6 Quick Tips for After-Dive Care of Your BC

Posted on Apr, 2011 in Home/How To.../6 Quick Tips for After-Dive Care of Your BC

1.     Soak your BC in clean, fresh water as soon as possible after the dive.  Whether you are diving in open water or within a pool, it is very important to remove the residue built up either from salt crystals, debris, or chlorine.  Be sure to swish the BC around a few times, and to soak it for at least 10 minutes if possible.

2.     After soaking your BC, rinse it off with a hose or shower.  Rinsing the equipment with a hose is more beneficial than a shower because you can direct the water better, but you can use whatever is available.  Don’t forget to rinse the valves and buttons as well as the surface of the material.

3.     Be sure to clean the interior of the BC as well.  Debris and salt crystals can make their way into the BC when underwater through the ventilation of air.  To clean the interior, deflate the oral inflate button while aiming the water from the hose into the mechanism.  Cleaning can also be accomplished by holding the device underwater while holding the inflate button open.  Once water has entered the interior, shake the BC a few times to spread the water throughout the whole inside. You can repeat this process several times.

4.     Empty all of the water from inside of the BC.  You can inflate your BC and then turn it upside down.  Press the inflate/deflate button while pressing the BC against your body, thus forcing the water out through the inflator hose.

5.     Always inspect your BC for tears, ripped stitching, cracks, and any other problems.  This will only take a few seconds and will help you to prepare for your next dive, especially if something needs to be fixed before.

6.     Dry your BC in a cool, dry place, and do not set it out in the sun.  You can inflate it slightly, and then hang it over a railing or hanger.  Be sure that the BC is completely dried before storing it.

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