GET TO KNOW YOUR GEAR
Understand your equipment.
Explore equipment choices, care and ownership. We’re building a 200-guide equipment collection, beginning with the guides below.
KNOW YOUR EQUIPMENT
Understand what you’re wearing.
Start with the purpose of each piece of equipment, then explore the questions to ask.
Get to know your gear4 existing guidesEditorial review in progress
service
Cylinder Testing
Visual inspection, hydrostatic testing and valve servicing — and why inland divers care most.
Read guide
guide
Dive Computers: Planning, Settings and Shared Decisions
Use a dive computer as a personal exposure model and information tool—not as permission to outsource the dive plan.
Read guide
service
Regulator Servicing
Who services which brands, what oxygen cleaning involves, and why selling a regulator is not the same as servicing it.
Read guide
comparison
Wetsuit vs Drysuit
When a 7 mm suit is enough, when a drysuit earns its cost, and what changes when you switch.
Read guideWHAT’S NEXT
Topics in development
These guides are planned and are not available to read yet.
Ownership and servicing 20 planned
- What dive equipment should I buy first?In development
- How do I check a manufacturer's warranty terms?In development
- Which equipment tasks belong with a qualified technician?In development
- How do I assess equipment hire inclusions?In development
- How do I choose an equipment service provider?In development
- When does renting dive equipment make sense?In development
- How do I compare complete scuba equipment packages?In development
- How do I build a realistic equipment budget?In development
- What should I ask an Australian dive retailer?In development
- How can I assess a used-equipment advertisement?In development
- What records should accompany used dive equipment?In development
- What should I know about buying dive gear overseas?In development
- How should I record equipment servicing?In development
- What belongs in a recreational diver's spares kit?In development
- How should shared rental equipment be cleaned?In development
- What should I do when I discover damaged equipment before a trip?In development
- How can I check for dive-equipment recalls?In development
- How can I compare equipment claims without hands-on testing?In development
- How should a hands-on equipment review be conducted?In development
- How can I responsibly retire old dive equipment?In development
Masks and snorkels 15 planned
- How do I choose my first scuba mask?In development
- How should a scuba mask fit my face?In development
- What prescription options exist for dive masks?In development
- What causes a dive mask to leak?In development
- How can I reduce mask fogging?In development
- How do low-volume and high-volume masks differ?In development
- Should I choose a clear or black mask skirt?In development
- How do framed and frameless masks differ?In development
- What should divers with facial hair consider when choosing a mask?In development
- How do I choose a mask for a smaller face?In development
- When should a dive mask be repaired or replaced?In development
- What is a snorkel used for on a scuba trip?In development
- How do dry, semi-dry and simple snorkels compare?In development
- How do I choose a snorkel mouthpiece?In development
- When is a backup mask useful?In development
Fins and footwear 15 planned
- How do I choose scuba fins?In development
- How should diving boots fit?In development
- How do open-heel and full-foot fins compare?In development
- What sole thickness suits different shore entries?In development
- How do paddle fins and split fins differ?In development
- How does fin stiffness affect the diver?In development
- How does fin buoyancy affect equipment balance?In development
- Are travel fins suitable for my diving?In development
- What should I know about spring and bungee fin straps?In development
- How do I check fin and boot compatibility?In development
- What should I consider when buying fins for drysuit diving?In development
- How do scuba fins and freediving fins differ?In development
- What should I consider when choosing fins for limited ankle mobility?In development
- When should I use neoprene socks?In development
- How do I recognise worn fin straps and damaged blades?In development
Exposure protection 24 planned
- How do I choose exposure protection for an Australian dive trip?In development
- How should a wetsuit fit?In development
- How do different wetsuit thicknesses compare?In development
- How do back-zip and front-zip wetsuits differ?In development
- What is a semi-dry wetsuit?In development
- How do I choose my first drysuit?In development
- How do membrane and neoprene drysuits differ?In development
- How do I choose drysuit undergarments?In development
- What should I know about drysuit neck and wrist seals?In development
- How do I choose diving gloves?In development
- How should a diving hood fit?In development
- What do rash vests and dive skins provide?In development
- How do I assess sun protection in dive clothing?In development
- What is a stinger suit designed to do?In development
- How do I layer exposure garments?In development
- How does repetitive diving change exposure-suit planning?In development
- How do I choose exposure protection for a small body frame?In development
- When is a custom wetsuit worth considering?In development
- What should I check when hiring a wetsuit?In development
- How should I rinse and dry a wetsuit?In development
- How should I care for drysuit zips and seals?In development
- What can cause a drysuit leak?In development
- What should I consider before using heated dive clothing?In development
- How can I extend the useful life of exposure gear?In development
Buoyancy systems 20 planned
- How do I choose my first BCD?In development
- How should a BCD fit?In development
- How do jacket BCDs and back-inflate BCDs compare?In development
- What is a backplate-and-wing system?In development
- What does BCD lift capacity mean?In development
- How do integrated weight pockets differ?In development
- What should I consider when choosing a travel BCD?In development
- How do steel and aluminium backplates compare?In development
- How do single-cylinder and twin-cylinder wings differ?In development
- What is a continuous-webbing harness?In development
- How do adjustable harness systems compare?In development
- What do BCD inflators and dump valves do?In development
- What should I know about alternate-air-source inflators?In development
- How do I assess BCD pockets and attachment points?In development
- What should smaller divers consider when fitting a BCD?In development
- What should I check on a rental BCD?In development
- How can I check cylinder-band compatibility?In development
- What should I know before changing BCD components?In development
- When does a BCD need professional servicing?In development
- How should I rinse, dry and store a BCD?In development
Regulators 19 planned
- How do I choose a scuba regulator?In development
- What do a regulator's first and second stages do?In development
- How do DIN and yoke connections differ?In development
- What does balanced mean in regulator specifications?In development
- How do diaphragm and piston first stages differ?In development
- What is environmental sealing in a regulator?In development
- What should I check before buying a regulator for cold water?In development
- What is an alternate second stage?In development
- How do second-stage adjustment controls differ?In development
- How do regulator mouthpieces affect comfort?In development
- What should I know about regulator hose lengths?In development
- How do rubber and braided regulator hoses compare?In development
- What should I consider before using a regulator swivel or adapter?In development
- How can I assess regulator breathing-performance claims?In development
- What should I check when hiring a regulator?In development
- How do I transport a regulator?In development
- How should I rinse and store a regulator?In development
- What regulator symptoms require professional attention?In development
- What should I know about regulator compatibility with enriched oxygen mixtures?In development
Computers and instruments 19 planned
- How do I choose my first dive computer?In development
- How do wrist and console computers compare?In development
- What does air integration add to a dive computer?In development
- How do dive-computer transmitters differ?In development
- What should I know about dive-computer algorithms?In development
- What do conservatism settings mean?In development
- How do I assess a dive computer's display?In development
- How do rechargeable and replaceable batteries compare?In development
- What do scuba, gauge and freediving modes mean?In development
- What should I check when hiring a dive computer?In development
- How do I download and organise computer dive logs?In development
- When should I update dive-computer firmware?In development
- What do dive-computer alarms tell me?In development
- How do I choose a backup depth and time instrument?In development
- How do analogue and digital pressure gauges compare?In development
- How do I choose a diving compass?In development
- What does compass tilt tolerance mean?In development
- What should I know about computer strap and mount options?In development
- When should a dive computer or gauge be serviced?In development
Cylinders and valves 14 planned
- How do steel and aluminium scuba cylinders compare?In development
- What do scuba cylinder size labels mean?In development
- How do I read cylinder markings?In development
- How do cylinder working pressures differ?In development
- What should I know about cylinder valve connections?In development
- How do cylinder dimensions affect equipment fit?In development
- What should I check when hiring a cylinder?In development
- What is an oxygen-service cylinder?In development
- What should I understand about cylinder labels?In development
- How should scuba cylinders be transported by road?In development
- How should a scuba cylinder be stored between trips?In development
- What are pony cylinders and bailout cylinders?In development
- What should I know about manifolds and twinsets?In development
- What should I check before buying a used scuba cylinder?In development
Weights and configuration 10 planned
- How do diving weight systems differ?In development
- What should I know about weight-belt buckles?In development
- How do soft and solid dive weights compare?In development
- What are trim-weight pockets for?In development
- Why can a change of exposure suit change weighting needs?In development
- Why can cylinder choice change equipment balance?In development
- How do ditchable and non-ditchable weights differ?In development
- How can a diver record an equipment configuration?In development
- What should I know about weight-harness systems?In development
- What should I check when renting dive weights?In development
Lights and signalling 15 planned
- How do I choose a primary dive light?In development
- What makes a useful backup dive light?In development
- How do narrow and wide dive-light beams differ?In development
- How should I interpret dive-light brightness claims?In development
- What should I know about rechargeable dive-light batteries?In development
- What are surface marker buoys and delayed surface marker buoys?In development
- How do I choose a surface marker buoy?In development
- How do reels and finger spools differ?In development
- What should I know about dive whistles and audible signals?In development
- What are diving signal mirrors used for?In development
- How do PLBs and other emergency beacons differ?In development
- What should I know about taking a marine radio on a dive trip?In development
- How do dive knives, shears and line cutters compare?In development
- What do dive flags communicate?In development
- How should I inspect and store signalling equipment?In development
Photography equipment 15 planned
- How do I choose my first underwater camera system?In development
- How do action cameras and compact cameras compare underwater?In development
- What should I check when choosing an underwater housing?In development
- What do housing depth ratings mean?In development
- How do underwater strobes and video lights differ?In development
- What are wet lenses for underwater cameras?In development
- How do macro and wide-angle camera setups differ?In development
- What do trays, arms and clamps add to a camera system?In development
- How can I assess an underwater camera rig's buoyancy?In development
- What are housing vacuum and leak-detection systems?In development
- How should I care for camera-housing seals?In development
- How should I pack an underwater camera system?In development
- What should I consider before using a phone underwater?In development
- What should I check before buying a used underwater housing?In development
- How do I budget for an underwater photography system?In development
Bags and storage 10 planned
- How do I choose a dive bag?In development
- How do mesh bags and enclosed gear bags compare?In development
- What should I consider when buying a wheeled dive bag?In development
- What belongs in a regulator carry bag?In development
- How do dry bags and waterproof cases differ?In development
- How can I organise wet and dry gear on a road trip?In development
- How should I set up a gear-drying area at home?In development
- What should I consider when storing gear in a hot climate?In development
- How do I label and inventory my dive equipment?In development
- How can I reduce avoidable damage when loading dive gear?In development