Dive Gear Maintenance Guide 2026 | Care for Your Equipment
Rinse after every dive. Annual regulator service ($80-150). Wetsuit storage tips. Keep your gear lasting 10+ years.
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Browse All GuidesProper care extends your gear's life by years and keeps you safe underwater. I've seen divers destroy $3,000 regulator sets through neglect, and I've seen $400 setups last a decade with consistent care. The difference isn't the gear. It's the maintenance.
The complete maintenance guide for every piece of dive equipment you own.
The Golden Rule
Rinse everything in fresh water after every dive. Salt water is corrosive. Chlorine is corrosive. Even lake water leaves mineral deposits. A 15-30 minute soak in fresh water after every dive is the single most impactful thing you can do for your gear's longevity.
This isn't optional. It's not something you do "when you remember." Build it into your post-dive routine the same way you log your dive. Every single time.
Regulator Care
Your regulator is life-support equipment. Treat it accordingly.
After Every Dive
Annual Professional Service
What happens during a service: - Complete disassembly of first and second stages - Inspection of all O-rings, seats, and springs - Replacement of worn parts (diaphragms, exhaust valves, seat discs) - Reassembly to manufacturer specifications - Intermediate and final pressure testing - Breathing effort (cracking pressure) adjustment
Most manufacturer warranties require annual service. Skip it and you void the warranty. More importantly, skip it and you risk equipment failure at depth.
Warning signs requiring immediate service: - Difficult breathing or unusual resistance on inhalation - Free-flowing at surface or depth (continuous air leak from second stage) - Air leaks from any hose connection or swivel - Moisture or unusual taste in your air supply - Sticky inflator buttons that don't return fully
Between Services
BCD Care
BCDs have moving parts, fabric, and an internal bladder that all need attention.
After Every Dive
Periodic Maintenance
Storage
Wetsuit Care
Neoprene degrades from UV exposure, heat, and compression. Most wetsuits die from storage neglect, not diving.
After Every Dive
What Destroys Wetsuits
Storage
Zipper Maintenance
Dive Computer Care
After Every Dive
Battery Management
Screen Care
Mask Care
New Mask Prep
This removes the factory film. Skip this step and you'll fight fog for months.
After Every Dive
Anti-fog Options
Fins and Booties
Fins
Booties
The Save-a-Dive Kit
Every diver should carry one. Essential contents:
- Spare mask strap and fin straps
- O-rings (regulator and computer sizes)
- Silicone grease
- Cable ties (multiple sizes)
- Small adjustable wrench
- Spare mouthpiece for second stage
- Anti-fog solution
- Spare computer battery (if user-replaceable)
- Wetsuit cement for small tears
A $30 save-a-dive kit has rescued more dive trips than any piece of expensive gear. Keep one packed and in your dive bag permanently.
Seasonal Storage
If you're storing gear for winter (or any extended period):
1. Clean everything thoroughly using the methods above 2. Dry completely. Moisture plus months equals mold, corrosion, and rubber degradation 3. Store regulators with dust caps sealed, in a regulator bag, with hoses loosely coiled 4. Store BCDs partially inflated on wide hangers 5. Store wetsuits on wide hangers in a dark closet 6. Remove batteries from dive lights to prevent corrosion 7. Store computers with displays visible so you can check for low-battery warnings
Our Top Tip
Create a post-dive routine and follow it every single time. Write it on a waterproof card and keep it in your gear bag if you need to. Gear failure almost never results from defective equipment. It results from the dive where you were tired, in a rush, and thought "I'll rinse it tomorrow."
Tomorrow never comes. Rinse it today.
Need to build your kit from scratch? Our beginner gear guide covers what to buy first and when. Looking for specific gear picks? Check our guides for regulators, BCDs, and wetsuits.
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