One of the most important things you can learn from scuba diving is to wash your equipment and gear. Its very important to maintain your gear to get maximum life span and ensure your gear performs safely when diving.
Washing Station Setup
The simplest way to prepare your washing station is to fill a large bathtub at home which will be filled with fresh water. If no bathtub then a simple hose or sink will work just as well. Many dive shops or resorts will have two tubs; one tub will be water for general gear such as wetsuits and other equipment while the other will be for specialist equipment such as cameras and diver computers and any other sensitive gadgets.
Where possible if your gear has a lot of sand on it is to hose it down before dunking it in the tub.
Regulator
The first thing before you start to wash your regulator is to ensure your dust cap is secure as any water that enters the first stage will cause water to enter the internal parts and cause damage.
Before you replace the dust cap you will need to dry the dust cap and the opening of the first stage. The easiest way is to use your tank to blow air onto the two components and this will dry the parts adequately, alternatively you may use a dry cloth to do the job.
Once this is done you need to place the regulator in freshwater for 5 minutes, avoid pressing the purge button as this will allow water to enter the first stage. It best to rotate any moving parts to ensure there is no salt which in the long run will rust. Once Its been soaked and cleaned hang it up and dry.
BCD
Washing a BCD comes in two parts, the internal and external of the BCD. The external is straight forward and can be dunked and soaked in a tub of freshwater to wash any salt off the BCD.
Step two as mentioned is the internal of the BCD, this will need to be done as small quantities of saltwater will enter while diving, and this will turn to salt crystals which over time will cause the values to malfunction and the internal bladder to tear.
So here is how to do it, Press the deflate button on the BCD and allow freshwater to enter to approximate 25%, afterwards shake the BCD and allow the water the wash around all corners. Once you are happy you have washed the internal the best method is to use the exhaust values to empty the water which at the same time will clean them too.
Now slight inflate the BCD to ensure the internal bladder does not stick together when drying and hang out to dry.
Dive Computer and Camera
Wash your dive computer in clean freshwater and not the same water you have washed your other gear as detergents and sand will damage your sensitive equipment. Soak this equipment for a longer time and press all the buttons ensure there is no salt trapped. If possible brush the surfaces with a toothbrush to hep clean it better, but don’t use on the sensors or lenses area as it could damage it.
Wetsuit, Booties, and Gloves
Your wetsuit, booties, and gloves need to be washed in freshwater and you may also like to add a wetsuit detergent. Submerge the items in the water and turn them inside out too and keep washing until clean. Once clean hang out and allow to dry.
Fins, Mask, Snorkel, and Other Equipment
All other equipment should be submerged in fresh water, dunked up and down until clean and hung up to dry.
Tips: to prolong the life of your gear don’t hang out in direct sunlight as it will make the equipment discolour and reduce the life span.
