Scuba Gear Maintenance: How to Clean, Store, and Extend the Life of Your Equipment

Why Gear Maintenance Matters

Scuba gear is not just expensive—it is life support. Whether you are diving every weekend or only a few times a year, your gear needs regular care to stay safe, reliable, and ready to perform. Neglect can lead to corrosion, mold, leaks, and in extreme cases, gear failure underwater.

This guide covers the essential habits every diver should know: how to clean your gear after diving, how to store it properly, and how to make it last as long as possible.

After Every Dive: Cleaning Checklist

Cleaning your gear after each dive prevents damage and wear—even if you only dove in freshwater or a pool. Salt, chlorine, silt, and even bacteria can all shorten the lifespan of your equipment. Here is how to clean it effectively:

Rinse Guidance for Saltwater, Freshwater, and Pools

• Saltwater dives: Always rinse gear with fresh water. Salt can crystalize after drying and cause corrosion, cracked hoses, and damaged neoprene.
• Pool dives: Chlorine is just as harmful over time as salt. Rinse every piece of gear thoroughly.
• Freshwater dives: Still rinse everything. Mud, minerals, and organic debris can create odors or leave residue inside your equipment.

If you are unable to rinse right away:

• Pack your gear in a container or bag and keep it out of the sun.
• Rinse it as soon as possible—preferably the same day.
• Do not let gear dry with salt or chlorine on it. This can cause permanent damage.

Regulators

• Rinse with cool, fresh water while keeping the dust cap firmly in place.
• Do not press the purge button or soak the regulator unless it is still pressurized. Water could enter the first stage.
• Swish second stages lightly to rinse the mouthpiece and exhaust area.
• Allow the regulator to air dry completely before storage.

BCD (Buoyancy Compensator Device)

• Rinse the exterior thoroughly with fresh water.
• Add fresh water to the bladder through the oral inflator, swish it around, and drain it through the dump valves.
• Partially inflate the BCD while drying. This prevents the inner bladder walls from sticking together.
• Hang it to dry in the shade using a sturdy BCD hanger.

Wetsuits, Gloves, Boots, and Hoods

• Rinse both the inside and outside with fresh water.
• Use wetsuit shampoo occasionally, especially after pool dives, long days of diving, or when odors appear. Do not overuse detergent.
• Hang to dry on a wide hanger in a shaded area.
• Never leave neoprene gear wet, folded, or compressed. This can cause mildew and permanent creasing.

Fins, Masks, and Snorkels

• Rinse thoroughly, paying attention to buckles and straps.
• Keep mirrored or tinted lenses out of direct sunlight to prevent blistering or warping.
• Let gear dry fully before storing it to prevent mold or mildew.

Dive Computers and Gauges

• Rinse with fresh water. You can press the buttons while the computer is submerged if the manufacturer recommends it.
• Only soak if your device’s manual specifically allows it.

Tanks

• Rinse the outside of the tank and valve thoroughly.
• Allow it to dry standing upright. Remove the tank boot to ensure full drying.
• Store the tank with 300 to 500 psi of pressure to prevent moisture from entering.
• It is better to avoid using a tank boot because they trap moisture and can hide rust. If you do use one, remove it regularly and allow the tank base to dry completely.

Storage Between Dives

Proper storage between dive days keeps your gear in good condition and prevents long-term damage.

• Choose a dry, cool location: Avoid hot attics and damp basements. Look for temperature stability and air flow.
• Keep gear out of sunlight: UV exposure weakens plastic, rubber, and neoprene.
• Hang items that should stay upright: Use thick hangers for BCDs and wetsuits to prevent shoulder distortion.
• Coil hoses gently: Avoid tight bends or wrapping them too tightly.
• Do not compress soft gear: Keep weight off neoprene gloves, boots, and suits.
• Release tank straps: Loosen bands to prevent creasing or loss of tension over time.

Extending the Life of Your Gear

To keep your gear working reliably for many years, make preventative maintenance part of your regular habits.

Annual Service

• Regulators: Have them serviced by a qualified technician every 12 months or 100 dives.
• BCD: Inspect the inflator, bladder, and valves at least once a year.
• Dive computers: Replace batteries according to the manufacturer’s schedule.
• Tanks:
  • Get a visual inspection every year (required in the U.S.).
  • Have a hydrostatic test done every five years.

O-Rings and Lubrication

• Inspect tank valve and flashlight O-rings. Apply a small amount of scuba-grade silicone grease if they appear dry.
• Do not grease O-rings inside gauges, inflators, or other moving components unless the manufacturer explicitly allows it.
• Never use household grease or oil.

Spare Parts

• Pack a save-a-dive kit with spare straps, mask buckles, O-rings, and a mouthpiece.
• Replace worn or damaged parts before your next dive, not during it.

Common Mistakes

• Storing gear while still wet
• Leaving a regulator pressurized on the tank
• Using bleach or strong chemicals to clean gear
• Waiting until the night before a trip to check for damage
• Leaving gear in a hot trunk without rinsing it first