Corroded and saltwater-jammed zips are a nightmare that can easily become a problem when we’re not properly treating our dive gear. Let’s face it, our dive gear can sure take a good beating when we go diving. By coming under attack from grit, salt, sand and other contaminants as soon as you jump in the water. But as long as you clean your equipment properly after you dive and take care of them, your equipment will take care of you.
Follow this guide to treating your zips properly from when you exit your dive to placing your dive gear into storage, ready for your next scuba diving adventure.
Zip Care After diving
When removing your dive gear after you dive, make sure to give your zips a quick rinse before the proper zip clean. By removing the salt, sand, grit and dirt from your zip as quickly as possible is key to the zip lasting a long time. If you have been diving in very sandy or highly salty water with lots of debris, we recommend rinsing the zip before unzipping.
When getting out of your dive gear, make sure that the zip is fully open and undone so this minimises risk of zip damage to the zip’s teeth. If you’re using a drysuit, we advise that you ensure that your dive buddy fully opens the zip before you get out of the suit.
When cleaning the zip after the dive, use a soft brush to clear salt and grit from the teeth of the zip and give a final rinse to wash away.
Zip Care Between Dives
After you have cleaned, dried your dive gear and removed all the debris for the zips, it’s time for some proper zip TLC. By applying proper lubrication to your zip, this ensures that your zips stay functional and in excellent working order so you can say goodbye to the stiffened zips!
Use a zip lubrication that has been specifically designed for diving gear. We recommend using bees wax or any other of these products that has been specifically designed for zip lubrication. Regular application of the zip lubrication product will help to protect the zip when the dive equipment is not in use. You only need to lubricate the external teeth of the zip, not the inside.
When storing your diving gear between dives, make sure to store them in a safe, dry and debris-free space to minimise the risk of zip damage when storing your equipment.
Keep Your Diving Equipment Zips Safe
Whether it’s your £50 pair of diving booties or £1000 drysuit, caring for your zippers is vital to ensure the life of your possessions.
Remember to clean them, lubricate them, and treat them with care.
I hope you’ve learned some valuable tips and tricks to fix some of your zipper problems. If you need any advice on how to properly maintain your diving equipment, send us an email at support@mikesdivestore.com, we’re always here to help you with any diving-related questions so that your diving experiences are as stress-free as possible.
Find our range of top quality zip care products on our website.
