Why servicing matters
Your gear is life support equipment. Most of it is very reliable, but only when it is cleaned, stored and serviced the way the manufacturer intends. Seals dry out, salt crystals build up, springs weaken and batteries fade, usually without any warning until the day something leaks or a computer goes blank on the boat.
The good news is that a simple routine after every dive, plus professional service on a predictable schedule, prevents almost all of these problems. The hard part is remembering when each item is due.
After every dive
Rinse everything in fresh water as soon as you can, ideally by soaking it rather than just spraying it. Salt and sand do the most damage when they are left to dry.
Keep the dust cap on your regulator first stage while rinsing, and do not press the purge button of a second stage while it is submerged, so water does not get into places it should not. Rinse the inside of your BCD bladder through the oral inflator and drain it.
Dry your gear in the shade. Sunlight breaks down neoprene, silicone and rubber over time. Store it loosely, without tight folds in hoses or suits, in a cool place.
Typical service intervals
Always follow the manufacturer of your specific equipment, but these are common intervals.
Regulators: a professional service every one to two years, or after a set number of dives, whichever comes first. Many manufacturers specify annual service. Get them checked sooner if breathing feels harder, a second stage free flows, or the intermediate pressure is out of range.
BCDs: an annual inspection of the inflator, dump valves and bladder, including a check that the BCD holds air overnight.
Tanks: a visual inspection inside and out, usually every year, and a hydrostatic test at an interval set by local law, commonly every five years. A dive center will not fill a tank whose inspection is out of date.
Dive computers: battery changes when the computer says so or at the interval in its manual, with the O-ring replaced at the same time if you change it yourself. Some models must go to a service center to keep their water resistance.
Wetsuits, fins and masks need no scheduled service, but check straps, buckles and zips before each trip. A spare mask strap and fin strap in your bag can save a dive.
Keep a service record
Write down when each item was bought and every time it was serviced, along with what was done. That record helps a technician, is often needed for warranty claims, and adds value if you ever sell the gear.
If your regulator is serviced by dive count rather than by date, you also need to know how many dives it has done. That is much easier when your gear is linked to the dives in your logbook.
How Frey Dive helps
In Frey Dive, each piece of gear can have its purchase date, its service history and a service interval in months or in dives. When you add a dive and select the gear you used, the dive count updates on its own.
Frey reminds you before a service or battery change is due and shows overdue items on your home screen, so service dates stop sneaking up on you just before a trip.