Toggle Nav
My Cart
Search
Advanced Search

Library

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

ProductTips

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