The Scuba Gear Lab

BCD Maintenance Checklist: Essential Buoyancy Compensator Care and Service Schedule

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A single stuck inflator button at 80 feet or a dump valve that won't release can turn an expensive dive trip into a dangerous situation—and these failures are almost always preventable. In this episode, veteran diver Ray Hollister draws on four decades of experience and over 2,000 dives on a single BCD to share the exact maintenance protocols that keep buoyancy compensators reliable for years. Whether you're diving a back-inflate wing or a traditional jacket-style BC, you'll learn the specific tasks, intervals, and techniques that prevent corrosion, bladder degradation, and mechanical failures before they happen.

  • A quick spray-down isn't enough—submerge your BCD for 3 to 5 minutes after every dive day, paying special attention to the inflator mechanism, dump valves, and metal fittings where salt crystallizes fastest.
    • Internal rinsing is critical but often skipped; bladders that look fine externally can develop a quarter-inch of salt crust inside, accelerating degradation and causing leaks.
      • Flush your inflator mechanism by pressing the button 8 to 10 times underwater—if it feels sluggish or doesn't spring back instantly, salt buildup is already forming in the stem assembly.
        • During multi-day dive trips, a mid-week 30 to 45 minute soak addresses salt accumulation that daily rinsing can't reach, especially in warm water where evaporation speeds crystal formation.
          • UV degradation will literally crumble nylon webbing over time, so always dry your BCD in a shaded, ventilated area and never store it in direct sunlight.
            • Replace corrugated hoses every 200 to 250 dives regardless of appearance—they're inexpensive components that will absolutely ruin a dive if they split at depth.

              • Read the full article: https://thescubagearlab.com/bcd-maintenance-checklist

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              The Scuba Gear LabBy The Scuba Gear Lab