Everybody is looking for a bargain these days – including cheap dive gear. One word of warning though when it comes to scuba diving equipment. Scuba diving takes place under the water, whether it be in the sea or in fresh water scuba dive sites. It is therefore taking place in an alien environment. It is not a dissimilar environment to that found on the moon. Yet I wonder if NASA surfed the web for cheap space suits before the Apollo moon landings?
My point is that scuba diving equipment is life support equipment. Just because you are partaking in a sport for fun does not mean that you can ignore the critical safety issues involved. Your scuba gear is your lifeline and you must be able to depend on it. Cheap scuba gear may – or may not be up to the job.
However, whether your diving equipment is cheap scuba gear or expensive state of the art professional kit, both must be treated in the same way:
1. You must check your scuba gear before every dive.
2.You must clean your gear thoroughly after each dive/diving session and check that it is in good order. Any faults that need fixing or adjustments that need to be made should be done immediately so they are not overlooked until you are ready to go scuba diving again.
3. You must store your treasured diving kit in a secure and well ventilated space. Wet gear can perish easily so do not squash gear into a bag until the next time. Kit strewn about the garage floor can be stepped on and damaged. Mice can ruin the fabric of a dry suit!
4. Most important – get your kit serviced at the appropriate intervals. For example, regulators should be serviced every year as a matter of routine, and at least every 100 dives if you are diving a lot. Cylinders have to be serviced by law of course, otherwise you can not get them filled. However, nobody is there to make you get your other equipment checked out – you and your buddies are the ones at risk if you ignore this important job.
Cheap dive gear might be an excellent way to get started. Second hand scuba gear can be very cheap – for example bought from eBay. Alternatively that expensive top of the range regulator you have your eyes on in the dive shop may well have a faulty 2nd stage – perhaps grit has been allowed to get into the diaphragm during storage – and may free flow when used the first time.
The message is that you must check your gear, whatever it cost, and care for it and maintain it rigorously.