Equipment Specialist Cert.

[scubadobadoo]

I suggest buying the encyclopedia of recreational diving and reading it a few times. This book will cover what most Equipment Specialty classes will cover and much more. It will also give you a head start on the DM class as well.

I took the Equipment Specialty class when I had only been diving for one year and found it somewhat helpful to handle gear I hadn't yet purchased, like tanks. My class was about 6 total hours and spread over two days. I do suggest it, but not to someone who has been diving for some time and already owns and handles all their own gear.

 

[Chad Carney]

A good equipment course should cover how to recognize problems with gear, especially regulators and BCs. It should train the student to be able to grade the problems, i.e. can a simple adjustment solve the issue, or is the 1st stage overpressurizing?

This is the kind of training a dive store puts new employees and dive masters through, so they can suit up a diver in proper rental gear, or keep everybody in the water on a trip. It involves more switching out of components than actual repair. Familiarization with QD fittings, common O-ring replacement on hoses, valves etc., learning webbing weaving on cam buckles. It should include proper fitting in BCs and suits as well.

A good course should also include specifics on the diver's personal system. Divers need to know when their gear is not functioning as it should, especially when it is new, right after servicing has been done, or components have been changed.

The course should be taught by a factory trained technician, even though it does not include training for complete servicing of the gear.

Chad

FL Zeagle Rep

 

[BarryNL]

I had similar experience. The course is not what I had hoped for. I did pick up a few tidbits that proved useful. I have dozens of regs from vintage to tech. Some I send off to be overhauled. Most I work on myself. I've obtained the overhaul manuals, tools, magnahelic guages, etc. and only do the work I know I can do correctly. I also take care of my stuff so they need little work done to keep them operating correctly. Some people will say I will kill myself, but I have never had a problem with any of the regs I have worked on. I have had major problems with some I got back from a LDS such as having one rebuilt without the exhaust valve installed. Another one I got back I opened up the second stage and found the diaphram covered with silt. Obviously the tech never worked on it and I had been charged for my annual inspection.
After experiences such as those that made me take better care of my gear and learning to work on the stuff myself.
Certainly if you want to work in that field you need certifications. But I learned more taking regulators apart and studying them and talking to knowlegable folks and reading manuals. What works for me may not be good for other folks. My regs I dive tend to be rather idiot proof such as Conshelfs.

I'd agree it's probably worth learning to service your own regs. Most of the problems I've heard about with regulators occur immediately after servicing - including problems with my own which had to go back to the manufacturer three times before it started working as well as it did before I sent it in for service.

The question is, who do you trust more to take care with your dive equipment - yourself or some faceless teccie?

 

[pete340]

The question is, who do you trust more to take care with your dive equipment - yourself or some faceless teccie?

Since that faceless techie has knowledge and equipment that I don't have, I trust the techie.

 

[BarryNL]

Since that faceless techie has knowledge and equipment that I don't have, I trust the techie.

The knowledge and equipment you can get. The commitment to do a good job from the techie you can't.

 

[Ed Palma]

The knowledge that you need to be a proficient tech for your own gear can be found right here on the board. Throughout my many gear queries, there have been a consistent number of people willing to impart their expert opinions.
So following their advice, and relying on a little self confidence, i put together a basic tool kit - even making my own IP gauge. At least at this point, I know I can do basic adjustment of my own reg if need be. (i've taken it apart, but parts are a PITA to come by!). - the parts thing is a whole different can of worms...

 

[lmorin]

What I didn't get: total, inside-out familiarity with my own equipment. I was specifically told not to bring my own gear for the class. I was dosed with generalities that were of little use with respect to my own stuff. The one thing that I did learn and impressed me was that the glue used for wetsuit repair is really, really sticky and does a very good job.

 

[andydiver06]

The choice of course should depend upon intended use. If you want to just service your own gear a PadI course might be ok but if you want to do a course which will increase your employment oppurtunities as a dive professional then a person need to do multiple course like ASSET provides :
1. Tank Inspection and hydrostatic testing
2. All kinds of regulator servicing and O2 cleaning
3. Compressor maintenance and servicing
4. OBM maintenance and servicing
5. Other gear repair like patching, replacing parts from wet suit, dry suit, BCD, BP/W etc.

 

[Nemrod]

The real trick is getting the parts you need to do the service and repairs yourself. I never let anyone but me work on my gear unless I know them very well. I do 90% of my own work. It is not rocket science. N

 

[RikRaeder]

Thanks to everyone for the resources, opinions, and information. I'm a long way from even considering marketing myself as a dive professional but, as stated, I'm trying to train up and plot a course that will take me in the right direction. I certainly want to become a better diver. I'm presently inquiring into a slew of "useful" courses that I hope to complete this winter (equpment spec not among them). After that it's practice practice practice, more training, rinse and repeat.