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This is a collection of direct links to our knowledge base of educational content that appears on the Dive Gear Express website mostly in the form of brief blocks of diving related information that are distinct from our product descriptions and administration content. This knowledge is primarily focused on experienced sport and technical SCUBA divers. It may not be useful to those just now learning to dive, and in some cases might even contradict instructor recommendations to entry level divers.


Our popular Tek-Tips are product independent information attached to the bottom of various category and product pages. There is some product related information, such as our opinions on specific product selection or usage, that we list in a separate Product-Tips category. We have a few longer discussions that we list under the Articles category.

The Dive Gear Express YouTube Channel contains a library of our in-house produced information videos. Each video is focused on important facts for a single topic, omitting extraneous promotional content and excessive detail. The videos are fast paced to keep them compact, about one to three minutes in length with pause and rewind controls always available during viewing.

TekTips

  1. Compressor Lubricants and Diver Safety
  2. Compressor Lubrication for SCUBA
  3. Nitrox and Compressor Lubrication
  4. "OMG" Is your QR insurance paid up?
  5. Marine Grade Stainless Markings Must Be Annealed
  6. Your Hands and Feet Can Be Larger When Diving
  7. Is My HP Tank 3/4 NPS or 7/8 UNF Neck Threads?
  8. Seriously, Do Not Pee On That...
  9. The 411 on Dive Instrument Consoles vs Wrist Mounts
  10. Using a Signal Mirror for Rescue
  11. Handling Emergency Oxygen Kits
  12. How do the grades of compressed oxygen differ?
  13. Units of Pressure in Diving
  14. Servicing SCUBA Hoses
  15. Can Nitrox or Trimix be run through a breathing air compressor?
  16. About Gas Time Remaining (GTR) Calculations
  17. Aluminum vs. Stainless Hardware
  18. Single-Tank-Adapters or Assembly Screws Are Often Counterproductive
  19. A unified and robust solution for dive logging software
  20. Sunscreen and Dive Computers
  21. How do you stay warm in a neoprene wetsuit? Take it off.
  22. Do I really need that big NITROX wrap decal on my tank?
  23. Advice for Flying with SCUBA tanks
  24. Diving and Blue Pills
  25. The R-22 and R-17 type oxygen sensors in diving
  26. Using PTFE (aka Teflon) Thread Seal Tape with Oxygen, Nitrox and Trimix
  27. Rechargeable Battery Chemistry for Dive Lights - Lithium Ion
  28. ADVISORY: Oxidane and Diving
  29. 'The Skinny' on Snorkels and SCUBA Diving
  30. Helium Grades for Breathing Gases in Diving
  31. SCUBA Cylinder Neck Threads and Pressures in North America
  32. When is Enough... Enough?
  33. Soft Plate Systems and Metal Backplates
  34. Environmentally Sealing SCUBA Regulators
  35. How Deep is DEEP and How Cold is COLD?
  36. The Original Sidewinding Style Cave Reel
  37. Line Markers
  38. The History Behind the K-inflator and Drift-Pin vs. Schrader Inflators
  39. Bühlmann versus VPM Decompression Schedules
  40. High Pressure Swivel Spindles aka 'Air Spools'
  41. BC, HP, IP, LP and MP
  42. Helium Penalty? What Penalty?
  43. Calibrating Oxygen Analyzers for Diving
  44. Dust caps with DIN-to-Yoke adapters are not best practice
  45. Rigging the SPG on Stage and Sidemount Bottles
  46. What is the knob and lever on my second stage?
  47. Make Your Own Custom Length LP or BC Hose
  48. Decompression Sickness and Arterial Gas Embolism
  49. Many Mass-Market Cleaning Products Can Damage Your Dive Gear
  50. How to use a twist-on handheld dive light or strobe
  51. QC6 Quick Connect System and SCUBA
  52. Orange or Chartreuse; which is better?
  53. Where do I get replacement batteries?
  54. Damaged 300 bar DIN valve outlets
  55. Lubrication and SCUBA Valve Installation
  56. Quick-Disconnect Compatibility and Lack Thereof
  57. Open Water Students and Modern Equipment Configurations
  58. Metric vs Imperial SCUBA Cylinder Sizes
  59. Divemasters Should Ask 'Is Your Oxygen ON?'
  60. SCUBA Regulator Service Frequency
  61. A Battery Warning Means You Are Diving On Borrowed Time!
  62. A Common Mistake When Using Tables for Repetitive Dives
  63. Backup Second Stages
  64. Choosing the Best Inflation Hose Length
  65. Cleaning Low Current Electrical Contacts
  66. Compass Balance Zones
  67. Just Say No to Deep Air
  68. DPV Battery Technology Tradeoffs
  69. Evolution of Manifolds and Bands
  70. Full Face Masks and Recreational Scuba
  71. Gearing Up With a Long Hose
  72. Get the Lead Out!
  73. History of the Finger Spool
  74. How Long is Your Hose?
  75. How Much and Where to Use Lubricant
  76. How to Overhaul a Power Inflator
  77. Independent Twins Are Not Doubles
  78. Regulator Intermediate Pressure (IP)
  79. Tang? Pommel? Drop Point? Swage? Spine?
  80. Leaking Mask? Loosen The Strap!
  81. Candela vs Lumen
  82. Mixing Brands or Ages of Oxygen Sensors
  83. Dispelling the Myth of the Simple Oxygen Flush Test
  84. Self-Operated vs Pilot-Operated
  85. "Sidemount diving makes technical diving easy" - Jeff Loflin
  86. Sidemount Configurations
  87. Who's Your Buddy... Han?
  88. SPG Floods
  89. Time to Fly? Maybe Not.
  90. What Color is Your <span style="text-decoration:line-through"> Parachute </span> Bag?
  91. What Happened to Low-Pressure (LP) Cylinders?
  92. What if you donate your primary?
  93. What Size Fins Do I Need?
  94. Choosing the Best Regulator Hose Length
  95. Optical Coating Masks Are Not "Cool"
  96. Plan Your Dive - Dive Your Plan
  97. Looping Hoses Under Hose Retainers
  98. Does the Vindicator knob make sense for experienced divers?
  99. Valves for Sidemount
  100. Single Tank Mounting with Backplates
  101. Types of Back Inflation BC Systems
  102. Interchangeability of Backplates and Wings
  103. Which Wing Do I Need?
  104. Helmets Have Their Place In Diving
  105. How to Glue On Your Glue-On Pocket
  106. Why Black Dive Masks Are Better
  107. Beware of Fin Hyperbole
  108. Give Tank Boots the Boot, Decals Too!
  109. What Happened to My Gas?
  110. Perfect Positioning of Decals
  111. Common Uses for Stainless Steel Snaps
  112. The Best Things in Life are FREE
  113. Piston vs Diaphragm... Does it really matter?
  114. Upstream vs Downstream
  115. Long Hose Regulator Configuration for Single Tank Diving
  116. Do You Sidemount Up or Down?
  117. Choosing Stage/Deco Regulators
  118. Bailout/Deco Regulators
  119. Inspect Your Regulator Mouthpiece
  120. Hose Protectors Don't
  121. The Oxygen Shutoff Is a Mixed-Bag
  122. Mr. Cleaning Your Dive Slate and Wetnotes
  123. Blame Normalization of Deviance, Not "Complacency"
  124. Manifold Crossbar Isolator Valves May Not Improve Safety
  125. Finger Spools Are Not Reels
  126. SCUBA Regulators and Hoses Nomenclature
  127. Fixed Port vs Swivel Turret
  128. Open Circuit Etiquette with Closed Circuit Divers
  129. Form vs. Function in Dive Masks
  130. About the U.S. Diver Down Flag
  131. Using the metal grommets......
  132. Will back inflation float an unconscious diver face up?
  133. You Can't Get Everything On-Line
  134. What about "black face" instruments?
  135. OOPS.... NOT!
  136. Hogarthian Regulator Configuration for Doubles
  137. Learning From Analysis of Rebreather Deaths
  138. Gradient Factors
  139. Sidemount Diving Has Gone Mainstream
  140. What is the difference between "200 Bar" and "300 Bar" fittings?
  141. Threading a 3-Slot Quick-Release Belt Buckle
  142. Nitrox? Heliox? Helitrox? Triox? Normoxic Trimix? Hypoxic Trimix? Heliair?
  143. Care and Feeding of Lithium Chemistry Rechargeable Batteries
  144. Are Rebreathers Safe?
  145. Uncoupling DIN Fittings From SCUBA Valves
  146. Inside Submersible Pressure Gauges
  147. Buddies and BC Integrated Regs
  148. How to Choose Between Lift Bags and Marking Tubes
  149. Rebreather Training
  150. Sanitizers, Disinfectants, Antiseptics and Your Rebreather & Regulators
  151. Selection, Care and Maintenance for Reels
  152. Regulator Necklaces
  153. Mask Defoggers Explained
  154. BCD Bladder Repairs
  155. Bad BCD Maintenance = Provoking Instead of Preventing
  156. Streamlined Open Water Regulator Configuration
  157. Installing Valves in SCUBA Cylinders (Torque Specifications)
  158. A Gas Booster Reality Check
  159. Sizing and Selecting O-Rings for SCUBA
  160. Ordering Vision Correcting Lenses for Dive Masks
  161. ZHL, VPM, RGBM, DSAT, DCIEM, DCAP ... Does It Really Matter?
  162. The Origin of Hogarthian Configuration
  163. Do You Know Your Right From Your Left?
  164. Oxygen Sensor Life in Rebreathers
  165. Stage Straps
  166. Canister vs Handheld Lights
  167. Lumens, Lux, Burn Time and Kelvin - Caveat Emptor
  168. Take Only What You Need, No More and No Less
  169. Burst Disks in SCUBA Valves Are Not What You Think
  170. StainLESS does not mean StainPROOF
  171. North is 180° with Tiny Bubbles?
  172. Choosing the Best Primary SPG Hose Length
  173. Z Factors for SCUBA
View All 173 articles

ProductTips

  1. DGX Gears brand D6 and XTRA regulators
  2. Regulators and Required-stop Accelerated Decompression
  3. Garmin Descent Mk2/Mk2i/Mk2s Model Differences
  4. Characteristics of Line on Dive Reels and Finger Spools
  5. R-22 Oxygen Sensors - 'D' type vs 'S' type
  6. CO2 Absorbent: 797 vs 812 vs 1025
  7. Why Choose SI TECH?
  8. Garmin Descent G Series vs Mk Series Differences
  9. Choosing Between the DGX Gears 1000-6 and 1000-8 Handheld Lights
  10. Peregrine vs Perdix 2
  11. Differences of Teric vs Perdix 2 Ti Dive Computers
  12. Maintaining Poseidon Cable Connectors
  13. SCUBA Regulator DIN Connector O-ring Sizes
  14. Dive Rite Hydro Lite BC vs TransPac Harness
  15. Drive Gas Options for the Booster
  16. Dive Rite TransPac vs TransPlate Systems
  17. Backplates and Your Height
  18. Why Choose Apeks?
  19. Apeks XTX Series First Stage Differences
  20. Apeks XTX Series Second Stage Differences
  21. The NERD 2 from Shearwater Research
  22. SAFT Batteries for Shearwater Dive Computers — Where to Buy
  23. Why we are ashamed to sell these...
  24. How to resurrect a completely dead Poseidon Smart Module
  25. Why Choose DIVESOFT?
  26. SPG Depth Ratings
  27. Differences of Petrel vs Perdix Dive Computers
  28. Why Choose XR by Mares?
  29. Basketball Shoes for Diving... Seriously?
  30. Differences Between DGX and Thermo Brand Valves
  31. Dive Rite XT Regulator Differences
  32. How are the DGX Premium O2 Valves different from DGX Premium Nitrox Ready Valves?
  33. Low-Pressure Breathing Gas Fittings on SCUBA Regulators and Hoses
  34. Dive Rite 2025 Air Cells Overview
  35. Light Mount Sizing Chart
  36. Advice regarding travel with Sofnolime
  37. Aluminum Cylinders at Dive Gear Express
  38. Steel High Pressure Cylinders by Faber
  39. Steel Specialty Cylinders by Faber
  40. TransPac, TransPlate, and Hydro Lite Sizing
  41. Recreational Nitrox Configuration of Shearwater Perdix
  42. Replacing Air Cell Inflation Assembly Elbows
  43. Why Choose DGX Gears™ Brand Products?
  44. Why Choose Shearwater Research Dive Computers?
  45. Why dive Poseidon?
  46. Compare the DGX 300 - 600 - 800 lights
  47. Why Choose Analytical Industries?
  48. Why Choose Dive Rite?
  49. Why Choose Ocean Management Systems?
  50. Dive Rite's Gusset Control System
  51. Why Choose G-Dive?
  52. Dive Rite Dual Armored Wing Options
  53. DGX Custom Regulators - Have It Your Way
  54. Why Choose Omni-Swivel International Products?
View All 54 articles

Articles

  1. Choosing Your First Rebreather
  2. How to Select a SCUBA Tank
  3. Understanding Nitrox Ready and Oxygen Service
  4. Lift Bags versus Marking Tubes
  5. How to Attach a Snap
  6. Assembling Double Cylinders
  7. Suggestions for Selecting a Wing
  8. O2ptima Scrubber Duration Test Results
  9. Sofnolime Absorbent Selection And Handling
  10. About Oxygen Disclaimers
  11. DGX Gears Harness Assembly Instructions
  12. SCUBA Valves
  13. Z Factors for SCUBA
  14. What is a Rebreather?
View All 14 articles