Inflatable Toothbrush

I have a mantra when it comes to buying equipment scuba diving, "buy right and buy once." Sound advice, especially when it comes to equipment survival. Buying a BCD is one of the most expensive components most recreational divers will. It is also one of the most neglected parts when it comes to cleaning and maintenancing. It is a phenomenon common to stand next to someone Dressing for a dive, watch their BCD and see "salty crud" stuck outside. You can imagine what lives inside infestation of it. This lack of "maintenance" is not only financially crazy-rich, it is also a security issue. There are many components of a BCD to be clean and well maintained to perform correctly and safely to a dive. Think about it, nothing scares me more than inflation button pinned to a rusty pipe and low inflation pressure must be disconnected before a hastily uncontrolled ascent.

Some tips to keep your equipment in good working order:

1. Have a professional technician servicing your Scuba BCD regularly and at least according to the specifications set by the manufacturer.

2. Make sure it fits properly and that you are properly trained to use equipment.

3. Disconnect all hoses after completing the dive. Inspect and clean all the pipes with corrugated pipe for damage, cuts, slices, and splits. Remove and inspect weight pockets. If pockets Velcro weight, then inspect and clean with Velcro toothbrush. Do not let the dirt in the Velcro. If they are locking pockets of weight, make sure they click in BCD with a bang. The weakness of snaps could mean a bad connection. In either case, make sure you communicate easily pockets - but not too easily. Remove all knives and empty pockets. Clean independent BCD.

4. Soak the outside of the BCD in fresh water after each day of diving. The longer the better, but not mad.

5. BCD Fill with water and air. Thoroughly rinse the inside. Shake vigorously with air and water in the bladder. Repeat at least twice.

6. Make sure the water flows through the inflation valve (BCD inflate with water and air and vacuum through the gas valve by holding the hose low and deflating). Use the toothbrush to scrub around the inflator and deflator buttons. Repeat at least twice.

7. Fill the bladder with air and fresh water. Using dump valve to empty bladder. Make sure fresh water through the dump valves. Remove and inspect the dump valves. Look for rust on the springs. Replace if rusted.

8. Inflate full bladder. Keep diving. Inspect the seams of the bladder leakage. If air is leaking, remove to underwater technician.

9. Hang dry. Do not lie on the concrete floor.

10. Once dry, inspect carefully. Look for salt stains or dirt. If you find them, clean stains or repeat completely.

Consider using the BCD McNett life as a cleaning agent.

For more information, consider an Equipment Specialist Course at Naval Academy