We just received a regulator with this filter inside…
The shop who serviced it obviously didn’t have the correct parts on hand, so they “adjusted” the size of the conical filter.
As you can see, the very soft material closed the pores in the process and prevented air from flowing through. More than half of the filter was rendered useless this way. This poses a significant safety risk as a small amount of contamination caught in the filter might prevent air supply to the diver.
This was obviously done by an incompetent technician without any regard for safety and a serious lack of common sense.
If you get your equipment serviced, please make sure that the shop you go to is updated and certified to service your brand of equipment.
A retailer of a certain brand is NOT automatically a Service Center for the brand.
For most brands the technician needs periodical re-certification.
A wall of old certificates has little value as the regulator models change over time and updates on service techniques are introduced periodically.
Only a current technician can be a good technician.
In order to guarantee the proper function and long-time stability of performance of your equipment, manufacturers go to great length during R&D to select the best suitable parts for the assembly.
In the case of O-Rings alone, more than 20 different material and grade combinations are being used in many different sizes.
Shops using “generic” O-Rings to boost their bottom-line are exposing their customers to risks as un-certified and un-tested combinations are being used in real life.
If you want the correct parts in your kit, simply insist on original service kits to be used during the service.
The kits come in a packaging which should be handed to you after the service.
In the case of SCUBAPRO, SUBGEAR and UWATEC, Pacifica Dive has a total of 4 certified technicians, 2 technicians certified to level 2 and 2 technicians certified to level 1.
We exclusively use original parts to service your equipment and have testing equipment for pressure and breathing resistance to ensure the quality of the work before releasing the set to the customer.
