T K See Tho
10th May 2009
The one thing, right after getting home from any dive trip, that we all dread most - even more than showing up on time in the office the next morning - is gear cleanup. There is no argument against taking good care of our dive gear. You don't want it malfunctioning on the next dive and sending us to the 'happy coral garden in the sky' permanently, do you? You also absolutely do not want your wetsuit to smell like rotten cheese if you harbour any hope of inviting that cute diver next to you on the dive boat out for some after-dive sunset drinks on the beach. So how do you keep your gear clean and smelling fresh without breaking your back, ready to go the next time your boss give you any time off?
After any trips I usually empty the contents of my dive bag into a bathtub. Throw the bag in as well. First cleanout the bladder of you BCD with fresh water. After that just fill up your bathub and add a cap full of anti-septic solution like Savlon or Dettol. Personally I like Savlon because it is less pungent. Let your gear soak overnight. The next day after you come home from a hard day at the office just hang everythig up to dry. The overnight soak in fresh water should remove all salt and sand, and the anti-septic solution kills all the nasty ordour causing bacteria.
That's it! You don't need any detergent or any back-breaking scrubbing at all - simple and environmentally friendly. So the next trip I expect that you will be smelling fresh and clean. Dive safe.
