The First Stage is Delicate

After a dive, the most crucial piece of gear is often the most mistreated. Your regulator is a precision life-support system, and salt crystals are its worst enemy.
 

Step 1: The Dust Cap

Before water ever touches your regulator, ensure the dust cap is bone dry. Use a towel or a burst of air from the tank (not your mouth) to clear it. A flooded first stage often happens in the rinse tank, not the ocean.
 

Step 2: The Warm Soak

If possible, soak the regulator in warm fresh water. Warm water dissolves salt crystals faster than cold water. Leave it for 10-15 minutes, but never press the purge button while submerged unpressurized.
 

Step 3: Service Intervals

Rinsing prevents corrosion, but it doesn’t stop internal wear. Manufacturers recommend servicing every 100 dives or annually. Check your warranty—skipping a year often voids it.