Yoke vs. DIN: Which One Should You Use?

Scuba divers often debate between DIN vs. Yoke tank connections. While DIN is superior in all measurable ways, Yoke remains the standard in the U.S., Mexico, and much of the Caribbean. Just like the Imperial vs. Metric debate, the best option isn’t always the most commonly used.


What Are DIN and Yoke?

Comparison of Yoke vs DIN regulators

The tank valve and the first stage of your regulator must match to deliver breathing gas. Regulators are either DIN or Yoke—they cannot be both at the same time. Some regulators offer conversion kits, but they are not hot-swappable.

Some tank valves, known as "Pro" valves, can switch between DIN and Yoke using a screw-in/out DIN insert. However, not all tanks can be converted—particularly higher-pressure tanks that require DIN-only connections.

Pressure Ratings


How They Work

Yoke (A-Clamp)

DIN

Comparison of Yoke vs. DIN tank connections


Pros and Cons

Yoke

Pro: Most rental tanks in the U.S., Mexico, and the Caribbean use Yoke.

Cons:

Comparison of Yoke vs DIN regulators

DIN

Pros:

Con: While some rental shops may still have tanks that are Yoke-only, most have switched to "Pro" valves, making it easy to use DIN. Still, carrying a DIN-to-Yoke adapter is a good backup plan to ensure compatibility.


Real-World Example: Rental Tank O-Ring Failures

When diving in Mexico using rental Yoke tanks, I had to replace 7 out of 14 O-rings due to leaks. The boat ran out of spare O-rings, and we had to rely on my Save-a-Dive kit to keep diving. If I had used DIN, I wouldn’t have needed to worry about tank-side O-rings at all.


Which One Should You Choose?

Bottom Line: If you’re just renting tanks in the Americas, Yoke works. But if you want the best, safest, and most future-proof setup, DIN wins every time.