How to Assemble SCUBA Equipment

Assembling your SCUBA equpment properly will reduce the chances of having an equipment related malfunction underwater, not to mention assembling it, period, is a prerequisite to actually entering the water.

Things You'll Need

• SCUBA compressed air tank.
• Regulator.
• BCD.
• Weights.

Instructions

1. Stand the tank upright on the ground.

2. Loosen the tank strap on the BCD, place it over the tank and then lower it down until you can loop the top tank position strap onto the top of the tank. Make sure the opening of the tank valve is pointing toward the BCD.

3. Keep lowering the BCD until the top tank position strap is almost snug, then tighten the tank strap.

4. Remove any protective covers from the tank valve.

5. Remove the dust cover from the regulator first stage.

6. Position the regulator first stage to be attached to the tank. Make sure the two hoses going to the second stages are going to the right of the BCD.

7. Yoke type: Make sure the O-ring exists on the tank valve. Position the yoke over the tank valve, and make sure the two openings meet up. Then, tighten the yoke screw.

8. DIN type: Make sure the O-ring exists on the regulator connector. Position the threads in line with the tank valve threads and screw the regulator in.

9. Attach the alternate second stage ("Octo" or "Octopus") onto the BCD with a quick-detach strap.

10. Connect a low-pressure hose to the BCD's low pressure inflator mechanism.

11. Place the gauges or dive computer face-down on the ground.

12. Hold the purge valve on one of the secondary stages slightly open, then slowly open the tank valve to turn the air on. After you hear air coming out, you can release the purge valve.

13. Once the tank valve is fully open, check the gauges or air integrated dive computer to check how much pressure is in the system.

14. Listen for leaks from any component.

15. Press the BCD inflator button and make sure it works. Listen for any leaks from the BCD.

16. For BCDs with integrated weights, add weights to the weight pockets or removable weight pouches. Otherwise, assembly your weight belt with the desired weight.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are going to transport your SCUBA gear after assembling, close the tank valve. Otherwise if a purge valve gets pressed in the trunk or something, you could lose all your air. Remember to turn it back on before the dive!

• Always use compressed air from a reputable dive shop.

• Nylon will stretch when wet. To prevent your tank from coming loose, wet the strap before securing the tank.

• Always do a "buddy check" before entering the water to make sure everybody's equipment is set up properly.

• Always seek professional instruction before attempting to SCUBA dive.

• If you have leaks or any component isn't working properly, get the equipment professionally serviced before diving with it.

• The practice of placing the gauges face-down is to prevent injury in case there is a failure of the pressure gauge when the system is pressurized, which may cause the glass on the gauge face to shatter. This is extremely uncommon.