Why is regular servicing of SCUBA gear important?

Scuba regulators need to be serviced to ensure safety, maintain optimal performance, and prolong their lifespan. Regular servicing prevents malfunctions by cleaning internal parts, replacing worn-out components like o-rings and seats, and adjusting performance to ensure a smooth and reliable air supply. This preventative maintenance can also prevent more costly future repairs and is often required to maintain a manufacturer’s warranty.

A malfunctioning regulator can be life-threatening. Service ensures your regulator is working correctly and provides a reliable air supply.  Over time, internal parts can degrade, and performance can drift. Servicing restores a regulator’s proper function, leading to easier breathing and preventing issues like free-flows or increased work of breathing.  Even with proper storage, O-rings can dry out and other components can deteriorate. Regular service replaces these parts before they fail. 

Scuba BCDs should be serviced annually to prevent catastrophic failure, which can result from wear, salt and debris buildup, and deterioration. Regular servicing ensures that the inflator valve and deflation buttons function correctly, preventing dangerous situations like uncontrolled ascents and maintaining the BCD’s overall safety and longevity.

A BCD is statistically the most common cause of catastrophic dive accidents, often due to the inflator failing and causing the diver to lose control.  Salt, chlorine, and other debris can cause internal valves to corrode or stick, especially in the inflator.  Salt crystals can form inside the bladder from salt water, and chemicals like chlorine from pools can damage the material, potentially leading to a puncture. 

Manufacturer Recommendations:

Most manufacturers recommend annual service by a qualified technician to ensure the equipment is in proper working order.  For many manufacturers, this service is required to maintain the warranty.

For regulators, the first year service will entail an inspection, bench test, and any adjustments required to ensure the regulator functions properly and is within manufacturer specifications.  The second year service will be a full overhaul involving a complete disassembly, cleaning, replacement of o-rings and seals, reassembly, adjustment and testing.  The service interval for an overhaul is typically 2 years or 200 dives with an inspection/tune-up in between.

For BCDs, the annual service entails cleaning the valve seals and exterior of the BCD; disinfecting and flushing the BCD bladder, dump valves, and overpressure relief valves with fresh water; testing the BCD inflator, dump valves, and overpressure relief valves for proper operation; and inspecting the BCD for any leaks, punctures, and missing or broken parts.  If the BCD has an integrated octopus, such as a ScubaPro AIR2 or Aqualung AirSource, the octopus will be serviced at the same time as the BCD.

Remember, your regulator, alternate air source, gauges, and BCD are your life support system underwater, and should be maintained carefully.

MDA’s Repair Department

How Long Will It Take?

This varies based on the specific equipment, type of service, and current volume of repair work.  Our advertised service time is 10-14 days but we typically turn around gear in a week or less.

Have questions about your gear contact our Repair Team