DAN Medical Q&A

DAN medical specialists and researchers answer your dive medicine questions

A: The risk of acquiring a disease or infection from contaminated scuba equipment is low; however, there are many benefits to using clean, well-cared-for scuba equipment. Properly maintained dive gear can last longer and is less likely to malfunction and cause a dive accident. Divers Alert Network encourages divers to review the manufacturer’s recommendations in addition to the following guidelines when cleaning and sanitising scuba equipment.

Before rinsing a regulator, make sure the dust cap is clean, dry and secured over the first stage inlet. Submerge the regulator in fresh water for a short period and gently rotate any moving parts to ensure any salt residue is rinsed off or dissolves. Allow the regulator to dry completely before storing.

As an extra precaution, use alcohol or antibacterial mouthwash to sanitise the second stage mouthpiece. Swab the mouthpiece first, then scrub gently using a toothbrush with soft bristles. Rinse thoroughly, taking care not to press the purge button.

Unless you dive exclusively in freshwater, it’s important to rinse all neoprene items after every dive. Saltwater causes neoprene to degrade and lose its flexibility. All divers should clean and disinfect their wetsuits, boots and gloves periodically with a prolonged soak in warm water and wetsuit cleaner. Here are the basic steps: • Undo velcro and open all zippers • Submerge and gently massage items • Rinse thoroughly • Hang wetsuits on thick hangers to dry with zippers open • Store in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight or near where a gasoline engine is operated • Always follow manufacturers’ recommendations • Use only cleaning products designed for scuba gear. Other cleaners can damage or degrade dive equipment

Rinse your mask, fins and snorkel after every use and allow them to dry completely before storing to avoid mildew growth. Use fresh, clean water and rotate any moving parts to remove salt, sand or other debris. Sanitise snorkel mouthpieces the same way you would regulator mouthpieces.

Rinse the exterior of the BCD thoroughly with clean, fresh water. Remove the weight pockets (if applicable) and rinse separately. It is also a good idea to rinse the inside of your BCD. Start by dumping any water that entered the bladder during the dive, then pour clean, fresh water into the bladder via the low-pressure inflator hose. Orally inflate the BCD and shake the water around the fully inflated bladder. Finally, invert the BCD so that the inflator hose is the lowest point, and dump out the excess water. After a thorough rinse, inflate the BCD about halfway. Allow it to dry completely before deflating it, then store it away from direct sunlight.

Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for proper maintenance, inspect your dive gear before every use, and get it serviced regularly. To learn more about equipment care, basic repairs and maintenance, take an equipment maintenance course. DANAP.org

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The decades of expertise behind Mares and

Rebreathers allow you to breathe your air repeatedly. Put simply, the air you exhale enters a rebreather system that absorbs the CO2 you have breathed out and replaces the O2 you have used during your last breath.

Rebreathers have several sought-after advantages over open-circuit scuba apparatus, including a lack of bubbles and extended dive times. These advantages give you more time to explore the underwater world and allow you to get closer to marine life than ever before. The Mares Horizon SCR does not need dedicated cylinders and can be used with standard nitrox cylinders. It provides warm, moist breathing gas and the lightweight system is perfect for traveling. Mares and rEvo have left no stone unturned when they designed this fantastic system - the ergonomic design of the Mares Horizon even improves your trim, position and comfort in the water.

• Enjoy extended dive times. The Mares Horizon SCR offers incredibly extended dive times compared to open-circuit dives, giving the diver more time to take in the wonderful underwater environment. • Learn with a lightweight SCR system ideal for travel. This lightweight system is the ideal travel companion and does not require dedicated cylinders or weights. The unit’s simple logistics allow you to use standard nitrox cylinders that are easily obtained from most dive destinations. • Build on your open-circuit knowledge step by step.

The Mares Horizon SCR diving training builds on your foundation of open-circuit and nitrox diving knowledge, so you can become a confident SCR diver and at a pace that works for you. The Horizon SCR controller also intuitively maintains an ideal nitrox mix, depending on your preferences. • Get closer to marine life than ever before. Why do we love the SCR rebreather training program? Because it is the start of your journey to get closer to marine life than ever before! We all know that fewer bubbles equal more closeup action and epic dives. • Ditch the heavy gear and improve your trim. The Mares

Horizon SCR has an ergonomic design that intuitively improves your trim position and comfort in the water.

Added to that, it provides warm and moist breathing gas, so you can get comfortable on every dive and discover the freedom of movement that rebreather diving brings.

Dive into the world of rebreather diving with the In this entry-level rebreather program, you will learn all you need to dive safely with the Mares Horizon rebreather up to 30 meters deep. It is the perfect introduction to rebreather diving, and you can start this certification online today. n

Contact your SSI SCR training centre for more information on the Mares Horizon SCR programme or the TRY SCR program if you want to experience the benefits of diving with the SCR without committing to a full course.