Equipment and Servicing

Masks

There are 2 kinds of masks in the market as same as all the other things. Cheap low quality ones and Good quality ones. So for diving industry, we always use high quality durable masks. It is always required to take a good care to make sure the safety of the users. Therefore, after each and every dive or snorkeling trip, we wash them throughly with the fresh water and a disinfectant. And also when we transport and store them, we place the rubber parts by making sure that folded and pressed to avoid leaking.

Snorkels

Snorkels are also washed with fresh water and disinfectant after each use.

BCD

This is one of the main parts in diving equipment. We prefer to use Mares brand for our BCDs because of the higher quality and less repair frequency. And after each use, we wash them with fresh water both in and out. And after every 1 month, we use a baby shampoo to clean the inside of the BCD which will remove any residue of salt or dirt. And every 6 months (a season), we remove all the removable parts and replace the replaceable parts after applying silicone grease.

Regulator

This is the most complicated equipment for servicing which has many pieces. And we only use the brand ScubaPro because of the higher quality and durability, tested for decades.  Same as all other equipment, we wash them with fresh water and disinfectants. And also after a season, we unscrew each and every nut in the regulator and clean perfectly. We replace all the O-rings inside after applying silicone grease. And at the same time, any kind of leaking is tested and repaired. Apart from that all the mouthpieces are also replaced after a season which will result a sanitized equipment.

Tanks

For diving in Sri Lanka, we prefer to use aluminum tanks instead of Steel. Which is less heavier and more durable for salt water.  And we IDS, only use the brand LUXFER from USA due to the higher thickness and the trusted  usage for decades. According to the equipment regulations, the tanks should be hydro tested every 5 years. Which means it should be tested in a testing facility with water and filled with increased 7/5 of the normal pressure that we fill to the tank. But we IDS, we do it every 4 years for better safety.

The Compressor

If I say this is the heart of the dive center, no one will say that I am wrong. This is the most important part that we give highest priority in taking a good care. And even it’s the most expensive brand, we use only Bauer compressors made in Germany. And even when filling the tanks, we have to place it in a well ventilated area as its getting heated quickly. But we do it in a Air Conditioned room even its expensive. And after about every 1000 working hours, the air filter should be changed. But this can be done by refilling the materials inside the filter which will cost us very little. But it will not come back to the original standard. Therefore we replace the air filters instead of refilling them. And after each 3000 working hours, the compressor oil and oil filter should be changed. This can also be done with refilling with cheap mineral oils instead of using original synthetic compressor oil. But we IDS, only use the synthetic oil because we love our equipment and we are highly concerned about our customers’ safety.