Popping the Question: What is a DSMB?

SURFACE MARKER BUOYS (SMBS) AND DELAYED SURFACE MARKER BUOYS (DSMBS) are common and essential safety devices. These brightly colored, inflatable tubes, sometimes called safety sausages, are critical pieces of equipment […]

Alert Diver Q3 Dive Gear

Nitrox Production Methods

Enriched air, or nitrox, has become a trusted way for many recreational divers to extend no-decompression limits and reduce fatigue. By increasing the oxygen content and reducing nitrogen absorption, divers […]

testing cylinder

Gear-Related Incidents

Faulty or improperly used gear can quickly change and impact a dive. Read gear-related dive incident reports and avoid these mistakes.

Woman in pink scuba gear swims near fish

Defining Performance

Do you know how to find the right pair of fins to fit your feet? Read our best tips on finding the right fins for you.

A person's legs, wearing red fins, stick out of tropical beach waters

Decompression, Stage, and Bailout Cylinders

DIFFERENT TERMS CAN SOMETIMES DESCRIBE the same piece of equipment in the dive industry. What some divers call a dive light, for example, others call a dive torch. They are physically identical, so the names are interchangeable …

dive industry equipment terminology confusion; dive industry equipment terminology confusion

Know Your Oxygen-Delivery Masks

Oxygen units include various delivery systems, including oronasal masks, nonrebreather masks and bag valve masks, so divers should know the appropriate mask to use in each situation.

Customize Your First-Aid Kit

What is in your first aid kit? Beyond bandages and an ointment, are you prepared for any and every situation? Here are some expert tips on how to customize the perfect first aid kit.

A man gets a wound on his knuckle dressed and bandaged

How Old is Too Old

Dive computers and BCDs are expensive, which can make it very tempting to keep using the ones we own year after year. Remember that this is life-support gear, and it won’t last forever.

DIN Connectors Are No Yoke

Pick the valve or connector that best suits your diving lifestyle, and always stay within your limits: Equipment is no substitute for training.

Hooked on Hookah Diving

Understanding the way hookah systems work and knowing how to manage their associated risks will allow for an efficient and enjoyable hookah diving experience. It can be a safe and fun way to introduce people to the underwater world.