Salt water diving with an aluminum reg

[ppo2_diver]

Is there anything I have to worry about when I dive in salt water with an aluminum reg? I have a Scubapro Mk18UL/S600. Is there anything I have to do to clean it after? How soon should I clean it after diving in salt water? Thanks for any info.

 

[Soggy]

Take the boot off and rinse everything. Clean the reg by hooking it up to the tank, turning the tank on, and running water through the second stage while pressing the purge valve. Don't ever press the purge valve without the tank attached and pressurized. I soak my reg overnight in a tub of fresh water (without the tank and with the dust cap tightly on).

Clean everything immediately after diving (meaning, as soon as you are back home or to the hotel, etc)

Then, buy a steel tank for salt water, because you can take off like 6-8 lbs of weight.

 

[IyaDiver]

I have exactly the same reg like urs. In my opinion it will never live as long as regular chrome brass. The problem will later be on threaded parts and where other metal meet/contact the aluminum. Mine is a gift, no choice. Pitting is common problem with aluminum. On scuba tanks with such thickness it is quite OK but on fine machine thread of the 1st stage is where the problem will start.

Once seawater accidentaly enter your reg and u do not realized it, I think u might not be able to dismantle the 1st stage without damaging the threads.

The extra lightweight of the alumimum is not worth its shorter life span.

I have two aluminum tanks that somehow has a bit of sea water in it. That was the end of it. Can't even remove the valve.

Enjoy it as long as it work. For me a reg is a 2-3 year product anyway, I think my UL should be alright.

Enjoy.....

 

[SDAnderson]

Follow the instructions that came with the regulator, which will pretty much be what AaronBBrown stated, and you'll be fine. Get the regulator serviced annually by a competent technician.

Regulators should last a long time and will, even when made from silly stuff like aluminum and titanium, so long as you take care of them.

If it were mine, I'd keep it and enjoy it. Maybe next time you can try something a little less exotic and a little more proven, but what the heck.

Steven