If you’ re not diving though the winter, now’ s the time to ensure your equipment is properly cleaned, stored and maintained. Neil Hope explains all
KITTED-UP
Winterise your dive gear
If you’ re not diving though the winter, now’ s the time to ensure your equipment is properly cleaned, stored and maintained. Neil Hope explains all
Winter diving depends on kit care
The UK can be a challenging spot for weather and diving conditions wherever you may live. Back in the late 80s when I took up the sport in my native North East, the season basically ran from Easter( if you were lucky) through to August.
There was a natural end to things that tied in nicely with the football season, so I could kick a ball around without wishing I was out on a boat somewhere. There was always the odd day or trips further afield when it was possible to dive. On the whole my kit pretty much stayed‘ cosseted in my closet’, a large under-stair cupboard, for the duration of the winter months.
When I eventually moved to the South West more than 20 years ago, I was delighted that my season could be extended for pretty much the whole year round. There’ d be periods when conditions dictated otherwise, but the wind and rain would eventually rescind and I’ d be back in the water again.
However, during those two decades in Cornwall I’ ve noticed a definite shift in my local weather patterns. Very wet and very windy winters have noticeably and frustratingly cut down on the opportunities to dive over the colder months of the year.
In such circumstances it’ s important to make sure your life support system is kept in tip-top condition for whenever the weather breaks, or if you prefer to pack up entirely until the spring. So what do you do with your kit if you’ re likely to give up over the winter, or find yourself prevented from getting in the water for prolonged periods of time?
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