New gear question--impact of chlorinated pool water?

[Lizard Leg]

Just got our new gear in, and the only place we can go to work on redistributing weight and getting a feel for everything is an 18' deep pool locally.

I know chlorine isn't the optimum choice for any gear, but it's the only place within a 4.5 drive that I can get any deeper than 4'.

Other than just rinsing the heck out of everything, anything else I can do to minimize the impact of the chlorine?

 

[Texasguy]

I heard that urinating in a pool lessens the impact of chlorine

 

[Lizard Leg]

This place needs a face palm smiley

 

[Damselfish]

One dive in chlorinated water isn't a big deal, just rinse well as soon as you can. It's gear that gets used for pool sessions on a regular basis, and possibly not always rinsed well in a timely fashion, that suffers.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

And some don't even fade with regular use. My old Oceanic Probe had literally over 125 hours in the pool and showed little to no sign of fading. All I did was be sure to give it a good rinse with the hose when I got home. BC's that get hundreds and perhaps thousands of hours may fade but it does not affect their integrity if they have been properly cared for. Looks are kinda important with your first gear or new gear. But put a few dozen dives on it a see if it doesn't start to get some character to it. And new shiny pristine gear to some says I'm a new diver. That may or may not be a good thing.

 

[Texasguy]

Probably also depends what pool it is. Community pools always are EXTRA chlorinated. A private pool at home might not need that much chlorine to get the job done, however, at home it is usually not deep at all.

 

[Lizard Leg]

LSU Natatorium Pool - tagging along with an OW class - while they're doing skills in the shallower end, we'll be down at the bottom of the deep end working on getting everything sorted out. Never been there before so can't comment on chlorine level - my pool at home is just a 48" above ground - something to cool off in but not much else.

 

[Kitty_Kat]

One time in a pool won't hurt your stuff as long as you wash it when you're done! If you're really worried about it, let it soak with some bcd/wetsuit shampoo/dish soap when you get home!

My pool gear hasn't faded either after hundreds of hours... I'm actually a little sad about it since that would "justify" me retiring that set and buying new gear :biggrin:

Oh and they have one! You just have to look for it hehe

 

[Scuba_Noob]

Soak your gear in fresh water for a little while, maybe half hour to an hour after you've used it in a pool. A big container of fresh water helps. Also, remember to rinse the inside of the BCD.

After a pool session, I usually clean my gear nearly the same as after a normal saltwater dive. Slightly more intensely.

Like most people said, a few trips to the pool with proper cleaning will likely not permanently affect your gear.

 

[NightForce]

Big whoop worst case scenerio is after about a zillion dives in the chlorine your gear may fade. Diving is not a fashion event. If your gear should become somewhat faded then wear it with honor. If it is faded that means you have logged time in the water. The gear wont fall apart from diving in a pool so enjoy yourself some time in the pool.