I worked for years teaching diving and working full time in multiple dive shops. I have always been able to service my equipment without issues (and lots of other peoples of course). No matter which brand reg. set I had, I could get parts and access to a bench to complete yearly servicing.
Like many diving pros, I ended up having to switch career paths in search of a better income. I'll agree that the new job is simply a great paying job instead of a lifestyle and passion! I've lost ties with local shops and thus lost access to parts. I have a full service bench at home (IP guage, ultrasonic cleaner, and tons of Peter-bilt specialty tools). That's my story for the past few years now.
Now I'm a private instructor contracting to two dive shops when I have spare time. I own nine reg sets which are all Scubapros and Aqualungs. I'm ready to sell all of them and buy DiveRite regs. Dive Rite parts can be ordered online without question. Acquiring parts kits for all other manufacturers is next to impossible locally. None of the dive shops will sell them (even to manufacturer certified regulator technicians like myself). There are kits available on EBay or from online stores (mainly in Europe) but I refuse to go that route because parts might not be legitimate manufacture parts. Manufacturers will only sell parts kits to their authorized dealers.
Whenever divers (and students) have asked me in the past about servicing their own regulators, I've always told them to get it done professionally. I can be quoted as saying "It's life support equipment and you don't want to take chances. Get your regulator set serviced by a certified technician."
Well, I'm that certified technician and yet I still can't get parts. There's a big problem with the dive industry when manufacturer certified techs cannot get parts. The industry has always been well protected - Dive Shops make obscene profits from sales alone, not to mention servicing. When a dive professional becomes victim, there's a big problem.
Dive Pros - Please PM me.
Thanks!
Like many diving pros, I ended up having to switch career paths in search of a better income. I'll agree that the new job is simply a great paying job instead of a lifestyle and passion! I've lost ties with local shops and thus lost access to parts. I have a full service bench at home (IP guage, ultrasonic cleaner, and tons of Peter-bilt specialty tools). That's my story for the past few years now.
Now I'm a private instructor contracting to two dive shops when I have spare time. I own nine reg sets which are all Scubapros and Aqualungs. I'm ready to sell all of them and buy DiveRite regs. Dive Rite parts can be ordered online without question. Acquiring parts kits for all other manufacturers is next to impossible locally. None of the dive shops will sell them (even to manufacturer certified regulator technicians like myself). There are kits available on EBay or from online stores (mainly in Europe) but I refuse to go that route because parts might not be legitimate manufacture parts. Manufacturers will only sell parts kits to their authorized dealers.
Whenever divers (and students) have asked me in the past about servicing their own regulators, I've always told them to get it done professionally. I can be quoted as saying "It's life support equipment and you don't want to take chances. Get your regulator set serviced by a certified technician."
Well, I'm that certified technician and yet I still can't get parts. There's a big problem with the dive industry when manufacturer certified techs cannot get parts. The industry has always been well protected - Dive Shops make obscene profits from sales alone, not to mention servicing. When a dive professional becomes victim, there's a big problem.
Dive Pros - Please PM me.
Thanks!