You can store scuba gear in a garage as long as it meets certain qualifications. Ideally, your garage is climate controlled and does not get too hot or cold. You also should not use your garage for certain activities, such as woodworking or automobile repairs, as these introduce solvents harmful to your scuba gear.
As long as your garage is suitable for storing scuba equipment, follow the same basic rules for storage as you would anywhere else in your home. Even a climate controlled garage can run into heat and moisture problems, so proper storage is even more important.
How Do You Store Scuba Gear at Home?
The best way to store scuba gear at home varies depending on which items you’re working with. Certain components, such as wetsuits, should be stored hanging up during longer periods, while others sit perfectly fine in a weatherproof container.
Learning how to store scuba gear properly, regardless of where it is in your home, prevents unnecessary weathering and lets you use the gear for much longer. Make sure all equipment is freshly clean and dry before storage.
Storing Scuba Gear Hanging Up
Specialized hangers help when storing gear such as:
- Westuits or drysuits
- BCDs
- Regulators
This is the best way to store any of these items when they are sufficiently dry, as it decreases your chances of creasing, folding, or molding.
Wetsuit hangers are thick with curved shoulders sufficient to support the weight of your suit. Many divers choose to use a travel hanger exclusively as they usually have one anyway, and it has other hooks that pull down for boots, gloves, and other accessories.
Check for creases, usually around the ankles or wrists, before assuming your suit is ready to stow away.
Buoyancy control devices use a different hanger that turns up at the ends to prevent the gear from sliding off. Again, a travel hanger works fine for home use, and it usually has hooks for your regulator or other accessories.
Make sure to drain your BCD of water before storage and remove all weights. Inflate the bladder slightly to prevent it from sticking to itself.
Your regulator is best stored hanging up to prevent bending that reduces its lifespan. You can do this on either your wetsuit hanger or your BCD hanger once it’s rinsed and dry.
Storing Scuba Tanks
Tanks do best in climate controlled storage. Use a dust cover on the valve to prevent anything on the tank and adhere to any manufacturer recommendations for reserve air. Keeping about 200 psi in the tank reduces the risk of moisture creeping in.
Keep your tanks off the ground so moisture cannot collect around the bottom and damage the tank. Keeping your tanks upright also prevents corrosion on the thinner sidewall, interfering with the integrity of your tank.
Storing Scuba Gear in Bins
Dry boxes or plastic bins work well to hold all other equipment, including
- Fins
- Boots
- Snorkel
- SMBs
- Lights
- Reels
Make sure everything is dry before storing, and you should be good to go. This works well for quick transport, especially when you have several small items, but you should check on the bin regularly in case there is a storage failure.
References
https://scubaboard.com/community/threads/is-it-okay-to-store-scuba-gear-in-the-garage.400669/
https://seaventures.com/how-to-store-scuba-gear/
https://www.scuba.com/blog/scuba-guides/pack-long-term-dive-gear-storage/