Servicing scuba tanks
Servicing Introduction;
Firstly, one of Dreamers Dive Academy Timor’s owners Ivan is a certified scuba technican and his passion for servicing shows! Ivan has been over a decade in the diving industry and he knows what is the most important part. Not just your enjoyment but also your safety. That means proper maintaince of your scuba equipment.
Dreamers Dive Academy Timor doesn’t just love diving, although of course it is a passion. We also love all the bit and pieces that allow us to go diving namely our scuba gear!
Looking after your tanks; washing
Now most divers are careful as always care for our regulators and BC’s after the dive. Yet, many times we don’t look after our main tools! Scuba tanks! Unfortunately, many times they are forgotten when they should be rinsed after diving. This avoids salt starting superficial corrosion of the aluminium. Salt does to tanks what sugar does to your teeth -cavities! If the tanks are cleaned propely the damage gets worse – the holes get deeper.
No dive operator likes loosing tanks when it comes to their 1/2 yearly inspection.
Looking after your tanks; not emptying them
In addition, we should respect as responsible divers is the air left in the tank. Naturally, if we follow our dive plan properly tanks should be back at the surface between 70 and 50 bar. You should let the dive operator know, if you find yourself with less pressure than this . Or using your own tank always keep it above 30bar you. Draing the tank can allow water to get inside. Water inside means salt (or minerals in freshwater) get inside.Thus, damaging the inside of the cylinder. Check the tanks. Especially if you plan to be diving in remote areas like Atauro Island.
Why we shouldn’t empty them?
Every time a tank’s pressure drops bellow 30 bar you may allow particles such as dust or moisture to get in the tank. No one wants to breath that! Moisture inside a tank can start aluminium corrosion. most noteworthy is as time goes by you can end up with some nasty corrosion inside the tank. Hence for your own safety and those around you don’t drain them. Ideally if you are renting tanks try and keep to your minimum reserve of 50 bar. Take care of the tanks for other divers. Keep other your dive safer. At the end of the day we all benefit. We all have fun!
Making gear last longer
Washing our gear thouroghly is one of the little things we can do on every day. Every time we go diving it will make a big difference to the longevity of the gear. especially, if it is your own stuff, you paid enough for it in the first place! Why not protect it the best you can from general wear and tear. Keep it clean and don’t forget about the tanks too.
Furthermore, you should be aware of the minimum recommended time between servicing and don’t wait to do it either. A qualified technician can provide proper care. Evidently, this is important for your safety. In addition, your gears well being in the long run.
Our servicing workshop
Dreamers Dive Academy Timor has a workshop dedicated to looking after your precious equipment; scuba tanks included. As a fully licenced workshop we can do visual and hydrostatic inspections of tanks. See here for our price list.
If you want to know more about basic equipment maintenance why not sign up for the SDI equipment specialist course or get in touch with us directly info@timordiveacademy.com
