While we all enjoy diving in salt water, that same salt water is the biggest enemy of our expensive diving equipment, which needs to be thoroughly rinsed after each day diving.
This rinsing is accomplished in lots and lots of fresh water. Showers just do not fill the bill. At FUS we use big blue tubs that allow all the equipment to be completely submerged. You can pick up one of these from Wal-Mart, Lowes, or Home Depot for about seven dollars.
Regulators are the equipment most sensitive to salt damage and should be given special care. Before putting your regs into the fresh water tub, check to see that the dust cap is in place. Slosh the equipment around, but do not push any purge buttons. Leave in the rinse water until all gear is in the tub. On removal, dry the regs with a clean towel and store in a cool, dry place, away from light, heat, dust, and fumes. There are storage units made for regulator sets, but a large plastic bag will work also.
Your BCD should also be rinsed in fresh water, both inside and out. To remove the salt from the inside, put about a half gallon of water through the inflator. Slosh like crazy. Drain the BCD through the vents and/or the inflator to remove the rinse water. Then put the BCD into the tub with the regulator and do the sloshing thing again.
The rest of your equipment can now be place in the tub. Slosh, slosh, slosh. Remove the gear from the tub and arrange for drying.
Allow your gear to dry and store in accordance with manufacturers' recommendations.
If your wet suit and boots have started to smell like "eau-de-swamp", it may be time for an odor control treatment and there products to help control the problem. It is a good idea to stop by FUS and check out the maintenance products available. The products work well and are reasonably priced.
By now, with all that sloshing, you are thoroughly wet and should go change your clothes.
Tom
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