Labor Day weekend is officially here. While everyone else is closing their backyards and packing away their swimsuits, divers know a secret: fall is actually one of the best times of the year to dive.
As the air cools down, local lakes, quarries, and coastal wrecks offer crisp visibility, peaceful dive sites, and far fewer crowds. But after a full summer of sun, sand, and saltwater, your equipment needs a little TLC before you jump into autumn waters.
Whether you are prepping for cold-water adventures or putting your kit away until your next tropical trip, here is your post-summer gear care checklist, plus a look at how to stock up during our big Labor Day Sale.
Post-Summer Gear Care: Time for a Spa Treatment
Think of this as a detox for your equipment. Salt, sand, and chlorine wreak havoc on O-rings, brass, and neoprene if left sitting all winter.
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The Deep Freshwater Soak: Don’t just sprinkle your gear with a hose. Give your BCD, regulator, wetsuit, and accessories a deep soak in clean, fresh water. Cycle your BCD inflator buttons underwater and open/close zippers to flush out trapped salt crystals.
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Drying is Everything: Hang your wetsuit and BCD on wide, supportive hangers in a well-ventilated, shaded area. Direct sunlight breaks down neoprene and rubber, while storing damp gear in a closed bag creates a moldy nightmare you will smell from across the room.
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Lube the Moving Parts: Apply a light coat of food-grade silicone grease to camera seals, light O-rings, and drysuit/wetsuit zippers to keep them from seizing up over the off-season.
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Inspect Before You Store: Check your hoses for micro-cracks, look for fraying webbing on your harness, and test your BCD for air leaks. If your regulator is breathing stiff or overdue for its annual service, send it to our service department now so it’s ready to hit the water when you are.
Proper Storage for the Off-Season
If you are taking a break until spring, store your gear properly so you don't wake up to ruined equipment next year:
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Cool, Dark, and Dry: Keep your equipment out of damp basements, hot attics, or garages where temperature swings degrade rubber and silicone.
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Pull the Batteries: Always remove batteries from dive computers, primary lights, and air transmitters. A leaked battery inside a $800 computer is a heartbreaking way to start next season.
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Store Regulators Flat or Hanging: Store your first stage without sharp bends in the hoses to prevent stress cracking near the hose crimps.
Upgrade Your Rig: Our Labor Day Sale is Live!
Did you spot a leaky suit, a cracked fin strap, or a dying light during your gear check? Or maybe you need to add a 7mm wetsuit, a neoprene hood, or a drysuit to your kit to tackle lower thermoclines this autumn?
You picked the perfect weekend to gear up. Our Labor Day Sale is happening right now! (Editor's note: if you're reading this in mid-October, the Labor Day sale is not happening right now. But you know what's coming soon? Black Friday!)
We are slashing prices across the shop on everything from the Oceanic+ Smart Housing and high-lumen primary dive lights to exposure protection, fins, knives, and SMBs. New items are being added daily, but stock is limited! Once these end-of-summer markdowns sell out, they are gone for good.
The Adventure Continues: Fall Diving & Events
Don't let your gear hibernate just yet. Fall diving in the Midwest and coastal waters is unmatched for tranquility and clear conditions.
Plus, mark your calendars for our favorite autumn event: Our Annual Underwater Pumpkin Carving Contest! There is nothing quite like wrestling with a buoyant pumpkin at 20 feet while trying to carve a masterpiece in a pair of 5mm gloves. Keep an eye on our event calendar and social media pages for dates and registration details.
So don't hang up your fins just because summer is wrapping up. Take care of your gear, snag some discounted gear during our Labor Day Sale, and get out there on the water.
And yes, I am currently sitting at my desk sipping a Pumpkin Spice Latte while writing this. Zero regrets. Happy Labor Day, and we’ll see you underwater!