TUSA has long been one of the most popular BCD brands among Taiwanese divers, mainly because the designs are tailored to Asian body shapes and even include thoughtful women-specific models. TUSA BCDs are built to last, which means many units in active use have logged a lot of hours underwater. Knowing how to properly maintain them extends their service life and prevents malfunctions from creeping up on you.
Regular cleaning after every dive: After each dive, use your mouth to partially inflate the BCD, then hold down the deflation button and pour fresh water in through the exhaust port to flush the inner bladder. Swirl the water around and repeat twice to remove any residual seawater. Next, submerge the inflator/deflator valve assembly in fresh water and press all the buttons repeatedly. For the exterior, soak the BCD in fresh water, rinse thoroughly, and leave it to dry in a shaded area — never in direct sunlight. The intense UV radiation in sunlight degrades and weakens plastic components over time.
The inner bladder itself is not vulnerable to seawater corrosion, but any seawater left inside will corrode the metal components in the valves. Salt crystals can also clog pneumatic lines and moving parts, causing them to seize up entirely.
The worst scenario is putting the BCD away at the end of the dive season for half a year or more, only to pull it out and find everything completely seized and inoperable. It's best to do a thorough cleaning before any long-term storage.
Annual Maintenance Checklist:
- Inflator/Deflator valve: This is the most failure-prone component. Metal corrosion and silt or sand from the water can compromise the airtight seal, causing continuous inflation (i.e., air leaking in). The O-rings used for the seal may also deform or harden over time and must be disassembled and cleaned. Replace O-rings as needed.
- Exhaust valve seat: On TUSA BCDs, the exhaust valve seat located on the left shoulder allows air to vent when the corrugated hose is pulled, helping to speed up descent. All TUSA BCDs feature a one-way membrane inside the exhaust valve to effectively reduce water ingress.
- First, remove the two screws and rotate the top cap counter-clockwise.
- Remove the spring and send it through an ultrasonic cleaner to remove rust. Take out the black push lever, then clean the surrounding area and the one-way membrane.
- Right-shoulder rapid-dump valve: This valve is only found on higher-spec BCDs and is not present on standard training equipment. The valve cap features a special design that makes it difficult to open accidentally — use a non-slip mat to increase friction when removing it. The spring can be released by wrapping a cord around it and rotating.
The grooves around the top cap grip the raised points on the base when locked — you must hear three distinct clicks to confirm it is fully secured.
If the pull cord shows signs of wear, lift the rubber gasket, untie or cut the knot, and re-tie a new knot at the worn section to use as the new anchor point.
- Rear dump valve: The cap on this valve also features a special design that resists easy opening — again, use a non-slip mat for extra grip. This valve seat likewise uses a one-way membrane. Clean the surrounding area thoroughly; the spring can be removed by wrapping a cord around it and rotating.
When reassembling, be careful that the valve cap does not press against the rear weight pocket, as this will prevent it from locking fully. As before, listen for three distinct clicks to confirm it is properly secured.
Once all of the above steps are complete, fully inflate the BCD and leave it for a period to check for any air leaks. If everything looks good, you can store your BCD for the off-season with peace of mind, knowing it won't be corroded and inoperable when you come back to it next year.
One final reminder: disassembling and reassembling equipment requires a certain level of experience. If you're not yet confident doing this yourself, we strongly recommend seeking help from a professional dive shop or instructor — that way, you can dive worry-free in the future!
