Don't Let It Happen on the Boat: A Pre-Trip Gear Troubleshooting Guide

The feeling is pure excitement. Your bags are nearly packed, your flight is booked, and you can already picture yourself descending into the clear, blue water of your dream dive destination. The last thing you want is for that dream to be derailed by a completely preventable gear failure on the deck of the dive boat.

A torn fin strap, a leaky regulator, or a dead dive computer battery can turn a day of incredible diving into a frustrating day of sitting out. The good news is that nearly all of these trip-ruining surprises can be avoided with a simple, systematic gear check a few weeks before you leave.

At Paragon Dive Store, our goal is to ensure your adventures are safe and seamless. Think of this guide as your professional pre-trip checklist. Spending an hour in your living room with your gear now can save you stress, money, and most importantly, precious dive time on your vacation.

1. The Regulator: Your Life Support System

Your regulator is the most complex and critical piece of your kit. Give it the attention it deserves.

• Visual Inspection:
  • Hoses: Carefully inspect every inch of your high and low-pressure hoses. Bend them gently. Are there any visible cracks, abrasions, or bulges, especially near the fittings where they connect to the first and second stages? Is the rubber looking perished or faded?
  • Mouthpieces: Check the mouthpieces on your primary and octopus second stages. Are there any tears or holes? A torn mouthpiece is uncomfortable and can lead to jaw fatigue.
  • Gauges: Look at the face of your submersible pressure gauge (SPG). Is it cracked or damaged?
• Function Test (Connect it to a full tank):
  • Listen for Leaks: Open the tank valve slowly and listen carefully. Do you hear a faint (or obvious) hissing sound? This indicates a leak, most commonly from the O-ring where the first stage connects to the tank valve or from a hose fitting.
  • Breathe and Purge: Take a few normal breaths from both your primary second stage and your octopus. Does the air flow smoothly? Does it taste clean? Press the purge button on each. Does it deliver a strong blast of air and, crucially, stop completely when you release it? A "sticky" purge button needs immediate attention.
  • Check the SPG: Does the gauge needle jump to the correct pressure and hold steady? A needle that slowly creeps down while pressurized indicates a leak in your high-pressure system.
• What to Do If You Find an Issue:
  • Torn Mouthpiece: This is an easy fix! We sell a variety of comfortable replacement mouthpieces.
  • Worn Tank Valve O-Ring: This is also a simple, user-serviceable fix. Always carry spares in your save-a-dive kit.
  • Hissing Hoses, Sticky Purge, Breathing Issues: STOP. These are not DIY fixes. These are clear signs that your regulator is due for professional servicing by a certified technician. Don't risk your life support system on a guess.
  • Check Your Service Log: Has it been more than a year since your last regulator service? Manufacturers mandate annual servicing for a reason. Get it done before your trip for safety and peace of mind.

Book Your Annual Regulator Service with Our Certified Technicians

2. The BCD: Your Buoyancy Control Center

Your BCD controls your position in the water and needs to be in perfect working order.

• Visual Inspection:
  • Fabric and Straps: Look over the entire BCD for signs of significant abrasion or fabric tears. Check all straps, buckles, and D-rings. Plastic buckles can become brittle over time; check them for cracks.
  • Inflator Assembly: Inspect the low-pressure inflator (LPI) hose for cracks.
• Function Test:
  • Power Inflator: Connect the LPI hose to your regulator. Press the inflate button. Does the BCD inflate smoothly? Does the button ever stick in the open position?
  • Dump Valves: Orally inflate the BCD until it's firm. Now, test every dump valve. Pull the cord on your shoulder dumps and rear dumps. Do they release air and then reseat properly?
  • The Critical Leak Test: Orally inflate your BCD until the over-pressure valve releases. Now, let it sit for at least a few hours (overnight is even better). If it's noticeably softer when you return, you have a slow leak. To find it, submerge the inflated BCD in a bathtub or pool and look for a stream of tiny bubbles.
• What to Do If You Find an Issue:
  • Broken Buckles: Most buckles are user-replaceable. We carry a wide range of replacement parts.
  • Sticky Inflator / Slow Leak: These issues require a technician. A faulty inflator can cause a dangerous runaway ascent, and a leaky bladder can make buoyancy control impossible.

Shop BCD Parts or Schedule a BCD Service Today!

3. Mask, Fins, and Snorkel: Your Personal Connection to the Water

These items are notorious for failing at the worst possible moment, but the fixes are the easiest and cheapest.

• Mask: The silicone skirt is the most important part. Hold it up to the light and gently stretch it. Are there any tiny tears or is the silicone becoming stiff or discolored? The #1 point of failure is the strap. Is it losing elasticity or showing cracks?
• Fins: For open-heel fins, the straps and buckles are everything. Inspect them closely for cracks in the rubber or plastic. For full-foot fins, check for tears in the foot pocket.
• Snorkel: Check the snorkel keeper (the clip that attaches to your mask strap) and the mouthpiece for tears.

• What to Do If You Find an Issue:
  • A broken mask or fin strap on day one of a liveaboard trip is a disaster. A replacement costs just a few dollars. Always pack a spare mask strap and a set of spare fin straps. It’s the cheapest trip insurance you can buy.

Stock Up on Spare Straps, Mouthpieces, and Save-a-Dive Essentials!

4. Dive Computer and Wetsuit: Your Data and Your Armor

• Dive Computer:
  • The Battery: Turn on your computer. Does it show a low battery icon? Even if it doesn't, if you can't remember the last time you changed it, do it now. A dead computer means no diving.
  • The Strap: Just like your mask and fins, the strap can wear out. Check it for cracks and ensure the buckle is solid.
• Wetsuit / Drysuit:
  • Zippers: Open and close all the zippers. Are they smooth or sticky? A bit of zipper wax can work wonders.
  • Seals & Seams: Check for any tears, especially at the seams or on the neck/wrist seals of a drysuit.
• What to Do If You Find an Issue:
  • Computer Battery: We can perform a battery change and pressure test for most models, or we sell user-changeable battery kits.
  • Wetsuit Tears: Small tears can often be fixed with neoprene cement. A stuck zipper can be solved with the right lubricant.

Find Wetsuit Care Products or Computer Accessories Here!

Your Adventure is Too Important to Leave to Chance

This checklist might seem like a lot, but it can be completed in under an hour. By identifying and fixing small issues at home, you ensure that when you step onto that dive boat, your focus is on the incredible adventure ahead, not on your gear.

Found a problem you can't fix? That's what we're here for. Bring your gear to Paragon Dive Store. Our expert technicians and retail staff will get you sorted with the right parts, professional servicing, and the best advice to ensure you're trip-ready.