SSI SCIENCE OF DIVING 2026/2027 – COMPREHENSIVE
STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS ANSWERS RATED A+ EDITION
◎ 1982. ANSWER: -When did OSHA exempt scientific diving from commercial diving
◎ The absolute pressure expressed in terms of atmospheres absolute at 33 feet in sea
water is:
-A: 2 ata
-B:1 ata
-C: 4 ata
-D: 3 ata. ANSWER: -A: 2 ata
◎ What will the buoyancy of an object be (positive, neutral, or negative) if it displaces
an amount of water:
a. more than its own weight?
b. less than its own weight?
c. equal to its own weight?. ANSWER: -a. positive
b. negative
c. neutral
◎ AAUS. ANSWER: -American Academy of Underwater Sciences
◎ Gauge pressure is defined as:
-A: Hydrostatic pressure minus 1 ata
-B: The pressure at the surface
-C: The depth reading on a gauge
-D: Absolute pressure minus 1 ata. ANSWER: -D: Gauge pressure is defined as
Absolute pressure minus 1 ata
◎ What is purpose of first stage. ANSWER: -to reduce cylinder pressure to immediate
pressure and keep that pressure as constant as possible
◎ Define Scientific Diving. ANSWER: -Diving performed solely as a necessary part of a
scientific, research, or educational activity by employees whose sole purpose for diving
is to perform scientific research tasks
◎ When does squeeze in the ear occur. ANSWER: -When the presure outside the ear
is greater than the pressure inside the ear
◎ The first symptom of a sinus squeeze is usually:
-A: a dull pain deep within the head
-B: a sharp pain at the base of the neck
-C: a crushing pain high in the chest
,-D: a sharp pain above the eyes. ANSWER: -D: a sharp pain above the eyes
◎ What is the relationship between increasing and decreasing depth and water
pressure?. ANSWER: -With increasing depth the water pressure increases.
With decreasing depth the water pressure decreases.
◎ If you experience pain in the ear during descent:
-A: Stop the descent and ascend till the pain stops
-B: abort the dive
-C: place a finger in the ear canal and gently massage the ear until the pain ceases
-D: continue the descent while gently exhaling into the mask. ANSWER: -A: Stop the
descent and ascend till the pain stops.
◎ Body heat is lost at a rate of ___ than air.. ANSWER: -25-30 times faster
◎ What year was the petition by United Brotherhood Carpenters and Joiners of
America AFL-CIO with respect to diving operations filed?. ANSWER: -1975
◎ The ultimate responsibility for safe diving procedures rests with the .... ANSWER: -
individual diver
◎ Proper equalization techniques must be learned in order to:
-A: prevent sinus squeeze
-B: prevent ear pain
-C: prevent squeeze injuries
-D: all answers are correct. ANSWER: -D
◎ At what depth does the greatest expension occur. ANSWER: -4 feet
◎ What are the absolute pressures, air volume, and air density in atmospheres, for:
a. 10m/33ft
b. 20m/66ft
b. 30m/99ft
c. 40m/132ft. ANSWER: -a. 2 bar/ata, 1/2, x 2
b. 3 bar/ata, 1/3, x 3
c. 4 bar/ata, 1/4, x4
d. 5 bar/ata, 1/5, x5
◎ In what year did OSHA exempt scientific diving from commercial diving regulations?.
ANSWER: -1982
◎ The purpose of equalization is to:
,-A: ensure the uneven application of pressure between the water and air spaces in the
body
-B: prevent water from entering air spaces in the body
-C: introduce additional air into body air spaces in response to increasing external
pressure
-D: remove all fluids from body air spaces. ANSWER: -C: introduce additional air into
body air spaces in response to increasing external pressure
◎ True or false: One of the requirements for meeting the scientific diving exemption to
OSHA commercial diving regulations is that the majority of members of an
organization's Diving Control Board must be active scientific divers. ANSWER: -True
◎ Who fought to obtain a scientific diving exemption in 1975 with a petition filed with
OSHA. ANSWER: -United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America
◎ The three primary features to look for in a quality Exposure System are:. ANSWER: -
Thickness, fit, & seam integrity
◎ Under what two conditions did OSHA exempt scientific diving from commercial diving
regulations?. ANSWER: -Diving Safety Manual and Diving Control (Safety) Board
◎ An object immersed in water will be buoyed upward by a force ______ to the weight
of the water it displaces.. ANSWER: -equal
◎ What is the relationship between air volume and density, and how do they vary
according to this relationship when pressure increases or decreases?. ANSWER: -Air
volume and density change proportionately with pressure. As pressure increases, air
volume decreases, and air density increases. As pressure decreases, air volume
increases, and air density decreases.
◎ A high pressure scuba cylinder should be stored:
-A: secured with a minimum of 500 to 750 psi
-B: lying flat with no air
-C: with the valve slightly open to allow air expansion
-D: secured with the valve open. ANSWER: -A: A high pressure scuba cylinder should
be stored secured with a minimum of 500 to 750 psi
◎ What do you do if you have problems equalizing your ears. ANSWER: -stop your
descent, go up a few feet to lessen the pressure and slowly try your descent again.
◎ At what level should we be concern with nitrogen narcois. ANSWER: -It is
recommended that recreational divers stay above 100 feet/ 30 meters
, ◎ One of the primary factors contributing to heat loss for divers is:
-A: Absorption
-B: Convection
-C: Diffusion
-D: Refraction. ANSWER: -B: One of the primary factors contributing to heat loss for
divers is Convection
◎ What is a "squeeze"?. ANSWER: -A pressure imbalance that pushes tissues into an
air space.
◎ The Information System components are:
A: Dive Computer
B: Analogue Instruments
C: SSI DiveLog
D: All the above. ANSWER: -D: All of the above (Dive Computer, Analogue Instruments,
& SSI DiveLog)
◎ What does the Diving Control Board consist of, and what authority does it hold?.
ANSWER: -Consists of majority of active scientific divers and has autonomous &
absolute authority over the scientific diving program's operation
◎ The purpose of a BC is to:. ANSWER: --Provide surface floatation
-Maintain neutral buoyancy during the dive
-Control ascent and descent rates
◎ This major factor contributed to obtaining the scientific diving exemption. ANSWER: -
low accident/incident rate documented within the scientific diving community
◎ What is considered a repetative dive. ANSWER: -Any dive started more that 10
minutes and less than 12 hours after a previous scuba dive. If surface interval is less
than t0 minutes both dives must be considered as one dive.
◎ Under the SSI Equipment Service Program, your Delivery System should be serviced
and performance checked:
-A: every 3 years
-B: every 5 years
-C: every month
-D: every year. ANSWER: -D: every year
◎ Assuming a consistent air consumption rate, diving at a pressure of 4 ata will use __
as much air as diving at 2 ata.. ANSWER: -2 times
STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS ANSWERS RATED A+ EDITION
◎ 1982. ANSWER: -When did OSHA exempt scientific diving from commercial diving
◎ The absolute pressure expressed in terms of atmospheres absolute at 33 feet in sea
water is:
-A: 2 ata
-B:1 ata
-C: 4 ata
-D: 3 ata. ANSWER: -A: 2 ata
◎ What will the buoyancy of an object be (positive, neutral, or negative) if it displaces
an amount of water:
a. more than its own weight?
b. less than its own weight?
c. equal to its own weight?. ANSWER: -a. positive
b. negative
c. neutral
◎ AAUS. ANSWER: -American Academy of Underwater Sciences
◎ Gauge pressure is defined as:
-A: Hydrostatic pressure minus 1 ata
-B: The pressure at the surface
-C: The depth reading on a gauge
-D: Absolute pressure minus 1 ata. ANSWER: -D: Gauge pressure is defined as
Absolute pressure minus 1 ata
◎ What is purpose of first stage. ANSWER: -to reduce cylinder pressure to immediate
pressure and keep that pressure as constant as possible
◎ Define Scientific Diving. ANSWER: -Diving performed solely as a necessary part of a
scientific, research, or educational activity by employees whose sole purpose for diving
is to perform scientific research tasks
◎ When does squeeze in the ear occur. ANSWER: -When the presure outside the ear
is greater than the pressure inside the ear
◎ The first symptom of a sinus squeeze is usually:
-A: a dull pain deep within the head
-B: a sharp pain at the base of the neck
-C: a crushing pain high in the chest
,-D: a sharp pain above the eyes. ANSWER: -D: a sharp pain above the eyes
◎ What is the relationship between increasing and decreasing depth and water
pressure?. ANSWER: -With increasing depth the water pressure increases.
With decreasing depth the water pressure decreases.
◎ If you experience pain in the ear during descent:
-A: Stop the descent and ascend till the pain stops
-B: abort the dive
-C: place a finger in the ear canal and gently massage the ear until the pain ceases
-D: continue the descent while gently exhaling into the mask. ANSWER: -A: Stop the
descent and ascend till the pain stops.
◎ Body heat is lost at a rate of ___ than air.. ANSWER: -25-30 times faster
◎ What year was the petition by United Brotherhood Carpenters and Joiners of
America AFL-CIO with respect to diving operations filed?. ANSWER: -1975
◎ The ultimate responsibility for safe diving procedures rests with the .... ANSWER: -
individual diver
◎ Proper equalization techniques must be learned in order to:
-A: prevent sinus squeeze
-B: prevent ear pain
-C: prevent squeeze injuries
-D: all answers are correct. ANSWER: -D
◎ At what depth does the greatest expension occur. ANSWER: -4 feet
◎ What are the absolute pressures, air volume, and air density in atmospheres, for:
a. 10m/33ft
b. 20m/66ft
b. 30m/99ft
c. 40m/132ft. ANSWER: -a. 2 bar/ata, 1/2, x 2
b. 3 bar/ata, 1/3, x 3
c. 4 bar/ata, 1/4, x4
d. 5 bar/ata, 1/5, x5
◎ In what year did OSHA exempt scientific diving from commercial diving regulations?.
ANSWER: -1982
◎ The purpose of equalization is to:
,-A: ensure the uneven application of pressure between the water and air spaces in the
body
-B: prevent water from entering air spaces in the body
-C: introduce additional air into body air spaces in response to increasing external
pressure
-D: remove all fluids from body air spaces. ANSWER: -C: introduce additional air into
body air spaces in response to increasing external pressure
◎ True or false: One of the requirements for meeting the scientific diving exemption to
OSHA commercial diving regulations is that the majority of members of an
organization's Diving Control Board must be active scientific divers. ANSWER: -True
◎ Who fought to obtain a scientific diving exemption in 1975 with a petition filed with
OSHA. ANSWER: -United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America
◎ The three primary features to look for in a quality Exposure System are:. ANSWER: -
Thickness, fit, & seam integrity
◎ Under what two conditions did OSHA exempt scientific diving from commercial diving
regulations?. ANSWER: -Diving Safety Manual and Diving Control (Safety) Board
◎ An object immersed in water will be buoyed upward by a force ______ to the weight
of the water it displaces.. ANSWER: -equal
◎ What is the relationship between air volume and density, and how do they vary
according to this relationship when pressure increases or decreases?. ANSWER: -Air
volume and density change proportionately with pressure. As pressure increases, air
volume decreases, and air density increases. As pressure decreases, air volume
increases, and air density decreases.
◎ A high pressure scuba cylinder should be stored:
-A: secured with a minimum of 500 to 750 psi
-B: lying flat with no air
-C: with the valve slightly open to allow air expansion
-D: secured with the valve open. ANSWER: -A: A high pressure scuba cylinder should
be stored secured with a minimum of 500 to 750 psi
◎ What do you do if you have problems equalizing your ears. ANSWER: -stop your
descent, go up a few feet to lessen the pressure and slowly try your descent again.
◎ At what level should we be concern with nitrogen narcois. ANSWER: -It is
recommended that recreational divers stay above 100 feet/ 30 meters
, ◎ One of the primary factors contributing to heat loss for divers is:
-A: Absorption
-B: Convection
-C: Diffusion
-D: Refraction. ANSWER: -B: One of the primary factors contributing to heat loss for
divers is Convection
◎ What is a "squeeze"?. ANSWER: -A pressure imbalance that pushes tissues into an
air space.
◎ The Information System components are:
A: Dive Computer
B: Analogue Instruments
C: SSI DiveLog
D: All the above. ANSWER: -D: All of the above (Dive Computer, Analogue Instruments,
& SSI DiveLog)
◎ What does the Diving Control Board consist of, and what authority does it hold?.
ANSWER: -Consists of majority of active scientific divers and has autonomous &
absolute authority over the scientific diving program's operation
◎ The purpose of a BC is to:. ANSWER: --Provide surface floatation
-Maintain neutral buoyancy during the dive
-Control ascent and descent rates
◎ This major factor contributed to obtaining the scientific diving exemption. ANSWER: -
low accident/incident rate documented within the scientific diving community
◎ What is considered a repetative dive. ANSWER: -Any dive started more that 10
minutes and less than 12 hours after a previous scuba dive. If surface interval is less
than t0 minutes both dives must be considered as one dive.
◎ Under the SSI Equipment Service Program, your Delivery System should be serviced
and performance checked:
-A: every 3 years
-B: every 5 years
-C: every month
-D: every year. ANSWER: -D: every year
◎ Assuming a consistent air consumption rate, diving at a pressure of 4 ata will use __
as much air as diving at 2 ata.. ANSWER: -2 times
