33 replies to this topic

[Marvel]

It's a good question.  I'm thinking about investing in a SP  MK25  S600.
My guess would be cold water wouldn't make a difference as the concept is to get the salt water out.  But I'll wait to hear the correct  decision.

HA! Beat you to it! Mine arrived today.... Got a deal that I just could not pass up.

Now anxiously awaiting the response myself. 'Course, the bulk of my diving is beach diving in my side yard so JC's bag trick is going to be easier for me to implement. (& maybe more important also)

[Diverbrian]

Do you recommend doing this after every dive (i.e. during the surface interval) or just after your last dive on the way back home on the boat?

YES...you want to do this literally within seconds of ending your dive. EVERY DIVE. The damage to regs occurs when salt and other minerals harden inside the regs and no matter how long you soak them afterwards....they will not return to liquid.

This is the REAL secret to proper gear maintenance.

Our shop owner used a wet bag for his video gear for that reason. He was telling me much the same thing that you have mentioned. The phrasing he used was don't let anything dry out without seeing fresh water first.

[drdiver]

I have a vision. A "Single Diver's logo on a plastic lined lunch bag and a 2 liter drink bottle. The Single Diver rinse kit!!!!

[WreckWench]

I have a vision. A "Single Diver's logo on a plastic lined lunch bag and a 2 liter drink bottle. The Single Diver rinse kit!!!!

Now pirate or not...you've got a great idea there! Looks like I'll have to see about that!!!

[finGrabber]

I have a vision.  A "Single Diver's logo on a plastic lined lunch bag and a 2 liter drink bottle.  The Single Diver rinse kit!!!!

Now pirate or not...you've got a great idea there! Looks like I'll have to see about that!!!

and the lunch bag could double as a lunch bag when not diving!

[BSG]

Thanks, Senior Tech. Being newly certified (and not necessarily independently wealthy), I need all the help I can get on how to care for my gear properly.

Anthony

[Senior Tech]

Thanks, that's great info! One more question - I'll start this after my next dive, but do I then rinse my regulator as before when I return home or is this all it needs?

Yes do your normal soak when you get home. That soak will ensure proper salt removal from hoses and more external parts of your regs.

However the key is to get a quick fresh water rinse done while the regs are still wet with saltwater which means after EVERY dive!

It only takes a few minutes but it will extend the life of your dive gear as well as prevent costly service bills down the road. -JC

[Senior Tech]

It's a good question.  I'm thinking about investing in a SP  MK25  S600.
My guess would be cold water wouldn't make a difference as the concept is to get the salt water out.  But I'll wait to hear the correct  decision.

HA! Beat you to it! Mine arrived today.... elf: elf: Got a deal that I just could not pass up.

Now anxiously awaiting the response myself. 'Course, the bulk of my diving is beach diving in my side yard so JC's bag trick is going to be easier for me to implement. (& maybe more important also)

I do not generally make a lot of gear recommendations however the MK 25 is an excellent regulator. I would however go with the G250 as it is the best stage for the money. The G500 and G600 are reduced size regs and therefore reduced performance for an increased cost. -Senior Tech

[Walter]

Thanks!

[Senior Tech]

whaddya say, jc....can you use cold water? or will the deposits go back into "solutin" better with warm water?

or is it actually the agitation that is the key?

Warm water rinses better than cold water. However cold water rinses better than no water. I think the best solution would be to fill your bottle with some of the cold water from the cooler, go dive and when you return it will have warmed up sufficiently to rinse your gear effectively. If your choice is to wait until you have warm water or not rinse at all, then by all means use cold water to rinse your regs.

And yes agitation is an important aspect of getting the regs cleaned of salt residue. Just as agitation is key to getting your clothes cleaned doing laundry.

[drdiver]

I do not generally make a lot of gear recommendations however the MK 25 is an excellent regulator. I would however go with the G250 as it is the best stage for the money. The G500 and G600 are reduced size regs and therefore reduced performance for an increased cost. -Senior Tech

Thanks for that very good suggestion! I'm sure you will be seeing my Zeagle Tech 50D soon enough!!!

[GentDiver]

Thanks for the info. How about when you do a bit of pool diving? I am taking my AOW this week and will be in a swimming pool today and thursday. Would you have the same suggestion?

Scott

:lam:

[Funewgy]

now, most people would think doug was kidding.

TF,

I never, ever kid about the beer cooler. Everything else is open season, but some things are sacrosanct.

[Funewgy]

Senior Tech,

Do you have a Word or PDF version of "the bag trick"? I would love a version that I could save off to my hard drive to future/permanent use. Thanks.

[jextract]

Doug (or anyone else for that matter), if you PM me your email address I'll email you back a pdf file.