Equipment Care Instructions

To ensure maximum performance and extend the life of your equipment, follow the care instructions below. Defects or damage to the equipment caused by improper/incorrect use or insufficient/improper maintenance and product care will render our Warranty Policy null and void.

Carbon and Fiberglass Fins

  • Avoid pressing your blades against any hard surfaces (e.g. bottom of a pool or the pool wall).
  • Avoid jumping into the water while wearing your fin/s - it is recommended to put the fins on after you are already in the water.
  • Rinse in fresh water after use.
  • Avoid storing in direct sunlight, store in the shade instead.
  • Avoid leaving fin/s in hot, dry, enclosed places (e.g. inside a car that’s in direct sunlight).
  • Store horizontally on a surface or vertically in a fin rack.
  • Wait until fin/s are dry before placing them in a bag or in storage.
  • Use Silicone Grease on open-heel foot pockets to extend the life of your foot pockets.

Silicone Fins

  • Avoid placing the footpockets and back straps near sharp objects.
  • Avoid placing fin/s near fabrics and materials that color bleed easily (lose their dye when wet).
  • Avoid storing in direct sunlight, store in the shade instead.
  • Avoid leaving fin/s in hot, dry, enclosed places (e.g. inside a car that’s in direct sunlight).
  • Rinse in fresh water after use.
  • Store horizontally on a surface or vertically in a fin rack.
  • Wait until fin/s are dry before placing them in a bag or in storage.

    Wetsuits

    All wetsuits:

    • See how to put on and take off a wetsuit here.
    • You must thoroughly rinse your wetsuit in fresh water directly after every dive. If you do not have a chance to do so, leave your wetsuit in a bag with some seawater. Do not let salt water dry on your wetsuit and do not machine wash.
    • After rinsing in fresh water, allow your wetsuit to air dry. Do not dry your wetsuit in the sun, near a fire, near central heating systems, or in a clothes dryer.
    • If you’ll be wearing a wetsuit for a long time under the sun, we recommend wearing a protective fabric t-shirt over it.
    • From time to time, you should wash your wetsuit with a wetsuit-specific shampoo. Follow directions closely. Remove grease, oil, and other stains using a wetsuit-specific degreaser. Never use petroleum products on your wetsuit.
    • Store your dry wetsuit in a cool, dry place and avoid folding it for excessive periods. Folding a wetsuit for short-term transport is acceptable - otherwise, we recommend laying it flat or hanging it on a hanger that does not stretch out the wetsuit. Avoid storing it in direct sunlight.
    • If you tear your wetsuit, use Neoprene Cement to repair it, which is commercially available at most diving centers or watersports stores. Follow the instructions carefully. Never sew smooth skin seams. Fabric-finished surfaces can be loop stitched, but avoid stitching completely through to the opposite surface. If you have doubts about repairing your wetsuit, contact us by email at info@molchanovs.com - we'll happily assist you.

    PRO Wetsuits:

    Due to the high-quality performance materials used in our PRO wetsuit line, extra care must be taken when donning and removing the wetsuit. We do not recommend wearing PRO wetsuits for extended amounts of time under direct sunlight. If you must wear a PRO wetsuit for a long period of time, we recommend wearing a protective fabric t-shirt on top of the wetsuit to shield the glide skin layer.

    Masks

    • Molchanovs masks contain plastic (polycarbonate) lenses and should not be “pre-treated” with toothpaste or burned with a lighter. Doing so will damage the lenses.
    • Keep the mask away from dirt and grease.
    • After diving, soak and rinse the mask thoroughly in lukewarm fresh water, let it air dry fully out of direct sunlight, and keep it stored inside the original case.
    • Do not use any rough or sharp items to rub the inner and outer parts of the mask lens. It is recommended to use an anti-fog spray to keep the inner part of the lenses from fogging when diving.
    • Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight when not in use.

    Buoys

    • Do not leave a fully-inflated buoy under direct sunlight or in a hot car.
    • Do not attach ropes to the buoy handle; attach only to the D-ring.
    • To avoid overinflation, it is recommended to inflate the buoy using your mouth instead of a pump.

    Bags

    • After contact with salt water, rinse with fresh water.
    • Do not use in temperatures colder than -50°C (-58°F) or hotter than 80°C (176°F).
    • Wash at or below 30°C (86°F). Do not tumble dry or wring out. Hand washing is preferred.
    • Do not expose to fire.

    Lanyards

    • We recommend replacing lanyards every 2 years due to the inevitable weakening of the velcro and possible rust of the wire over time.
    • Diving in icy conditions may cause damage to the spring inside of the carabiner if not opened correctly. Underwater, the carabiner can be opened and closed as normal. Above water, assume that the carabiner spring is iced-over due to frigid air temperatures and place it back into the water to de-ice before opening.

    EQ Trainers

    Before first use, rinse both parts of the EQ Trainer 2 with soapy water and spray disinfectant spray. Wait for the product to fully dry before assembling. Any new balloons should be rinsed and air-dried before using them for the first time.

    • It is recommended to clean the EQ Trainer 2 after each use. First, disassemble the unit, then rinse with soapy water and spray disinfectant spray. Wait for the unit to dry fully before reassembling.
    • To make loosening and tightening a smoother process, you can lubricate the threading with any kind of silicone.
    • Do not throw or drop on hard surfaces.
    • Do not use in temperatures colder than -40°C (-40°F) or hotter than 50°C (122°F)
    • Do not expose to extreme heat for extended periods of time.

    Apparel

    • Wash apparel and swimsuits with a gentle laundry detergent by hand or use a washing machine with cold or lukewarm water.
    • Air-drying in the shade is preferred to avoid fabric shrinkage and color fading.
    • To iron, use a low to medium heat setting on fabric turned inside-out or underneath a pressing cloth.

      Swim Caps

      • Rinse in (non-chlorinated) freshwater directly after use.
      • Air dry both the inside and outside of the swim cap out of direct sunlight and away from sources of heat before storing.
      • Avoid leaving the wet swim cap in an enclosed container or bag for an extended amount of time.
      • Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.
      • Take extra care when putting on the swim cap if you have long nails.