Rental equipment and frequency of servicing...

[tomsuelaw]

I am currently planning a dive trip to the Playa Del Carmen area and must rent while there. I have contacted numerous dive shops about rental equipment and it's upkeep. However, I have no reference point on what to expect. Does anyone know how often rental equipment should be serviced. SO far, one shop said once a year (which seems way way to infrequent), another shop said twice a year (better but still not good enough). The rest of the dive shops did not comment on thier sceduales (not sure why).

I appreciate all comments but please do not suggest getting my own equipment...this is a different discussion and this is about servicing equipment, not renting vs buying. Thank You so much for your help.

 

[Garrobo]

If you are that concerned why not take your own regulator set? Then all you need to worry about is the condition of the rental tanks. Personally, I don't and won't rent anything, anywhere, except tanks and weights. Not much to worry about as far as wetsuit and BCD go. Even if the BCD doesn't air up it isn't anything life-threatening.

 

[mike_s]

Does anyone know how often rental equipment should be serviced. SO far, one shop said once a year (which seems way way to infrequent), another shop said twice a year (better but still not good enough).

well I think the official answer is that it should be serviced per the manufactuer reccomendations.

For example. I think Aqualung says "once per year, or if more, then every 50 dives" (or something like that.)

rental gear in Cozumel has the possibility of being used almost every day. But I'd say that 3-5 days/per week is a good basis. People dive there ALL YEAR LONG due to the warm weather.

The rest of the dive shops did not comment on thier sceduales (not sure why).

I think you're go to figure out that most LDS's don't service their rental gear "once every 50 dives", regardless of whether it's in Cozumel, some other location, or even the US. I'm sure some do... but most don't

Rental gear doesn't get taken care of well by ANYONE. This includes the renter, the shop, or anyone else. Why? because it's not their gear.

I've rented gear several times in the past only to find out there is a problem with the gear when I get in the water. Basically the last renter had a problem and didn't tell the shop because they didn't want to be told "well you broke it".

either that or the IP was so far out of tune the reg free flowed part of the time. Stuff like that.


I'm sure there are some shops out there that really take rental gear service seriously and keep it in perfect condition, but that has not been my experience.

 

[scubadobadoo]

I agree with the comments above for the most part. What I suggest you do is head over to the Play Del Carmen section of this board and start asking for a dive op that SB members suggest as safe and reliable. Good luck!

Just for the record though, my guess is 99% of divers don not service their regs every 50 dives. I personally do it once every two or three years and have found that I have only had reg issues immediately after servicing. Of course, rental gear is another story as Mike said above. I find the worse drivers in NYC to be cab drivers, access-a-ride vehicles, bus drivers, and people driving vans for work. They all have on thing in common.

 

[Dr Neil]

I agree with Garrobo. Take as much of your own gear as you can.

At a minimum, your mask. Why spend all your time diving with a mask that doesn't quite fit, and has never been cleaned? If you want limited viability, stay in the mid-west!

If you own a regulator, take it as well. Take it in a carry-on. Rental regulators usually are well abused. Water in the first stage, mouthpieces that have been god knows where, and well-used gauges.

I teach for a shop that has great rental gear and takes excellent care of it's gear. However, with more than 50 regulators, there is always a chance that you'll get a regulator that is in need of servicing.

Remember, you spend a bunch of money just for a vacation, taking your own gear will lessen the chances of having a crappy dive due to crappy equipment.

 

[it_mike]

Just for the record though, my guess is 99% of divers don not service their regs every 50 dives.

Guilty...I get my reg's serviced no more than once a year, often more like once every three. My reg's get varying levels of use, from one that gets 4-10 dives a month, to the doubles rig that probably won't get more than 15-20 dives a year.

The reg's get serviced when they need it, or before I plan to do something unusual or potentially riskier than the norm.

BTW, you should always check out the rental gear before accepting it. Over inflate the BC until the OPV pops, and let it sit, breath the regs, inspect the gauges, try on the exposure gear and inspect it for issues...is the BC still inflated?

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

If the dive shop uses their rental gear on boat dives &/or with guides / instructors in the water, then it is highly likely that gear gets serviced as issues arise; leaking first stages, leaking HP spindles, bubbling second stages, free flows, hard breathing, bite tabs missing off mouth pieces, those are all things that should easily be noticed and brought to the tech's attention. When the first stage intermediate pressure starts creeping you do a full service.

Most destination dive shop gear worked yesterday, did the reg hanging in your closet work yesterday?

Just for the record though, my guess is 99% of divers don not service their regs every 50 dives. I personally do it once every two or three years and have found that I have only had reg issues immediately after servicing.