There are few things more disappointing for us divers than getting a call from your buddy to say the perfect dive conditions (calm waters & excellent vis) are forecast, only to realise that you’ve forgotten to send your kit off for the relevant service or to do that little repair that would ‘just take a jiffy’ but which has fallen off your radar! We know, we’ve been there – life happens!
Quite simply, the best way to ensure any of your dive kit items are safe and ready to use when you need them, is to take them to your local dive center who can advise you and service them. Yes – in case you’re wondering, we are a full service center! Either drop your kit in to us in Teignmouth or Plymouth, Devon or post it to us – keep reading for more info.)
So… to give you a gentle nudge to try to help, we’ve put together a list below to hopefully get you back in the water as quickly as possible.
Servicing your dive tank, regs and BCD
Given how your survival depends on these items when you’re below the waves, they really need to be given the proper attention and regularly (this tends to be on average once a year, but if you’ve had a long break between dives it’s also good to get them checked again before you head back under just to be sure – no point in gambling with your life).
Some common issues with kit that’s not been used for extended periods:
Regulators
O-Rings often dry out and harden (the seals in regs are under pressure even when you’re not playing below the surface, so to get the most out of your regs we’d say – go diving more often!)
BCDs
Whilst pretty tough – valves, inflators and bladders can all succumb to damage and begin to perish if not checked and serviced regularly.
Tanks
Valves can become stiff which can cause leaks, O-Rings can dry out and become hard and brittle and of course, the tank itself can become damaged which is why regular visual inspection is also very important.
Servicing your dive computer
Equally vital is your dive computer and one of the easiest ways to prevent a problem is to simply change the battery regularly during the season! Of course, this doesn’t negate the need to service your device at the correct intervals. The simple fact is that electronics and water aren’t natural companions! The acknowledged practice if your computer malfunctions at depth is that you must abort your dive immediately which should tell you how important your computer is in keeping you safe, so ensuring it is fully serviced is a must.
Checking your wetsuit/drysuit ahead of the season
Whether you choose to dive in a wetsuit or a drysuit is generally down to where you are diving, the water temperature and conditions along with the weather on the surface and of course personal preference.
Wetsuits are by their very name designed to allow a thin layer of water between your skin and the inside of the suit, which is warmed by the heat from your body which inturn insulates you, keeping you warm. It is therefore wise to check your suit for any holes, or damage to the seals/zips/closures etc which could allow greater volumes of water to flush through as this will just mean you’re not going to warm up properly and you’ll probably be uncomfortable.
Drysuits on the other hand (again, the clue’s in the name) should keep the water out and you completely dry underneath! Therefore performing checks is vital before heading to the depths. Extra care should be taken to ensure the valves and all seals are in good order, along with general inspection of the suit throughout to make sure no damage has occurred to the material whether accidental or due to wear and tear.
Are you fit enough?
As a diver you will be aware of the importance of being medically fit to dive and anyone who is unaware or unsure of the guidelines should get in touch with their local PADI center to check. That being said, whilst it is considered unsafe to dive if you suffer with certain medical conditions, it is also unwise to dive if your general level of fitness is particularly low. We’re not suggesting you should be capable of running marathons or scaling Everest, but the reality is that lugging heavy dive equipment around and also swimming/finning in waters where there is current can leave you exhausted before you’ve even started to enjoy yourself! So, our suggestion is to warm up to your diving season – of course, going to the pool and swimming for exercise is a great start, but even more simple is to build your dives up! Start slow and shallow and build up to challenging yourself!
Feeling rusty ahead of your first dive this season?
Even for the seasoned divers among us, it’s no surprise that when you’ve had an extended break it can take a while to find your flow again. It is therefore a great idea to revive your knowledge and regain your confidence with a refresher course and/or group dive. If you’re in the Teignmouth or Plymouth areas and would like to find out when we are running courses like this, just get in touch.
Book your dive kit in for a service with us
To do this, just contact us either via email or phone to discuss the item/items needing a service.
Teign Diving Centre: 01626 773965
Plymouth Diving Centre: 01752 263900
A word to the wise: it’s advisable to give plenty of time for the servicing of any kit as there may be a waiting list and there may also be a delay if any replacement parts need to be specially ordered (despite carrying a plethora of spare parts for multiple products and brands, we cannot guarantee having exactly the part your kit item/s may need). So, try not to book in your service right before a trip – give yourself (and us) enough time!
Heads Up: It’s advisable to test out your serviced kit just to be sure everything is working perfectly it’s no good if you’ve had something serviced, jumped on a plane to paradise and then need us to make adjustments – whilst we’d love to be able to personally fly out to solve the problem, it might just take us a lifetime to get there!)!
Quick Tip: the best time to have your kit serviced is over the winter months when it’s generally quieter!
NOTE: most manufacturers of diving equipment recommend annual servicing, however some may stipulate different intervals – always check the guidance. It’s important to be aware that, just like other pieces of equipment (like your hot water boiler at home for example), should the services not be carried out within the timeframes advised by the manufacturer that your warranty may be invalidated.
It’s worth keeping in perspective that despite your efforts to keep the manufacturers warranty valid, the fundamental reason why you should keep up the servicing schedule is to ensure you are safe!
Finally, please keep in mind that having an item serviced does not mean you shouldn’t clean your kit fully after every dive ! Fully rinsed and cleaned kit will mean your kit stays in good condition for as long as possible with the regular services required likely to be smooth sailing!
