Diving Equipment Servicing: Why it Matters

As the new diving season is approaching it is important that the maintenance of your scuba equipment is up-to-date and you ensure anything outstanding is dealt with. That's why you should keep your kit in proper working order through regular servicing, but how often should we be servicing our scuba diving kit? Equipment servicing is highly important for a great number of reasons. Most significantly, the proper safety and functionality of your dive gear. Your dive gear is your lifeline underwater, so regular upkeep and maintenance will ensure your gear will stay safe and in proper working order. 

Here you’ll discover the different types of gear that need servicing, the importance of why they need to be serviced and how often they should be serviced. We’ll be going into detail about the following dive gear, which is: Regulators, BCDs, Drysuits and Dive Cylinders. 

 

Regulator Servicing 

Let’s start with regulator servicing and this is why servicing your regulator MATTERS. Getting your regulator serviced is essential because, let's face it, it's your lifeline when you're diving. Your regulators will accumulate dirt and mineral build-up over time so it’s best to get them serviced and cleaned regularly. Plus you’re operating at very high pressures. This causes a lot of wear and tear, especially on moving parts, which there are a lot of inside your regulators.

How Often Should You Service Your Regulator?

So now you know the importance of servicing, how often should you get your regulator serviced? Well, it completely depends on what type of regulator you have. But most manufacturers recommend once a year or once every 100 dives. If you’re unsure of how often your specific regulator should be serviced, make sure to give us an email and we can work out the details for you. 

BCD Servicing 

The mechanisms to inflate and deflate your BCD can become tired from wear and tear. By servicing your BCD, it ensures that they work to their maximum efficiency. And let’s not forget, when diving in salt water, the BCD can form salt crystals inside the bladder. Which could, unfortunately, lead to a puncture.

Remember that it's essential to keep your BCD in good condition in between services with a bit of TLC. So don’t forget to rinse, rinse and RE-RINSE your BCD after every dive.

How often should you be servicing your BCD?

We recommend that you have your BCD serviced every year or every 40 dives, whichever comes first. But again, it’s another thing that will be stated in the manufacturer's handbook of your BCD. But If you’re unsure of how often your specific BCD should be serviced, make sure to give us an email and we can work out the details for you. 

How does BCD Servicing Work?

BCD servicing is conducted by a fully authorised service technician and we only use manufacturer's service kits. We also flush your BCD's internal bladder with an anti-bacterial wash to stop algae growth internally in the BCD bladder. 

Drysuit Repairs 

If you’re a cold-water diver, your drysuit has inflate and deflate functions which need to be treated the same as your BCD when it comes to servicing. These valves should be checked frequently to prevent problems arising underwater, and seals around the wrists, neck and ankles can also degrade over time. If you’re noticing consistent leaks underwater the seals should be looked at by a professional (unless they are user-replaceable).

Dive Cylinder Servicing 

Last, but certainly far from least is dive cylinder servicing. The cylinder is again, another important piece of kit to be serviced regularly as it is your lifeline. It’s the item that stores your air! So it’s pretty essential that you need to keep it up to date and in good working order through servicing. You want them to consistently deliver clean, fresh air so you don’t run into difficulty with poor air quality or cylinder malfunction underwater. 

How often Should You be Servicing Your Dive Cylinder? 

Cylinders require a visual inspection every 2 and a half years from the previous date stamped on the cylinder. Dive centres will not fill up your tank if the date is past 2.5 years, so make sure to check and get your tanks tested to avoid disappointment when you go to fill up your tank. Every 5 years the cylinder needs to be hydrostatically tested to make sure they are fit for purpose. 

Getting Your Gear Serviced With Mike’s Dive Store

Mike’s Dive Store is now offering 10 years of free servicing parts across any BCDs, Regulators or Drysuits purchased from us! There's no catch, just an amazing deal that could save you £100s of servicing costs. That’s a pretty sweet deal if you ask me!

When you get dive gear serviced with us, the usual turnaround is 7-10 days but faster times can be arranged with a phone call and a bit of notice. And if you really have left it too late, don't despair we will lend you a spare set whilst yours is being serviced at no extra cost.

All BCDs, Regulators, Drysuits and Cylinder servicing is conducted by a fully authorised service technician and we only use manufacturer's service kits. And all servicing comes with a 3-month warranty as well. 

We’re Here to Help

Being prepared for diving adventures through regular kit serving ensures that your diving explorations will be safer. If you have any questions about kit serving, please email us at support@mikesdivestore.com where we have a team of scuba diving professionals, here to assist you with questions that you may have.