Scuba diving regulators are the most important part of your scuba diving gear. When you are plumbing the depths of the ocean, your life depends heavily on the flawless functioning of your dive regulator. Proper maintenance of the diving regulators ensures that you never find yourself in a difficult situation while diving. The few minutes you spend on cleaning and maintaining the regulator will make it last for years. The below tips will help you understand what care the regulator demands. Follow these tips and your breathing will never be disturbed while you are underwater!
Dry the dust cap and put it on: Before you begin to clean the regulator, dry the dust cap and screw it on tight. To dry the dust cap, you can use the air from the tank to blow the water off. Or you could simply use a towel to wipe away the moisture. If the cap is not screwed on well, water may enter the first stage. So, ensure that it is fastened securely.
Submerge the regulator in fresh water: This is the easiest and most important part of caring for your scuba diving regulator. By soaking it in fresh water, you will ensure that no dirt particles stay attached to the regulator. Move around the different levers of the regulator to ensure that no sediments stay lodged in it. If you fail to do this, the life of your equipment is reduced drastically. Warning: do not press the purge button while you are doing this.
Clean thoroughly with a jet of water: Soaking is good, but rinsing with a stream of water is great. By doing this, you ensure that no dirt particles clog up any part. By directing a jet of water at the first and the second stage the regulator, clean it as thoroughly as possible. Just make sure that the dust cap is sealed while you are doing this.
Dry well: Let the regulator dry completely before you put it in any box or packet. Don't place it in direct sunlight, and keep it away from hot surfaces. The scuba regulators have many rubber parts that can be damaged by the heat. Once you are done with cleaning and drying, store it in a dry and cool place.
Get professional help every year: A well maintained regulator can function perfectly for a long time. You can prolong its life by getting it tuned every year. Most major scuba diving equipment sellers provide this service. As the regulator is made up of several tiny components, you need someone who can check them and see if they are functioning properly. If any of them are not working the way they should, you can get them replaced under your warranty agreement.
As you can see, taking care of diving regulators is not a difficult or time-consuming task. But if you do not take proper care of this important equipment, you can get into serious trouble. So, it is best to follow these simple steps and keep your regulators in a perfect condition.
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