hold down the deflate button and hold the inflator under running water to fill it up. Fill the bladder with fresh water, swish around, dump, repeat, then let it dry. Especially if you dive salt water, this will save the bladder from an early death by getting rid of all the salt that can accumulate! Make sure the water is cool, NOT hot. Hot water + plastic products = bad things. You can also rinse the dump valves by dumping the rinse water out through those valves. Snazzy!

Check Your BCD Straps, Buckles, Connections, Zippers, Etc.

If you notice your straps are starting to wear out, or a buckle has a crack, it's better to repair it ahead of it breaking off completely. Also take this time to clean your zippers with an old toothbrush and a bit of baby shampoo. They'll be so happy! Empty your BCD pockets too. You never know what goodies you've left in there!

If Your BCD is Weight Integrated, Test the Dump System

Yeah, I know, that means re-threading your Zeagle system (I have a Zeagle, and you don't hear me whining, do you!?). However, it's better to make sure it works! Put the weight pockets in (no weights!), and try ditching them. Check to make sure the release system is unobstructed, that the pouches come out cleanly without getting snagged on any frayed material, and that you actually know how to ditch your weights! When putting it all back together, check that all components are in proper working order.

Re-Rinse Anything You Wear (Wetsuits, Drysuits, Hoods, Gloves, Boots, Etc)

With neoprene, just fill a tub with lukewarm (NOT HOT!!!) water, add a bit of baby shampoo or Mirazyme if things are rather stinky, soak the gear, squish the neoprene a bit to really get the suds in there, then rinse. Fill the tub a second time with clean water, and soak in clean water. Then, hang to dry as usual! If you're storing your wetsuit for the season, roll it - don't fold it. Neoprene has memory, and the last thing you want is an ill-placed crease where the sun doesn't shine.

For drysuits, rinse the outsides thoroughly, run fresh water over seals, valves, and any zippers. Clean zippers with a toothbrush again, and if you have a brass zipper - wax that sucker. If you have a Fusion drysuit with the lycra or Kevlar outer layers, you can actually remove those - they just un-velcro around the zipper, neck, wrists, and ankles. Remove the spandexy layer, machine wash cool (delicates cycle), hang to dry. Wipe down the inner nylon portion, hang to dry.

One more step if you love your drysuit like I do...

Rinse the INSIDE of Your Drysuit. You Heard Me!

I legitimately rinse the inside of my suit all the time. It gets funky in there if you use it a lot! This can be something as simple as a damp cloth with a bit of shampoo, then another damp cloth with just fresh water. It makes a world of difference!

Clean the Gunk Off Your Mask, and Check the Strap

Whether you use defog or spit in your mask (ew), it does build up over time. If you use your mask in chlorine at all, doubly so. Grab some toothpaste (the crappy white stuff that you can get for like $1 at your grocery store - nothing abrasive), and rub it on the inside and outside of the lens to remove residue. You can use it on the skirt as well. Rinse in cool water, and let dry. Check that your mask strap is in good working order, and that the buckles on the sides aren't busted.

Check Your Snorkel - Especially the Purge Valve

Unless you dive with a vintage J tubey snorkel, your snorkel has a purge valve at the bottom. Check to make sure it hasn't disintegrated, as that is literally a thing that happens! Check the mouthpiece for damage (these can be replaced too!), and check the tube itself for any cracks.

Check Your Fin Straps

Make sure they're in good shape and not showing signs of deterioration. Also check the rest of the fin for damage. If you have full-foot fins, check that the foot pocket is in good condition.

Computers, Cameras, Lights, Electronics

These suckers need love, and they're expensive. So this is important:

Rinse Again: Soak in cool water for a few hours, even overnight.

Scrub: Get a little toothbrush, and scrub over the entire thing gently - don't do this on screens or lenses though. Don't want to scratch anything!

Dry: Let everything dry thoroughly overnight before opening up any enclosures.

Lubricate: Open everything up, remove the o-rings, clean any gunk from the o-ring seats with a small toothbrush, lightly lube the o-rings, and reseat.

Store: Store everything away from dust, heat, or sunlight.

I prefer to remove batteries from lights/computers/cameras when they won't be used for prolonged periods of time. You only have to have a battery leak once to learn that lesson!

Carrying Bags

Your bags need love too! Have you ever smelled a gear bag after a dive season? It gets NASTY! Wipe down the inside of large bags or cases with a damp cloth, and leave open to air out overnight. Check wheels for loose screws. Check zipper teeth for damage. Vacuum out any sand, dirt, bits of fluff, etc. If it's a duffel bag, you can usually machine wash them.

And - it does happen - check ALL the pockets to make sure you didn't forget a snack in there....

Logbook

Don't laugh. When you do a pile of diving, your logbook does get full. Once a year, take out pages you don't need, restock with fresh pages, replace the pens you've lost, and re-stock your sticker supply (I LOVE stickers!). I also like to store spare computer batteries in a compartment in my logbook, this is when I check to make sure I still have one or two!

Restock your Save-A-Dive Kit

Let's face it, they get depleted! Start by removing everything. Wipe down the inside, restock missing items, then put things back in nicely and neatly! Replace any damaged tools, and check that your defog and silicone goop are still full. Don't forget to get rid of all the random crap that accumulates throughout the year! I end up with an absurd number of busted o-rings (hey, there isn't always a garbage can available!).

Get Your Tanks in for Vis or Hydro if They're Due. If Not....

Your cylinders need a visual inspection every year, and a hydrostatic inspection every five. Stay on top of that! If they're not due, check your o-rings, replace if needed, and if the valves have been finicky, have them looked at! Make sure to always store your cylinders with some gas in them, never empty them out!

Finally, Wash Your Undergarments.

Drysuit divers who don't regularly wash their undergarments concern me. Primarily because they smell like ripe bananas after a dive. I can't believe I even need to say this, but you can wash your undergarments! SHOCKING! I know! Cold water, delicates cycle, no need for fabric softener as it tends to cause some insulating fibers to clump funny (reducing their thermal characteristics). If you need to put them in the dryer, tumble dry LOW! Also, turn the undies inside out to dry. The fuzzy inside layer is the part that takes forever. Let that dry overnight, then turn it right side out and let the nylon side dry. Before storing, check zippers, repair any damaged seams, and slip a little Bounce sheet in there to keep things fresh till next time.

Take Care of Your Gear Before it Needs it, and You'll be SO Much Happier.

Don't wait till something goes wrong. Your gear will last longer, you'll spend less on maintenance, and you'll enjoy your dives more if everything is kept in tip-top shape.

And please, WASH YOUR UNDERGARMENTS! GROSS!

Happy Diving!

-Sab

#Diving #Maintenance