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

ProductTips

  1. Differences of Petrel vs Perdix Dive Computers
  2. Garmin Descent G Series vs Mk Series Differences
  3. Basketball Shoes for Diving... Seriously?
  4. Why Choose SI TECH?
  5. Differences Between DGX and Thermo Brand Valves
  6. Low-Pressure Breathing Gas Fittings on SCUBA Regulators and Hoses
  7. DGX No Longer Sells SAFT Lithium Batteries
  8. How are the DGX Premium O2 Valves different from DGX Premium Nitrox Ready Valves?
  9. Dive Rite XT Regulator Differences
  10. The NERD 2 from Shearwater Research
  11. CO2 Absorbent: 797 vs 812 vs 1025
  12. Regulators and Required-stop Accelerated Decompression
  13. R-22 Oxygen Sensors - 'D' type vs 'S' type
  14. Garmin Descent Mk2/Mk2i/Mk2s Model Differences
  15. Characteristics of Line on Dive Reels and Finger Spools
  16. Apeks XTX Series First Stage Differences
  17. Apeks XTX Series Second Stage Differences
  18. Backplates and Your Height
  19. DGX Gears brand D6 and XTRA regulators
  20. Alternative hose configuration for your Poseidon DSV/ADV/BOV
  21. Maintaining Poseidon Cable Connectors
  22. Why Choose DIVESOFT?
  23. SPG Depth Ratings
  24. How to resurrect a completely dead Poseidon Smart Module
  25. SCUBA Regulator DIN Connector O-ring Sizes
  26. Availability of steel SCUBA cylinder finishes
  27. Why Choose Apeks?
  28. Differences of Teric vs Perdix 2 Ti Dive Computers
  29. Peregrine vs Perdix 2
  30. Why we are ashamed to sell these...
  31. Drive Gas Options for the Booster
  32. Choosing Between the DGX Gears 1000-6 and 1000-8 Handheld Lights
  33. Why Choose XR by Mares?
  34. Dive Rite Air Cells Overview
  35. Steel Specialty Cylinders by Faber
  36. Why Choose Ocean Management Systems?
  37. Recreational Nitrox Configuration of Shearwater Perdix
  38. Advice regarding travel with Sofnolime
  39. Replacing Air Cell Inflation Assembly Elbows
  40. Why Choose DGX Gears™ Brand Products?
  41. Why Choose Shearwater Research Dive Computers?
  42. Why dive Poseidon?
  43. Compare the DGX 300 - 600 - 800 lights
  44. Why Choose Analytical Industries?
  45. Why Choose Dive Rite?
  46. Why Choose Omni-Swivel International Products?
  47. Why Choose G-Dive?
  48. DGX Custom Regulators - Have It Your Way
  49. Light Mount Sizing Chart
  50. TransPac, TransPlate, and Hydro Lite Sizing
  51. Dive Rite's Gusset Control System
  52. Dive Rite Dual Armored Wing Options
  53. Steel High Pressure Cylinders by Faber
  54. Aluminum Cylinders at Dive Gear Express
View All 54 articles

Articles

  1. Z Factors for SCUBA
  2. How to Select a SCUBA Tank
  3. Choosing Your First Rebreather
  4. Calculating SCUBA Cylinder Capacity
  5. DGX Gears Harness Assembly Instructions
  6. Understanding Nitrox Ready and Oxygen Service
  7. SCUBA Valves
  8. CCR FAQ - Poseidon Se7en+
  9. Sofnolime Absorbent Selection And Handling
  10. South East Florida Diving Logistics
  11. O2ptima Scrubber Duration Test Results
  12. About Oxygen Disclaimers
  13. Suggestions for Selecting a Wing
  14. What is a Rebreather?
  15. Assembling Double Cylinders
  16. Oxygen Sensor Handling
  17. How to Attach a Snap
  18. Lift Bags versus Marking Tubes
View All 18 articles