How did you get certified? I've asked my LDS about this, and all they would say that they'll send their employees to training, and it requires an agreement you'll only work for them. I'm not looking to get a job servicing gear, but I would like to learn for my own gear purposes. I haven't found clear answers via google.
Outrageous cost to service reg
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halocline
Contributor
I only know about the SP training, and my information may be out of date. Several years ago I was asked by a dive shop/SP dealer to service their regs, and they offered to send me to the certification class, which was a Saturday/Sunday class in a hotel in Houston. Apparently, at least at that time, the sole qualification for getting certified as a SP tech was employment at a dealer. I thought about doing it but in the end I decided it wasn’t what I wanted to do.
DIYers looking to get into servicing their own gear are pretty much on their own when it comes to the major manufacturers. There are (or were) a few smaller companies that offered classes to divers for self service and would then sell parts to people that took the class. Maybe deep six still does that, someone on this forum will know.
Then there’s the ‘off the books’ online class offered by rsingler, a forum member who has excellent knowledge and experience fixing regulators, and he’s really put great work into this course. I’m sure it’s way more comprehensive and in depth than anything offered by the manufacturers. That’s probably the best bet for anyone interested in working on regulators.
Regulators are not that complicated; working on them is pretty straightforward if you have a good mechanical sense, some patience, and are willing to invest time and money into practicing. I find it rewarding and I love the fact that I keep a whole stable of regulators for technical diving in tip top shape for very little money. I also have the ability to fix pretty much anything that might go wrong on a dive trip. I can’t remember spending more than $100 on a regulator, and the performance of these rivals anything I’ve ever seen. There is a HUGE amount of hype and misleading information about scuba regulators, and I like the fact that I can easily see through it.
@rsingler gives you a lovely certificate if you attend one of his classes. It won't allow you to buy parts from the traditional manufacturers in the US, but you'll know what to do with them once you figure out how to get around that little issue. It's also good enough for Deep 6 and scubagaskets to recognize you as a tech and at least one person has used it to get a technician job at a dive shop.
Eric Sedletzky
Contributor
They’ve built such a huge mystique around regulators to the point that some people are even paranoid to swap a hose around.
The first time I tore down an old free used regulator I couldn’t believe how simple it was inside. I don’t know what I was imagining but I thought it was way more than that. Now I’m doing all my own stuff. Some of the other more complex stuff I’ve worked on over the years in the automotive industry makes reg repair look pretty simple. Try rebuilding an automatic transmission then tell me which is more complex. You just have to be careful and not scratch stuff.
And before anybody jumps me and uses the “life support equipment - you’re gonna die” crap, yes I know all that. I have my special letter and endorsement from the ocean god Neptune granting me permission to work on MY OWN regs.
Thank you!
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