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DiveCalc

Diving guides that do the math

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Gas planning & consumption

Plan reserves, understand breathing rates, and estimate gas use.

10 guides

Scuba Cylinders Explained: Sizes, Materials, and Buoyancy

What cylinder labels really mean, how working pressure sets the gas you carry, and why aluminum, steel, and composite cylinders behave differently in the water.

Diving Gases Explained: Air, Nitrox, Trimix, Heliox, Oxygen, and Argon

Understand the breathing and inflation gases divers encounter, what each one does, and why depth and exposure determine whether a mix is suitable.

Nitrox Blending: Oxygen, Air, and Residual Gas

Learn how partial-pressure and continuous Nitrox blending account for residual gas, and why every calculated fill must still be analyzed.

Pressure and ATA Basics for Scuba Divers

Build the pressure foundation behind gas use, partial pressure, buoyancy, and decompression with worked metric and imperial examples.

Scuba Diving Units: Bar, PSI, Meters, and Feet

Convert the units divers use, understand which conversions are exact or approximate, and avoid mixing pressure, depth, and cylinder capacity.

Turn Pressure and the Rule of Thirds

Calculate a usable turn pressure, distinguish thirds from minimum gas, and choose the earlier limit for direct-ascent and return-to-exit dives.

Rock Bottom Gas: How Much Reserve Do You Really Need?

Calculate minimum gas for a two-diver emergency ascent and learn how depth, breathing rate, and cylinder size change reserve pressure.

How Long Will My Scuba Tank Last?

Estimate cylinder duration from usable gas, depth, and RMV, and understand why a constant-depth estimate is not a complete dive plan.

Understanding SAC Rate: Why It Matters for Every Diver

Learn what Surface Air Consumption rate is, how to calculate it, and tips to improve your breathing efficiency underwater.

SAC Rate vs RMV: What's the Difference and When to Use Each

Understand the difference between SAC rate and RMV, when to use each metric, and how to convert between them.

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