PADI OPEN WATER DIVER EXAM PREP 2026
HIGH YIELD TOPICS AND SOLUTIONS
BUOYANCY AND NAVIGATION ROADMAP
◉ What are the 5 steps for a proper descent with scuba?
Answer: 1. Confirm that your buddy is ready
2. Orient yourself to something
3. Switch from your snorkel to your regulator
4. Check your dive computer/timer
5. Signal "descend" and slowly deflate your BCD
◉ What are the 5 steps for a proper ascent with scuba?
Answer: 1. Signal "up" and confirm that your buddy is ready
2. Check your dive computer/timer to be sure you're within dive
limits
3. Look up and hold your BCD deflator hose
4. Ascend no slower than your dive computer's maximum rate
5. Look up, turn as you ascend, and stay with your buddy
◉ What is the maximum ascent rate?
Answer: 18 m/60 ft//min
, ◉ What is a safety stop?
Answer: A pause in your ascent between 6 m/20 ft and 3 m/10 ft to
give your tissues extra time to release dissolved gases for at least 3
minutes
◉ When would I not make a safety stop?
Answer: When you're assisting a diver who has an air supply
problem or if you're low on air
◉ dive computer
Answer: Tells you your time and depth underwater and guides you
in keeping dissolved nitrogen in your body within accepted limits
◉ How do I measure/define visibility as a diver?
Answer: The distance you can see horizontally underwater
◉ What 4 principles affect visibility?
Answer: Water movement, weather, plankton, bottom composition
◉ When diving in a mild current, in what direction would I normally
go?
HIGH YIELD TOPICS AND SOLUTIONS
BUOYANCY AND NAVIGATION ROADMAP
◉ What are the 5 steps for a proper descent with scuba?
Answer: 1. Confirm that your buddy is ready
2. Orient yourself to something
3. Switch from your snorkel to your regulator
4. Check your dive computer/timer
5. Signal "descend" and slowly deflate your BCD
◉ What are the 5 steps for a proper ascent with scuba?
Answer: 1. Signal "up" and confirm that your buddy is ready
2. Check your dive computer/timer to be sure you're within dive
limits
3. Look up and hold your BCD deflator hose
4. Ascend no slower than your dive computer's maximum rate
5. Look up, turn as you ascend, and stay with your buddy
◉ What is the maximum ascent rate?
Answer: 18 m/60 ft//min
, ◉ What is a safety stop?
Answer: A pause in your ascent between 6 m/20 ft and 3 m/10 ft to
give your tissues extra time to release dissolved gases for at least 3
minutes
◉ When would I not make a safety stop?
Answer: When you're assisting a diver who has an air supply
problem or if you're low on air
◉ dive computer
Answer: Tells you your time and depth underwater and guides you
in keeping dissolved nitrogen in your body within accepted limits
◉ How do I measure/define visibility as a diver?
Answer: The distance you can see horizontally underwater
◉ What 4 principles affect visibility?
Answer: Water movement, weather, plankton, bottom composition
◉ When diving in a mild current, in what direction would I normally
go?
