Safety guideline for rubber goods
2012.06.01User Support
Care & Maintenance Recommendations for Apollo Scuba Equipment including Rubber & Silicone Components
Rubber is a natural product and some deterioration can and should be expected after a period of time. Please check all rubber components on your scuba equipment prior to use.
Please use this information guide as your reference to the care and maintenance of all rubber components on your scuba equipment.
High pressure and low pressure hose should be checked for:
・Leaks
・Cracks or scarring
・Rust or dents on the hose couplings
・Bulges
・Slower than normal filling of the submersible pressure gauge
Should you notice any of the above? DO NOT USE THE SCUBA EQUIPMENT. Return your scuba equipment to an authorized Apollo dealer for inspection. In addition, when the hoses are used for over 3 or 4 years, may need to be changed depends on the direction or and storage.
First Stages, Primary and Secondary Regulators should be checked for:
・Air leaks around port plugs
・Air leaks from the hose swivel joint on the primary or secondary regulator
・Air leaks anywhere from the Bio Filter
・Air leaks between the first stage and the cylinder valve
・Damage to the mouthpiece
Should you notice any of the above? DO NOT USE THE SCUBA EQUIPMENT. Return your scuba equipment to an authorized Apollo dealer for inspection.
Have your Scuba Equipment serviced by an Apollo Authorized Service Centre on an annual basis or more frequently if the Equipment has high usage to minimize the possibility of equipment failure.
Drysuit Valves should be checked for:
・Continual inflation or deflation of inlet valve
・Continual deflation of main exhaust or ankle valves
・Water entry in to the suit around the valve
・Stiffer than normal inlet valve
・Stiffer than normal exhaust valve
Should you notice any of the above? DO NOT USE THE DRYSUIT. Return your scuba equipment to an authorized dealer for inspection.
Have your Drysuit serviced by an Apollo Authorized Service Centre on an annual basis or more frequently if the Drysuit has high usage to minimize the possibility of equipment failure.
Fins, Masks and Snorkels should be checked for:
・Cracked boot pocket
・Cracked Fin Blade
・Cracked mask or fin strap
・Deterioration of the Mask Flange including, cracks, splits and deformation
・Snorkel Valves Diaphragms - Clean and in place
Should you notice any of the above? DO NOT USE EQUIPMENT. Return your scuba equipment to an authorized dealer for inspection.
Bio-fins are made from natural rubber and thus have a natural aging and deterioration process.
Apollo impregnates the fins with special ingredients to help prevent the deterioration of the fins. After some use you may notice a white residue on the fin, the bio fin is designed to do this and is part of the process to help reduce the fins natural deterioration.
Don't bend rubber while keeping. That becomes cause of the deterioration.
Natural rubber tends to get surface cracks after a period of time. This is a normal aging process for rubber products.
There is a case that the Fin made of rubber with white or lighter color may rarely cause the dirt colored red or pink in the wide range on the surface. Also, it becomes not to be washed out. Methylobacterium located in the air by wind out of the soil is bred by the water & its scale and then produce red pigment. Fungus itself is low toxicity and it does not affect to physical properties itself.
Masks and valves are made from Silicone rubber, don't leave after using oil products such as sunburn oils, shampoos etc. That becomes cause of the deterioration.
BCD'S should be checked for:
・Continual inflation or deflation of inflator valve
・Continual deflation of the exhaust valves
・Leaks around or from the inflator valve
・Leaks around or from the exhaust valves
・Leaks from the bladder
・Correct and safe function of the tank band assembly
Should you notice any of the above? DO NOT USE THE SCUBA EQUIPMENT. Return your scuba equipment to an authorized Apollo dealer for inspection.
Over a period of time the bladder on a BCD deteriorates due to Ultraviolet light and Ozone impregnating the material and lining of the BCD which can then harden the material and then cause leaks. Apollo does not recommend that BCD'S over 10 years old are used.
Please note that the BCD bladder is not repairable.
Have your Scuba equipment serviced by an Apollo Authorized Service Centre on an annual basis or more frequently if the equipment has high usage to minimize the possibility of equipment failure.
Second Hand Scuba Equipment:
If you purchase second hand Apollo scuba equipment have it overhauled and serviced by an Apollo Authorized Service Centre to minimize the possibility of equipment failure.
Please note that parts are not always available for older models of Apollo Scuba Equipment.
Equipment cleaning and Storage:
・After diving wash all equipment in clean water
・Dry the equipment out of direct sunlight
・Ensure that the equipment is 100% dry before storage
・Store scuba equipment in a dark area away from direct sunlight and florescent lighting.
・Do not bend Drysuit zips when storing
・Do not bend regulator hoses when storing
If you are unsure that your Apollo Scuba Equipment is in 100% operational condition then DO NOT USE THE SCUBA EQUIPMENT. Take your scuba equipment to an authorized Apollo dealer for inspection.