Why Servicing Your Dive Gear Isn't Optional
Christie Davis Sep 20, 2026
Your regulator is the thing between you and a very bad day. So it's strange how many of us wait until something starts acting up before we think about it.
Here's the short version: regular service is cheap, and skipping it is the kind of thing that ends a dive trip early (or worse).
Your gear is life support
When you scuba dive, you're breathing through a machine. Your regulator, your tank valve, and your gauges all have to work every single time. They have small rubber seals, springs, and moving parts that wear out with use, and also with sitting around.
The tricky part is that wear is gradual. A regulator that's slowly getting stiff or breathing a little harder doesn't announce itself. It just feels "fine" until it isn't.
Pacific Northwest diving is hard on gear
Cold water, current, and regular use all take a toll. Regulators and drysuits in this part of the world need real maintenance, not just an occasional glance.
Getting your gear serviced locally also means you're not mailing it away and waiting weeks to get it back before your next dive.
What should get serviced, and when
The exact schedule depends on your gear and how often you dive, so check your owner's manual. As a general guide:
- Regulators: Most manufacturers call for service about once a year. Some tie your warranty to it.
- Tanks: A visual inspection once a year is standard practice. In the U.S., steel and aluminum tanks also need a hydrostatic test every five years under Department of Transportation rules (49 CFR 180.205).
- Drysuits: Check seals and zippers before each season, and get repairs done before you're standing on the boat.
- Dive computers: Replace the battery before it dies mid-trip, not after.
Why it matters who does the work
We're an authorized dealer and service center for Oceanic, OTS, ScubaPro, Zeagle, Hollis, Atomic Aquatics, and Mares. That means our technicians are factory-trained on those brands and use manufacturer-approved parts. It also keeps your warranty intact.
If your gear is from a brand we're not authorized on, we'll tell you straight and point you in the right direction.
What it costs
Our annual regulator service runs $75 for a first and second stage, and $30 for an octopus. A quick tune and check is $30. Compare that to losing a trip, or replacing a regulator that wore out because nobody looked at it.
Current pricing is always on our service pricing page.
Ready to drop your gear off?
Stop by the shop at 1442 Commercial St in Astoria, or call us at (503) 741-3070. You can see everything we work on on our equipment service page.
