So you’ve invested in some awesome scuba diving gear and you’re putting it to good use. But are you taking good care of it to make sure it lasts?
What you may not know, is that care and maintenance for your scuba diving equipment in the form of servicing, is extremely important. Why? Because it ensures the gear that you worked hard to pay for, actually lasts.
So, how do you know when to service your scuba diving equipment and why is it so important?
We’re going to tell you why.
Why should you get your diving equipment serviced?
For starters, scuba diving equipment is essentially life support equipment, making it extremely important stuff! If you’re scuba diving equipment isn’t properly maintained, then how can you expect it to help support your life on your dives like it should?
No matter how good your scuba diving equipment is, parts wear out and they can begin to leak, which is why it needs to be serviced and parts need to be replaced.
Just like your car – you need to maintain your equipment.
When should you get your diving equipment serviced?
Similar to your car, manufactures recommend getting your equipment serviced once a year, or after approximately every 50 dives. People often think that if they haven’t been using their equipment then they don’t need to have it serviced, this is not true. When your dive gear sits dry for long periods of time it can dry out essential parts like O-rings. Sometime not using your gear can actually cause more of a need to service it.
What is the cost of diving equipment servicing?
Luckily for scuba divers, having your equipment serviced is much more affordable than having your car service. We suppose this could have something to do with your equipment being much smaller than your car!
So, how much does it cost? Prices differ depending on where you go. At Dolphin Scuba, we have full workshop on site and all equipment servicing is done in house. A full regulator service is $88 plus parts, with part prices range anywhere from $9 to $135 depending on the make, model or condition. BCD services start from $33 plus parts and computer battery changes start from $25.
Check out our servicing price-list here.
How long does a diving equipment service take?
Ready to go on holiday and think you can bring your scuba diving equipment in the day before your flight? Think again. For most dive shops (including us at Dolphin Scuba), the average turnaround time is 3 – 4 days, so you should plan to take your equipment in for servicing at least 1-2 weeks before you’re due to leave.
Not only is the time for servicing something to consider, it’s also a good idea to try your equipment out at home post service, before taking it away with you. Why? Because there may be something more that needs repairing, or some of the settings may have changed, and you may need time to fine tune your gear again, back to the way you like it and feel comfortable – your holiday dive will be much safer that way.
What about cylinder testing?
In Australia scuba cylinders are required to be hydrostatically tested every 12 months. The stamp on the neck of the cylinder indicated the month and year of the last test. You have until the end of that month the next year before it requires testing again. You’ll find the cost of cylinder testing in our pricing here.
We don’t do hydro testing on site you so you’ll need to make sure you allow enough time for us to send them away for you, usually 3-4 business days through the summer months and up to 10 business days during the winter months.
Care and maintenance for your scuba diving equipment in the form of servicing, is extremely important, so make sure you keep on top of yours.
Did you know that Dolphin Scuba is one of Perth’s only dive shops with onsite scuba equipment repair and servicing? Yep! Our trained technicians use the most state-of-the-art equipment in the industry and are on hand to service and help you maintain your dive gear.
Our professional trained technicians are currently certified to service almost all major brands including some of the more complex brands such as Poseidon. We have years of knowledge and experience and the ability to service scuba gear from all over the world.
If you have any problems with your dive gear, just pop in and we’ll do our best to put it right.
Have questions about servicing or anything else? Contact us at Dolphin Scuba in Welshpool, Perth today.