Calvin Tang recently went diving with a newly-certified diver. Upon returning, they placed their gear in a freshwater rinse. Unfortunately, Calvin’s friend forgot to replace the dust cap in the first stage. Of course, we’ve been told a gazillion times not to get water inside the first stage, so naturally Calvin freaked when he discovered the first stage had flooded. After searching for information on how to handle the situation (to no avail), he called his local dive shop; the staff member assured Calvin that the problem was minor, especially since the first stage had flooded with freshwater. (Even if it had flooded with saltwater, however, the problem is simple to correct, but first you need to rinse the unit thoroughly with freshwater to avoid corrosion.) Ultimately, it was easy for Calvin to dry out his first stage.
How-To: Dry Your Regulator’s First Stage If It Has Accidentally Flooded – Divester