Rinse after fresh water dive??????????
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Guba
Contributor
First, there are only two sites I regularly dive that I don't do a thorough rinse after diving there. Both of these are springs in which the water is actually "cleaner" or at least as clean as the water from the tap. After diving any lakes, quarries or rivers, my gear gets a complete rinse. The reasons include:
1) Even freshwater usually carries quite a mineral load. This varies from locale to locale, of course, but in my neck o' the woods, carbonates are a major culprit. Just as salt crystalizes on surfaces after an ocean dive, many minerals will do the same in "hard" water. Want to see? Just dip your mask in one of these water sources, dump out all but a few drops and then let it sit to dry. Check out the water spots left behind...those are mineral deposits.
2) Yup, the ocean is laced with bacteria and other micro-critters. I've done the bact-T streak plates to prove it. So are all those quarries, lakes and rivers, and some of those life forms can be pretty nasty, but thankfully most of them are pretty benign. However, even the harmless types can make gear smell pretty funky after a while.
3) Finally, if you are in the habit of diving at multiple sites, it's a particularly good idea to rinse/wash your gear to prevent cross-contamination. Your gear might very well pick up some life forms (bacteria, algae, hydrilla and other plants and spores) and transmit them to the next, un-infected dive site. We, as conscientious divers, need to at least attempt to minimize the chance of becoming a vector for this type of contamination.
In short, it makes sense for both the diver and the environment to rinse gear after most dives.
1) Even freshwater usually carries quite a mineral load. This varies from locale to locale, of course, but in my neck o' the woods, carbonates are a major culprit. Just as salt crystalizes on surfaces after an ocean dive, many minerals will do the same in "hard" water. Want to see? Just dip your mask in one of these water sources, dump out all but a few drops and then let it sit to dry. Check out the water spots left behind...those are mineral deposits.
2) Yup, the ocean is laced with bacteria and other micro-critters. I've done the bact-T streak plates to prove it. So are all those quarries, lakes and rivers, and some of those life forms can be pretty nasty, but thankfully most of them are pretty benign. However, even the harmless types can make gear smell pretty funky after a while.
3) Finally, if you are in the habit of diving at multiple sites, it's a particularly good idea to rinse/wash your gear to prevent cross-contamination. Your gear might very well pick up some life forms (bacteria, algae, hydrilla and other plants and spores) and transmit them to the next, un-infected dive site. We, as conscientious divers, need to at least attempt to minimize the chance of becoming a vector for this type of contamination.
In short, it makes sense for both the diver and the environment to rinse gear after most dives.
Mayor
Contributor
I dive fresh water every week and set up a rinse tank in the garage. Quick and easy because the hanger is right above it. When on vacation (salt water) I use the hotel tub to rinse everything.
elan
Contributor
I doubt very much that you can rinse the bacteria off. Water foes not get into all the tiny holes that easy so it lives that anyways. However I rinse my gear as it removes most organic things that would smell when decaying.
ScubaSteve
Wow.....what a DB
I need to get an old steel oval water basin (used in fields with animals) from an old farm to use in this fashion. It would be so much quicker than using a hose (except where a hose may still be needed. You have my mind going....especially with hanging them immediately over top...solves another problem
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Mayor
Contributor
I need to get an old steel oval water basin (used in fields with animals) from an old farm to use in this fashion. It would be so much quicker than using a hose (except where a hose may still be needed. You have my mind going....especially with hanging them immediately over top...solves another problem
I picked up a round beverage cooler with a lid and drain in the bottom. Think I got it at Dicks Sporting Goods. I also have a hose in the garage right next to it. One other thing is I added a ceiling fan to help with drying it.
McNett Mirazyme Enzyme-Based Gear Deodorizer 36132 with reviews at scuba.com
Last edited:
Hatul
Contributor
I don't rinse after fresh water dives (I do disinfect the loop of my rebreather). After hundreds of dives over the years, I don't find any negative effects on my gear from the fresh water dives I do. Sometimes my milk crate, which holds my mask, fins, gages, hood, dry gloves, etc., doesn't leave my truck for months. My drysuit gets zipper wax, and I do give it a wash with Sink-the-Stink when it starts to smell.
After salt water, everything gets a good soaking - sometimes in the fresh water of my local lake.
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FYI I rinse after each dive, but after multiple days of salt water diving I let my gear soak in warm clean water in a cooler for a few hours to break any salt up...
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FYI I rinse after each dive, but after multiple days of salt water diving I let my gear soak in warm clean water in a cooler for a few hours to break any salt up...
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OP
Charged
Registered
I suppose that pretty much answers my question. Thanks!
Just to clarify, the quarry Im diving is about 20-30 minutes from me and has no rinse station available. So it would be ok to just rinse the gear after I get home???? This is a spring/rain fed quarry and has excellent vis.
Just to clarify, the quarry Im diving is about 20-30 minutes from me and has no rinse station available. So it would be ok to just rinse the gear after I get home???? This is a spring/rain fed quarry and has excellent vis.
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