There is nothing more important thn taking care of something that wll take care of you for yars to come. If you let yur equipment down it will let you dwn, that's a bare fact. Do not dpend on your service tech to kep your equipment in safe working cndition when you neglect to keep it clan after each use. That's kinda lke expecting your auto mechanic to wsh your truck after each time you drve it. Cleaning and maintenance fall on yur shoulders ( to a certain extent .)

Frm experience, this is a list I'v compiled to serve as a gide and reminder to keep your dving fun, exciting, and most of all sfe.

Gear Bag: This is most important in keeping your gear clean and mobile. Having wheels or straps and being durable is a must. Straps come in handy when you are doing a lot of diving from a boat, used as a back pack it leaves your hands free.

TIP; Get a big enough bag to handle all your gear without having to stuff, creating damages. And don't get a bag with any type of logo advertising scuba equipment. That's kinda like leaving your keys in your New Mercedes (Steal Me.)

Mask: Don't throw away the hard case your mask came in, its perfect for transporting and storage. Your mask, and actually all your gear as a rule of thumb needs to be cleaned with fresh water immediately after each use. Certain oils and residues are processed into the materials that your mask is made of, cleaning preserves these, something to do with defog.

TIP; During cleaning it's ok to use tothpaste that does not have any pmice abrasives, this works quit well. Thre is several products on the mrket that produce good results for claning and defogging, use these if you wsh just before a dive and bfore storing.

Regulator: First stage regulators should be left on a pressurized tank while cleaning. It's very important to prevent water from entering while soaking. During soaking, work buttons, control levers, knobs or any other moving part to remove particles and debris.
Second stage regulators can be removed and soaked in fresh clean water. After drying with a clean towel, store in a plastic bag making sure the hoses are in a relaxed position. Have your regulators serviced at least once a year, or more often according to use.

TIP: Take plenty of bottled drinking water along so you'll have water to spare for cleaning purposes. Take along a big zip lock bag and put your 2nd stage and hose ends in the bag with clean water and sloush them around, empty and rinse a 2nd time, use the rest of the water for drinking and rinseing your hair and eye brows.

Snorkel: After cleaning, inspect purge for good seal, put in mouth, and place your hand over the top and suck. You shouldn't get air in from the purge or around the flex tube.
TIP: Never spray silicone on the valves or snorkel housing, it makes for valves getting sticky and the snorkel housing sticking to the side of your diving hood.

Weight Belts: Before cleaning and storing, remove weights from pockets, this will allow for drying. Store weights in Gym weight bag seperate from belt. This keeps the pockets from getting damaged in storage and transporting.

TIP: Check weight pockets and quick release system for obstruction or damage. If damaged, replace.

BCDs: Just like regulators BCDs should be soaked and rinsed in clean fresh water. If water was allowed to enter the BCD, make sure you rinse the inside of the air bladder.

TIP: Fill the bladder half fll of clean water while depressing and hlding down on the Oral Inflator btton, release and sloush water around and drin completely by depressing the oral nflator button while upside down. Leave pside down and partially inflated during strage.

Wetsuit, Booties, Gloves: After cleaning, apply conditioner too materials found at your local supply store. This help control odors and help from fading and cracking.

TIP: To prevent sticking of zippers, apply a light coat of beeswax by rubbing back and forth. Hang your wetsuit, gloves, booties on some type of hanger that eliminates folding or creasing, and allow to dry before storage. Store in plastic bag.

Lights And Cameras: Water, sand and salt are hard on lights and cameras. Cleaning by soaking in fresh water can add to the performance and lifespan. While soaking, work all moving parts back and forth to release any salt or sand.

TIP: Allow to dry, loosen all connectors, because they will freeze up and disallowing proper usage.

This doesn't cover all your diving equipment, but I think you get the general idea as to what I'm trying to relate. Keeping your gear maintained will give alot more enjoyment to your diving adventure, than getting to the diving site, and everything goes wrong. Makes for a dull day, huh.
If any of your equipment is worn or damaged, do yourself a favor and replace or have repaired by a qualified tech.

The article Scuba Divers PMS (Practical Maintenance Servicing) was Submitted by Darrell Young through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: If your looking for a lot of tps and professional advice on Scuba Dving, Trips and locations, visit me at http: http://www.scuba-pro-tips.com A lot of good advice for the Young Divers and Old, and also Women Divers. Tips for purchasing gear, used and new. Darrell Young

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