Are you ready for the upcoming dive season? What about your gear? Has anything happened to it since you
prepared it for winter storage several months ago? When was the last time you had your gear
serviced?
Comfort, fit and performance of your scuba gear are all part
of an enjoyable dive. As part of our
basic scuba certification, we all know that Scuba Cylinders require visual
inspection every year and hydrostatic testing every five years. What about regulators or Buoyancy
Compensators (BCD’s)? What about your
basic snorkeling gear (mask, fins, snorkel)?
Also included in this big question is your wetsuit/drysuit.
Mask: Does it still
fit comfortably? Was it protected from
the elements while in storage? Has
something been pressing on it causing it to deform? The last thing you want during a dive is to
find that your mask will not seal. Try
it on now. Is it comfortable? Can you hold it on your face without using
the strap by a gentle inhalation from your nose?
Fins: Examine the blade for signs of age and the foot pocket to ensure that it will not present ‘pressure points’ on your foot, which can cause fatigue or discomfort.
Snorkel: A simple device that allows you to swim with your
head in the water. What could possibly go
wrong with such a simple thing? Does it
have a purge valve? Is it a multi-part
construction (more than one piece)?
Check the joints between the individual parts. Examine the mouth piece for fatigue. If you are able, make sure the purge valve is
free of contaminants.
Scuba Cylinders: Look at the neck of the tank for the last
hydrostatic test date. If it will be 5
years since the last test during this dive season, then NOW would be a good
time to get it hydro’d. Look on the tank
body for the date of the last visual inspection. The tank cannot be filled after this
date. If it will be expiring during the
dive season, then NOW would be a good time to have it inspected by a certified
facility.
BCD’s: When was the last time you serviced your BCD? There are many things you can do to maintain
your own BCD. Salt, sand, chlorine, can
all have an effect. Keeping it clean and
dry between dives is a good start. Take
a moment and inflate your BC. Go away
and do something else and come back in a while and examine its status. Is it still inflated the way that you left
it? If not, you might need to have it
looked at.
Regulators: This device provides breathing air to you while
you are enjoying your dive. An annual
inspection / servicing is a wise thing to do, and in many cases is a
requirement for warranty purposes.
Unless you are certified to maintain your regulators, it is advisable to
have a certified technician perform any service.
The Ajax Scuba Club has equipment available for members
to use during courses and club dives.
This equipment requires regular maintenance. Ajax Scuba Club uses trained professionals to service our rental equipment. Likewise, you should get to know the fantastic folks at Dive Source in Oshawa, or Innerspace Divers Supply in Pickering. Either of these fine dive shops can professionally service your gear.
The Ajax Scuba Club would like to thank Brian Pollock of Dive Source for his generous support of our club this year. It is most gratefully appreciated.