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| Buoyancy
Compensators
Internal Care - In a salt water environment, it is
extremely important to flush all the salt out of the vest before
it dries and forms rock salt. The rock salt will cut the bladder
to shreds in a very short period of time. The vest should be rinsed
internally with warm water after each day of diving. Depress the
oral inflator button and allow warm water to flow into the vest
until it is about 1/3 full. Grip the vest by the top with one hand
and the bottom with the other allowing water to accumulate on one
side of the vest only. Gather all the straps and the oral inflator
hose in one hand and move the vest from side to side allowing the
water to travel rapidly from one end of the vest to the other. Then
transfer the water to the other side and repeat procedure.
Next, gather all the water to the oral inflator side of the drain
valve. Open the valve and allow the water to flow out. Before all
the water is drained, taste it. If salt is present or the water
is not clear, drain and repeat the rinsing procedure.
External Care - Rinse the
exterior thoroughly in warm water, paying particular attention to
push button valves and the oral inflator, and make certain they
are operating freely. With the bladder bag vest, rinse the zipper
while moving the slide back and forth about 2" otherwise it may
freeze shut with salt corrosion. Spray it with silicone after it
dries. Spray the outside of the power inflator hose with silicone.
This will help prevent the hose from deteriorating. (Be careful to
avoid spraying silicone on plastic parts).
How to thread a BC's tank strap into the
buckle - There are four ways you can do
this.
1) Once threaded, do not unthread all the way.
2)
Consult your BC's instruction manual.
3) On the inside of your
BC's straps there might be a threading guide.
4) On the buckle
there may be numbers or arrows, just follow them.
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| Wet
Suits - After your dive, the wet suit should
be washed thoroughly. A bathtub or large trash barrel can be used
for washing the suit. Use wetsuit cleaner/conditioner (preferred)
or warm water with a mild detergent. Push the suit up and down in
the tub for about five minutes with all zippers and snaps open. After
washing, all soap must be rinsed out. If your suit has an odor that
soap cannot remove, use a half a cup of baking soda in warm water
and stir in well. Push the suit up and down occasionally, and after
about a half hour of soaking, rinse thoroughly. (DO NOT put your suit
in a washing machine.) If you are going to dry your suit on hangers,
it is extremely important that you use an extra wide hanger. If narrow
or wood hangers are used, the suit will be damaged due to excessive
creasing. After the suit has dried, the zipper should be lubricated. |
| Knives
- All stainless steel knives will show some signs of rust due to their
high carbon content (carbon creates tensile strength). After each
use, rinse well with fresh water and dry outside of its sheath. Coat
with a light layer of oil or silicone. |
| Regulators
- After each day of diving, the regulator must be cleaned, inspected
and prepared for the next use or for storage. As soon as the regulator
is removed from the SCUBA cylinder, reinstall the dust cap over the
regulator inlet port. This cap is normally attached to the regulator
yoke and therefore has been under water. Be sure to blow out the water
in this cap before securing it over the inlet port. Ensure that the
O-ring is in place inside the dust cap. As soon as possible after
diving, the regulator must be soaked in warm (not over 120 degrees)
tap water, for a short period of time, to remove salt and mineral
deposits. The preferred method is to attach the regulator to a SCUBA
cylinder, open the cylinder valve and thoroughly soak both the first
and second stage regulators. Pay particular attention to directing
water into the mainspring cavity of the first stage regulator, the
second stage mouthpiece, and the holes in the second stage boxtop.
Depress the purge button several times while the regulator is submerged
in water. If no SCUBA tank is available, follow the above procedure,
but be very careful NOT to depress the purge button, or leave the
dust cap off when the regulator is submerged in water. Failure to
do this will result in water entering both regulator stages, which
could result in internal corrosion. Shake dry and wipe the regulator's
exterior with a clean cloth. Store the regulator in a cool, dry place
with a large loop in the hoses. Do not store in a small regulator
bag, as this will damage the hoses. |
| Wetsuit Alteration - If you do not have
a perfect, off the rack fit, do not feel alone. Many people need to
have minor alterations done to their wet suit to achieve that "custom"
fit feel. Here are the names of three companies whose services we
recommend: |
M & B Wetsuits
4414 Village Road, Long Beach
(562) 422-3493 / Ask for Don |
Sundance Apparel
5423 Lemona Ave., Van Nuys
(818) 787-1288 / Ask for Jean |
Sea - Me Repair
4352 Poplar Street, San Diego
(619) 563-9033 / Ask for Karen |
Express Wetsuits
2720 Camino Capistrano, Dana Point
(949) 498-8121 / Ask for Barbara
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| Optical
Lenses - We carry and stock optical lenses
to correct for both nearsightedness and farsightedness, and bifocal
lenses. We also offer masks in which both a bifocal lense and a lense
of a different diopter can be installed. Your mask is your window
to the underwater world, and seeing with your prescription will make
a world of difference. |
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