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Mask: Care and Maintenance
The following Care and Maintenance information is provided for products that do not have a specific owner's manual and is intended as a general guide for basic care and maintenance of your Scuba Equipment.
Mask Care and Maintenance
Care Before the Dive:
During the manufacturing process, a thin film of silicone will develop on the glass lens. This film of silicone will cause rapid fogging that is resistant to conventional anti-fog measures. It is important to remove this film of silicone from the lens prior to your first dive. To remove the film you will need to scrub the lens inside and out with a mild abrasive. A paste toothpaste is ideal but a liquid scrub will also work. Rub the cleanser into the lens with your fingers several times and then rinse clean thoroughly.
Mask fogging is a normal occurrence, even after the film of silicone has been removed. Normal fogging can be easily prevented with after market anti-fog agents or saliva. Rub onto the lens and then rinse. Your dive will now be fog free!
Some after after-market anti-fog agents contain formaldehyde, alcohol, or other substances that may damage the plastic materials used in your mask. If unsure, avoid prolonged exposure of the anti-fog agent with the plastic parts of your mask.
Care During the Dive:
When entering the water either from a boat or a beach, place a hand over the lens of your dive mask and hold it securely in place. This will help ensure your mask stays in place during entry and will help deflect any direct impact of water on the lens caused by the jump into the water or any approaching waves.
A typical dive staging area is a dangerous place for dive masks. Care should be taken to not leave your mask in a location where it might be exposed to dropping weight belts or tanks.
It is best to avoid putting your mask on your forehead at any time during the dive. Several factors can cause the mask on your forehead to be dislodged and subsequently lost. If you want to temporarily remove the mask from your face, place the mask around your neck.
Care After the Dive:
Soak in warm fresh water (not over 120°F) to dissolve salt crystals.
Rinse thoroughly with fresh water and towel dry before final storage.
Storage:
Store in a cool, dry and protected place out of direct sunlight.
Store separated from other dive gear as the black pigmentation of other equipment may discolor the clear silicone skirt of your mask.
Chemicals/Solvents:
Avoid any contact with alcohol, oil, gasoline, aerosols, or chemical solvents.
Do not expose any part to aerosol spray, as some aerosol propellants attack or degrade rubber and plastic materials.
Do not use any type of alcohol, solvent or petroleum based substances to clean or lubricate any part.
Do not store your equipment near any oil, gasoline, chemicals, or solvents.
Fin: Care and Maintenance
Care Before and During the Dive
Avoid standing your fins on the tips of the blades for any extended period of time.
Avoid hot temperatures and hot surfaces as these can damage the fin.
Avoid placing the fins in a car trunk on hot days as the temperatures inside car trunks can exceed the temperature tolerances of the fin and the blades may distort.
Care After the Dive:
Rinse thoroughly with fresh water and towel dry before final storage.
Storage:
Store in a cool, dry and protected place out of direct sunlight.
Chemicals/Solvents:
Avoid any contact with alcohol, oil, gasoline, aerosols, or chemical solvents.
Do not expose any part to aerosol spray, as some aerosol propellants attack or degrade rubber and plastic materials.
Do not use any type of alcohol, solvent or petroleum based substances to clean or lubricate any part.
Do not store your equipment near any oil, gasoline, chemicals, or solvents.
Wetsuit: Care and Maintenance
There are several different types of materials used in wetsuits to achieve specific functions. It is helpful to better understand each of these materials in order to properly care for them.
Neoprene - Neoprene is the base material that virtually all wetsuits are made of. Neoprene is a type of rubber foam and is typically laminated with other materials depending on the desired function of the material.
Standard Nylon - A standard nylon outer lining is very durable against normal wear and tear. Normal care must be taken to prevent snagging, abrasion, and cuts.
Skin material - "skin" material may be used either inside our outside of your wetsuit and often around the wrists, ankles, and neck area. This material has a rubber like appearance either being smooth or textured, and is commonly referred to as "skin-in" or "skin-out". "Skin" neoprene material is typically used in areas where a water tight seal is desired or a benefit can be derived from it's water shedding properties. Some additional care is needed to prevent cutting, or abrasion of this material. Sharp fingernails may cut this material if care is not taken.
Thermo-skin - This material may be used inside of your wetsuit. Thermo-skin material has a silver-colored smooth skin type surface. This material has beneficial heat reflective properties and also provides a sealing surface similar to standard "skin" materials. Some additional care is needed to prevent cutting, or abrasion of this material. Sharp fingernails may cut this material if care is not taken.
X-Flex or Iso-Flex Neoprene - X-Flex and Iso-Flex neoprene are special materials designed specifically to have a much higher rate of stretch than conventional materials. Due primarily to the looser nit needed to achieve this high degree of stretch; these materials may be more prone to snagging. Velcro may also cause some light snagging and pilling of the material. Some additional care is needed to prevent excessive abrasion or snagging.
Care before the Dive:
With any of the skin surfaces including Thermo-skin, care should be taken when donning the wetsuit to not snag the interior skin surfaces with a fingernail or toenail as this material can be cut. Avoid placing your wetsuit on or near any hot surfaces.
Care During the Dive:
The exterior surface of your wetsuit is designed to withstand the normal wear and tear you might encounter during a normal dive. Abrasion against sharp rocks or other sharp objects can cut or puncture the exterior nylon surface so reasonable care should be taken to avoid these situations. Small cuts or tears can be easily repaired with wetsuit glue. Ask your dive professional for assistance.
Care After the Dive:
When removing your wetsuit, first unzip all the zippers completely. Then remove one section at a time taking care to avoid puncturing any of skin surface panels with a fingernail.
Wetsuit Cleaning:
Salt water and especially chlorine can "dry out" the neoprene material. When neoprene material "dries out" it looses it's flexibility. To ensure the wetsuit material retains it's flexibility for a extended period of time, it is important to thoroughly soak and rinse the wetsuit.
Soak the wetsuit in a tub of warm fresh water (not over 120°F) for at least 15-20 minutes.
After soaking, thoroughly hose off the wetsuit with fresh water
Place the suit on a thick hanger with all the zippers open to ensure maximum air circulation and complete drying.
Wetsuit Storage:
Wetsuit material can develop a permanent crease if left folded for a extended period of time. It is best to store your wetsuit laying flat. If that is not possible, you can store your suit on a hanger. Use as thick a hanger as possible to better support the weight of the suit. The thicker the suit, the heavier, and therefore the thicker your hanger should be. There are several after-market hangers available designed specifically for this purpose.
Store in a cool, dry and protected place out of direct sunlight.
Do not store your wetsuit in garage if the garage is used to park a vehicle. The exhaust emissions from the vehicle can over time deteriorate the neoprene.
Wetsuit Zipper Care and Maintenance:
Zippers are designed to be pulled closed or open in a straight line. Try to avoid pulling on the zipper pulls at an excessive angle to their intended path of travel. It is best to ask your dive buddy for zipper assistance in either opening or closing the back-zipper of a one piece back-zipped jumpsuit.
Chemicals/Solvents:
Avoid any contact with oil, gasoline, aerosols, or chemical solvents.
Do not expose any part to aerosol spray, as some aerosol propellants attack or degrade rubber and plastic materials.
Do not use any type of alcohol, solvent or petroleum based substances to clean or lubricate any part.
Do not store your equipment near any oil, gasoline, chemicals, or solvents.
Regulator: Set up and Maintenance
PRE-DIVE INSPECTION
Before each use, the regulator must be given a thorough visual inspection and functional test. NEVER dive with a regulator that shows signs of damage or unsatisfactory performance until it has received complete inspection and service from an Authorized Dealer.
Inspection Checklist:
1. Carefully inspect all hoses at their fittings to ensure they are securely connected into their respective ports on the first stage. Inspect the length of each hose to ensure that the hoses are not blistered, cut, or otherwise damaged. If hose protectors are present, slide the protectors back to expose the hose fittings, and inspect the hoses as described above.
2. Visually inspect both the first and second stage regulators for any signs of external damage.
3. Remove the dust cap and closely inspect the condition of the first stage filter. It should appear clean and free of any corrosion or discoloration. If a green residue is visible on the surface of the filter, moisture has entered the first stage and may have caused corrosion to begin forming inside which can seriously impair the regulatorÕs performance. Other colored residue may indicate that the regulator has been used with an internally corroded aluminum (white/ gray powder) or steel (rust) cylinder. In this event, the regulator and the cylinder in question should be returned to the dive store for internal visual inspection.
4. (Environmentally sealed first stages only) Closely inspect the external sealing diaphragm or protective cap for any signs of damage or deterioration that may cause leakage. For the Spectrum "DRY," the retainer that holds the external diaphragm in place must be tightly secured.
5. Connect the first stage regulator to a fully charged SCUBA cylinder. For mounting instructions, read the Setup section on page 7.
6. SLOWLY open the cylinder valve to pressurize the regulator. Depress the purge button momentarily to blow out any dust or debris which may have entered the second stage.
7. Release the purge button and listen to ensure that the second stage does not continue to flow any air after the purge button is released.
8. (Adjustable second stages only) Turn the inhalation control knob ÒoutÓ (counter-clockwise) until a slight leak is heard, and then back "in" (clockwise) until the regulator provides maximum ease of breathing with no leakage present. Do not apply excessive pressure.
9. Inhale slowly and deeply from the regulator several times. The regulator must deliver enough air for you to breathe easily without noticeable resistance.
10. Check to ensure that the submersible pressure gauge is displaying an accurate measurement of the air pressure inside the cylinder.
11. Close the cylinder valve and bleed the air from the regulator by pressing the purge button. Look at the submersible pressure gauge, or your dive computer if it is air integrated. The air pressure reading must fall to zero. If you are not certain the gauge or computer is reading correctly, do not dive with the system until it has received inspection and service from an Authorized Dealer.
12. (Adjustable second stage only) Check to ensure that the venturi assist switch is set to ÒMINÓ and gently turn the inhalation control knob back ÒinÓ (clockwise), only until it stops. Do not apply excessive pressure. These settings will help to minimize any loss of your air supply during entry or while making a long surface swim.
13. Before entering the water, turn the cylinder valve completely open and then back 4-2 turn to ensure that the regulator is pressurized.
