Diving: Tips in preparation for the new season

Spring check for diving equipment

The right start to the dive season

After a long winter, the time has finally come again. Our fins are itching and we’re ready to dive again. It’s time to gently awaken our scuba gear from the long winter hibernation and make sure it’s fit for the coming dive season in local lakes or on our next diving holiday.

Divers who stowed away their gear last autumn should collect and thoroughly check all their equipment before their first dive in the spring. Is it all there? Do I have everything I need? Do I need anything new? Is something clearly broken and must be repaired or replaced? It helps to just spread out all your gear in front of you and envision what you’re wearing. From there, you can take a closer look at each individual piece of equipment.

The wetsuit
An intact wetsuit keeps the diver warm and protects against injury. The suit should be checked for rips or holes and, if it wasn’t already done after the last diving holiday, the suit should be machine washed on a delicate cycle at 30 C. The same applies to all other neoprene gear such as gloves, booties, hoods and socks. After a long break, you should also try on all your suits. Many people put on a few kilos over the winter and sometimes the suits from the previous season just won’t fit anymore.

Is the equipment complete?

Are the suits still intact?

Shortys at boot Düsseldorf

Neoprene semi-dry suits

Wetsuit at boot Düsseldorf

Drysuit care
Caring for a drysuit is somewhat more complex. Especially the sensitive cuffs around the neck and wrists need to be checked carefully, as they can become porous. It’s also advisable to try on the drysuit, as it has to fit more precisely than a wetsuit or semi-dry suit. Significant weight fluctuations can also make the cuffs feel too tight or too loose. The zipper should be treated with a special care product. Drysuit divers should also remember to take the inflator hose for their drysuit in for inspection.

The regulator

The dive regulator is the lung and life insurance of every diver. From the outside you simply cannot see what is happening on the inside. When taking a break from diving in the winter it’s a good time for the inspection specified by the respective manufacturer. An initial visual check can be done by any experienced diver. Is everything properly in place? Is anything stuck? Are all the hoses where they should be? If possible, the regulator should be hooked up to a scuba tank to check functionality. Several deep breaths of air will tell you whether the regulator is working, making strange noises or even broken. However, these steps cannot replace a revision.

Author: Bettina Winert

Also read: Safety in diving - basic safety measures