Generally, you should service your dive gear annually or after every 100 dives, whichever comes sooner. Even if you don’t practice scuba diving at regular manners, you shouldn’t skip the annual service.

You will find an annual report on the website of the Divers Alert Network (DAN) which talks about dive accidents.Every year, 11% of incidents happen due to equipment failure — often because scuba divers didn’t properly maintain their dive gear.

Even if your equipment worked in a proper way a year ago, always remember that your scuba gear is considered life-support equipment. Not servicing your scuba equipment regularly is like:

• Not visiting the dentist until having tooth pain.
• Not getting new tires and slipping off the road.
• Skipping a travel shot and getting sick

Also, you should realize that your dive gear is an investment. When you service your scuba gear regularly, it can last a decade or more.

What Scuba Gear Needs To Be Serviced?

As discussed above, the proper maintenance of scuba gear is vital for both safety and performance. When you service your scuba gear regularly, this ensures your equipment stays in top condition and you become ready for the next underwater adventure. But which gear needs to be serviced and how often?

Regulators

In general, you should service your regulator every year or after 100 dives. Check the recommendations of the manufacturer, or contact your local dive shop for any advice on how to service your regulator properly. In case of having a submersible pressure gauge (SPG), ensure to bring it in for inspection at the same time.

Keeping your regulators in top shape requires using the dust camp in addition to rinsing the entire regulator assembly in clean fresh water after scuba diving. In the storing step, Let the hoses make big, soft curves—not small loops or sharp turns.

Dive Computer

Don’t wait until you see the low battery warning of the dive computer to have it serviced. Inevitably, the battery warning will pop up on day one of the scuba trip. In addition to checking the health of your battery, the technician will inspect the o-rings and ensure there are no signs of salt buildup on the unit.

Most dive computers should be serviced annually. Some can go be serviced every two years (check the manufacturer’s manual or ask your dive shop).

Buoyancy Compensation Device (BCD)

BCDs should be serviced annually or as recommended by the manufacturer. If you have a second-stage regulator attached to the low-pressure inflator, don’t forget to bring that in as well. During the annual service, a technician will inspect the bladder, o-rings, low-pressure inflator and second stage (if applicable).

Dry Suit

Have your dry suit inspected every year. Pressure testing and thorough inspection can help detect pinhole leaks that might otherwise lead to serious problems during a dive.

Cylinder (Tank)

A visual inspection of your scuba cylinder (commonly called a scuba tank) should be done annually to check for corrosion, dents, pitting and any damage to the valve. Hydrostatic testing is required every three to five years, depending on the cylinder type and local regulations. Contact a dive shop near you for more information or to schedule service.

Inspect Scuba Accessories and Snorkel Gear Regularly

Although scuba accessories and your mask, snorkel and fins may not require regular service at a scuba equipment service center, they still need to be inspected regularly for your safety.

Accessories

Dive lights, camera strobes and surface marker buoys (SMBs) should be inspected before every dive adventure. Check the batteries and o-rings on your lights and ensure the SMB inflates and holds air.

Mask, Snorkel and Fins

Periodically examine your snorkel, mask, fins and snorkel keeper for cracks or tears. To prevent damage to your mask lenses, store your mask in the original box.

If you’re the sort of person who dashes out the door, straps on their gear and jumps in the water, start a save-a-dive kit with an extra mask strap, snorkel keeper, fin straps and o-rings.

Extend the Life of Your Scuba Equipment

Now that you know how often dive gear should be serviced, you may be wondering, “Can I do some of this myself?” Yes and no (but mostly no).

Some dive computers have user-replaceable batteries, and you can check for small leaks in your BCD or SMB by inflating them fully and submerging them in a bathtub full of water. But there is no substitute for a professional inspection.

PADI offers an Equipment Specialist course that includes online training and hands-on training. You won’t learn how to service a regulator, but you’ll learn how to:

Clean and maintain your gear to extend its life.

Inspect equipment.

Fix minor equipment issues.