Rinsing scuba gear in a swimming pool?

[trigfunctions]

Hi all - we just moved into a house with a swimming pool. I'm still learning how to take care of the pool.

I have been to several dive resorts where they absolutely would not allow any dive equipment that had been in the ocean to be used in their pool - if it was, they would charge you to clean out the pool. I think one of them mentioned something about algae.

After coming home from diving or snorkeling, it seems to me like throwing the wetsuits and gear into the pool for a good soak would be a good way to let the chlorine kill off any funk-producing bugs before rinsing and drying the gear as usual. Also, I'd like to practice with the gear in the pool.

Does anyone have experience using their ocean gear in their pool? Are there any concerns about algae or anything else to worry about? Chould the chlorine damage the gear? Our pool uses standard chlorine, but we are considering switching to a salt-system pool - would that make a difference?

Any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks, trig

 

[PlayaCountryBoy]

If my rental equipment has been in either the pool or off in the cenotes/caves, then I don't rinse it. If it's coming in from ocean diving then I rinse it all off in fresh water . Cameras and regs separately, wetsuits last. All the elements i.e. salt, sun, chlorine, will break down your equipment through time. It all depends on the quality of materials the manufacture used and how often you dive it.

 

[NitroxAZ]

I use mirazime to soak my gear in to take care of the smell produced by the funkies in the ocean and bcd wash for the internal part of the bladder to make sure it is clean also. I do these when I get home from my dive trips. While there I make sure to rinse the heck out of everything, that includes pulling back hose protectors and such to make sure those areas are rinsed also.

The chlorine in the pool will damage your gear like salt water will. You can use it in your pool but make sure that you rinse it very well just as you would after an ocean dive.

Hope this helps.

 

[Steve50]

Chlorine fades and deteriorates your wetsuit and BC rapidly. I would avoid putting your gear in the swimming pool other than to do necessary training or tune-up dives before a trip and then rinse immediately with tap water.

 

[Harshal]

I agree with rest of the post chlorine would gradually eat up your wet suit and BC, as far a my simple understanding of chemical chlorine is corrosive in nature.
I just rinse my gear with fresh water if I am going to use my gear again next day but when I am ready to store my gear I rinse it with freh water and then soak it in woollite for few mins and then rinse it with fresh water and air dry everything.

 

[trigfunctions]

Thanks for the info everyone. Has anyone heard any reason that the ocean equipment could adversely affect the pool with algae or anything else?

 

[Damselfish]

I can see someplace not wanting salty crummy unrinsed gear in their pool. But not allowing stuff that has ever been in the ocean seems a little overconservative. Maybe they had problems with too many people doing it and not rinsing thier gear, if that's the case can't blame them too much. I haven't seen this though, lots of places use the same rental gear in salt water and the pool. The chlorine is going to kill anything left unless it's massive amounts.

More places tend to be concerned about damage to a pool from tanks and weight belts, which can be a legit concern.

 

[philmayer]

Thanks for the info everyone. Has anyone heard any reason that the ocean equipment could adversely affect the pool with algae or anything else?

I doubt that algae would be a problem, but you would certainly bring back dirt, sand, rock, particulate matter, etc. Our training pool gets a lot of that stuff in it when gear is used in the quarry then used in the pool without being rinsed.

I can see the resorts' point, but I also think they're being a little too anal.

 

[Harshal]

Yes, like Damselfish said, most place do not want you to bring tank and weight belt to pool as it damages the pool. Taking BC without tank in 4 ft of water does not make any sense......
But I have never heard or it does not make any sense that it would lead to algae growth. Chlorine in pool should take care of algae just my thought.

 

[GrandpaScuba]

...After coming home from diving or snorkeling, it seems to me like throwing the wetsuits and gear into the pool for a good soak would be a good way to let the chlorine kill off any funk-producing bugs before rinsing and drying the gear as usual. Also, I'd like to practice with the gear in the pool...

The chlorine is worse for the rubber/plastic parts than seawater is. While salt is corrosive to metal, chlorine is corrosive to rubber/plastic. The "chlorine" used in pools is sodium hypochlorite. This substance breaks the bonds of complex molecules, like organic molecules. In the case of colorizing substances (dyes and pigments) this causes them reflect light differently, the well-known bleaching action of chlorine. In plastics and rubber, the substances will lose their elasticity and become brittle, over time.

Always clean your gear in clean, fresh, water.

If you use your gear in the pool, be sure to rinse the chlorine off as soon as possible.