When you take an open-water scuba certification course, you will learn how to put together your equipment properly. The process of assembling gear requires many small steps. You can learn this process more quickly by following the same routine each time you put together your gear. Repetition will also help you to remember the process, so practice until you feel comfortable with it.
Step 1
Line up your gear, including the tank, buoyancy compensator vest and regulator, in front of you. Check your tank's O-ring for damage. Test the tank's airflow by turning the air control knob slightly to release some air. Turn the air off.
Step 2
Place the tank upright in front of you with the valve facing away.
Step 3
Loosen the tank strap on the buoyancy compensator vest, or BC, and slide the strap over the tank so that the BC rests on the side of the tank opposite you, in front of the tank's air valve. The BC's tank strap sits behind it, allowing you to wear the tank like a backpack when you put on the BC.
Step 4
Position the BC at the correct height so the top of the BC is level with the top of the tank valve.
Step 5
Loop the BC collar, a small nylon loop, over the tank valve
Step 6
Tighten the BC's tank strap around the tank. Pull the strap tight and close the locking clip to secure it in place. Because nylon stretches when wet, wet the tank's strap before tightening it to ensure that it remains tight enough during your dive.
Step 7
Pick up the regulator and place the first stage behind your head with the hoses hanging over your shoulders. Position the primary and secondary regulators over your right shoulder and the pressure gauge and BC hose over your left shoulder.
Step 8
Lift the first stage over your head and position it over the tank valve, with the regulators to the right and the pressure gauge and BC hose to the left. Point the regulator's screw knob towards you and extend the hoses from the first stage on the opposite side.
Step 9
Line up the first stage's air opening with the tank's valve and tighten the knob on the first stage to secure it in place.
Step 10
Screw the open end of the BC hose to the connecting point on the BC vest.
Step 11
Place your pressure gauge or computer facedown before you turn on the air to ensure that, if the pressure gauge bursts when you turn on the air, the glass will not shatter towards you.
Step 12
Turn on the air by turning the knob next to the tank's valve. Hold down on the regulator mouthpiece's purge valve as you turn the air on.
Step 13
Test the airflow and the regulators by taking a few breaths through the primary and secondary mouthpieces. Test the BC's inflator hose by inflating and deflating the vest.
Step 14
Clip the hoses, including the regulators and pressure gauge, to your BC so that no hoses drag beneath you when you dive.
Tips and Warnings
- Turn off your tank's air and place the tank on its side before leaving it unattended. Take along a dive buddy for every dive. Dive buddies should perform a buddy check of each other's equipment before beginning a dive.
- Scuba diving has many inherent risks. Do not dive unless you have received the proper training and certification.
Things You'll Need
- Scuba tank
- Buoyancy compensator vest
- Regulator
Member Comments