Are you one of the brave, prepared to dive in any weather with your trusty drysuit? To keep your drysuit in tip-top shape so that you never miss a dive, it's important to properly prep and clean it before and after each dive. Here are a few tips from our Gear Editor on keeping your scuba diving drysuit in great shape.

DRYSUIT CARE — BEFORE YOU DIVE
• Inspect seals for cracks or wear
• Inspect zipper for damaged or misaligned teeth
• If zipper does not open easily, lubricate zipper with manufacturer-recommended wax • Close zipper and apply wax only to outside of the zipper
• Check inflator valve by connecting to your reg
• Check exhaust valve for proper operation; close neck and wrist seals and inflate; check manual operation
• Before donning, lubricate latex seals with talc or soapy water

DRYSUIT CARE — AFTER YOU DIVE
• Rinse the suit thoroughly with fresh water while still wearing; clean zippers and valves; remove salt, sand or debris. Pay special attentions to valves, which must be rinsed and cleaned as thoroughly as your reg
• Use compressed air to dry valves to prevent corrosion
• Open zipper fully before moving suit
• Clean seals with mild soap and water as needed and to remove any buildup of body oils
• After rinsing, open the zipper and check inside for moisture all the way down to the boots or socks; if damp inside, turn inside-out to dry
• Dry suit thoroughly out of the sun
• Lubricate zipper after every dive day with a manufacturer approved wax – not silicone
• Store drysuit with zipper open; use a wide hanger and take care to avoid damaging the neck seal when putting on the hanger
• For storing flat or transporting, roll up the suit