1|P a g e
PADI OPEN WATER DIVER CERTIFICATION
ACTUAL EXAM PREP 2026 ALL QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS ALREADY
A GRADED |HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY
EXPERTS |NEW AND REVISED
What is "equalization" and how do I equalize as I descend? - ANSWER-
Do this by adding air to the air spaces as you descend. This keeps their
pressure equal with the outside pressure, so they stay at their normal
volume. This is called equalization. To equalize your ears and sinuses,
pinch your nose and blow gently against it. Some people find that
wiggling their jaws side to side and swallowing also works. To equalize
your mask, blow air into it through your nose as you descend
How often should I equalize? - ANSWER- Equalize every metre/few
feet, before you feel discomfort.
What should I do if I can't equalize? What can happen if I don't or can't
equalize and keep descending? - ANSWER- If you can't equalize, stop
your descent immediately. Signal your buddy(ies) or instructor. Ascend
slightly until the discomfort passes and try again. Be patient. After you
equalize, descend more slowly, equalizing more frequently. Continuing
to descend with unequalized air spaces can lead to serious injuries (fluid
in middle ear, eardrum rupture, vertigo, bruising around the mask).
Why should I equalize gently? - ANSWER- A forceful, extended
equalization can cause serious permanent injuries to your ears and
hearing
,2|P a g e
Why does congestion from a cold or allergy temporarily keep me from
diving? Why should I never dive with earplugs? - ANSWER- They can
cause congestion that might block normal air flow and may make
equalization of body air passages difficult or impossible. Using cold
medications is not recommended. They can wear off during a dive, and
can cause equalization problems as you ascend
What other body air spaces are affected by increasing pressure? How do
I equalize them? - ANSWER- It's very rare, but an air space can develop
in filled teeth and cause discomfort. If it happens, stop your descent
because you can't equalize this air space. See your dentist to correct the
air space; regular dental checkups help avoid this problem. A dry suit
holds a layer of air around your body during the dive. Increasing
pressure compresses this air, but you learn to equalize this space in the
PADI Dry Suit Diver course.
As I descend, increasing pressure affects my (choose all that apply): -
ANSWER- mask, ears, sinuses
A squeeze is caused by - ANSWER- a pressure imbalance between the
surrounding pressure and an air space
Equalization is the process of - ANSWER- adding air to an air space
I should equalize - ANSWER- Before I feel pain or discomfort
,3|P a g e
I'm descending and discover I can't equalize. The first thing I would do
is - ANSWER- stop my descent and signal my buddy/the instructor
I equalize gently because an extended, forceful equalization can cause
permanent damage to my ears and hearing. - ANSWER- TRUE
On a day I plan to go diving, I wake up with my sinuses blocked due to a
cold or allergy. I should - ANSWER- cancel the dive until I'm well
When scuba diving, normal breathing keeps your lungs equalized to the
surrounding pressure. - ANSWER- TRUE
What is the most important rule in scuba diving? - ANSWER- Breathe
continuously and never, ever hold your breath
What can happen if I don't follow the most important rule in scuba
diving? - ANSWER- If during ascent you were to hold your breath,
blocking your airway, your lungs would over expand. They would be
much like a balloon filled and sealed at depth, which expanding air
would burst during ascent. Expanding air can cause serious lung
overexpansion (lung rupture) injuries. For this reason, the most
important rule in scuba diving is to breathe continuously and never, ever
hold your breath.
What is a "reverse block"? - ANSWER- A reverse block (also called a
reverse squeeze) results when expanding air becomes trapped in a body
air space.
, 4|P a g e
What should I do if I feel discomfort in my ears, sinuses, stomach,
intestines or teeth while ascending? - ANSWER- immediately slow or
stop your ascent. Descend a metre/few feet to reduce the discomfort and
give the trapped air time to work its way out. Ascend more slowly,
giving the expanding gas time to exit.
The most important rule in scuba diving is to - ANSWER- Breathe
continuously and never hold your breath
Failure to follow the most important rule in scuba diving can cause
severe lung overexpansion injuries, which can result in paralysis or
death. - ANSWER- TRUE
During ascent I feel discomfort in my ears. I should - ANSWER- stop,
descend slightly and allow trapped air to work its way out
How does depth affect how long my air supply lasts? - ANSWER- the
deeper you are, the faster you use your air. How fast you use your air
follows the pressure/volume relationship (Your air supply lasts 1/3 as
long at 20 metres/66 feet (3 bar/ata) than at the surface (1 bar/ata), ¼ at
30 metres/99 feet and so on)
What's the most efficient way to breathe dense air underwater? -
ANSWER- Breathing slowly and deeply is the most efficient way to
breathe while scuba diving.
PADI OPEN WATER DIVER CERTIFICATION
ACTUAL EXAM PREP 2026 ALL QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS ALREADY
A GRADED |HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY
EXPERTS |NEW AND REVISED
What is "equalization" and how do I equalize as I descend? - ANSWER-
Do this by adding air to the air spaces as you descend. This keeps their
pressure equal with the outside pressure, so they stay at their normal
volume. This is called equalization. To equalize your ears and sinuses,
pinch your nose and blow gently against it. Some people find that
wiggling their jaws side to side and swallowing also works. To equalize
your mask, blow air into it through your nose as you descend
How often should I equalize? - ANSWER- Equalize every metre/few
feet, before you feel discomfort.
What should I do if I can't equalize? What can happen if I don't or can't
equalize and keep descending? - ANSWER- If you can't equalize, stop
your descent immediately. Signal your buddy(ies) or instructor. Ascend
slightly until the discomfort passes and try again. Be patient. After you
equalize, descend more slowly, equalizing more frequently. Continuing
to descend with unequalized air spaces can lead to serious injuries (fluid
in middle ear, eardrum rupture, vertigo, bruising around the mask).
Why should I equalize gently? - ANSWER- A forceful, extended
equalization can cause serious permanent injuries to your ears and
hearing
,2|P a g e
Why does congestion from a cold or allergy temporarily keep me from
diving? Why should I never dive with earplugs? - ANSWER- They can
cause congestion that might block normal air flow and may make
equalization of body air passages difficult or impossible. Using cold
medications is not recommended. They can wear off during a dive, and
can cause equalization problems as you ascend
What other body air spaces are affected by increasing pressure? How do
I equalize them? - ANSWER- It's very rare, but an air space can develop
in filled teeth and cause discomfort. If it happens, stop your descent
because you can't equalize this air space. See your dentist to correct the
air space; regular dental checkups help avoid this problem. A dry suit
holds a layer of air around your body during the dive. Increasing
pressure compresses this air, but you learn to equalize this space in the
PADI Dry Suit Diver course.
As I descend, increasing pressure affects my (choose all that apply): -
ANSWER- mask, ears, sinuses
A squeeze is caused by - ANSWER- a pressure imbalance between the
surrounding pressure and an air space
Equalization is the process of - ANSWER- adding air to an air space
I should equalize - ANSWER- Before I feel pain or discomfort
,3|P a g e
I'm descending and discover I can't equalize. The first thing I would do
is - ANSWER- stop my descent and signal my buddy/the instructor
I equalize gently because an extended, forceful equalization can cause
permanent damage to my ears and hearing. - ANSWER- TRUE
On a day I plan to go diving, I wake up with my sinuses blocked due to a
cold or allergy. I should - ANSWER- cancel the dive until I'm well
When scuba diving, normal breathing keeps your lungs equalized to the
surrounding pressure. - ANSWER- TRUE
What is the most important rule in scuba diving? - ANSWER- Breathe
continuously and never, ever hold your breath
What can happen if I don't follow the most important rule in scuba
diving? - ANSWER- If during ascent you were to hold your breath,
blocking your airway, your lungs would over expand. They would be
much like a balloon filled and sealed at depth, which expanding air
would burst during ascent. Expanding air can cause serious lung
overexpansion (lung rupture) injuries. For this reason, the most
important rule in scuba diving is to breathe continuously and never, ever
hold your breath.
What is a "reverse block"? - ANSWER- A reverse block (also called a
reverse squeeze) results when expanding air becomes trapped in a body
air space.
, 4|P a g e
What should I do if I feel discomfort in my ears, sinuses, stomach,
intestines or teeth while ascending? - ANSWER- immediately slow or
stop your ascent. Descend a metre/few feet to reduce the discomfort and
give the trapped air time to work its way out. Ascend more slowly,
giving the expanding gas time to exit.
The most important rule in scuba diving is to - ANSWER- Breathe
continuously and never hold your breath
Failure to follow the most important rule in scuba diving can cause
severe lung overexpansion injuries, which can result in paralysis or
death. - ANSWER- TRUE
During ascent I feel discomfort in my ears. I should - ANSWER- stop,
descend slightly and allow trapped air to work its way out
How does depth affect how long my air supply lasts? - ANSWER- the
deeper you are, the faster you use your air. How fast you use your air
follows the pressure/volume relationship (Your air supply lasts 1/3 as
long at 20 metres/66 feet (3 bar/ata) than at the surface (1 bar/ata), ¼ at
30 metres/99 feet and so on)
What's the most efficient way to breathe dense air underwater? -
ANSWER- Breathing slowly and deeply is the most efficient way to
breathe while scuba diving.
