PADI Open Water Diver Final Exam A –
Practice Questions & Answers/PADI
OPEN WATER Final Exam A with 100%
Correct Answers 2026
The PADI Open Water Diver Final Exam is a key step in your
certification process. Students have two attempts to achieve a
passing score of 75% or greater on the Final Exam. This practice
set reflects the core topics tested, including diving physics,
equipment, safety procedures, and dive planning, based on
verified PADI training materials.
Question 1
If an object is neutrally buoyant (does not sink or float) in fresh
water, the same object placed into salt water would:
A) Sink
B) Either sink or float
C) Do nothing
D) Float
,Answer: D. Float
Rationale: Salt water is heavier than fresh water because of
dissolved minerals, which creates a greater upward force
(buoyancy). An object that is neutrally buoyant in fresh water
would float in salt water because of this increased upward force.
Question 2
You blow up a balloon, tie it off, and take it to the bottom of the
swimming pool. What will happen to the balloon and the air inside
it?
A) The balloon will get bigger, and the air will be less dense.
B) The balloon will get smaller, and the air will be more dense.
C) The balloon will get bigger, and the air will be more dense.
D) The balloon will get smaller, and the air will be less dense.
Answer: B. The balloon will get smaller, and the air will be more
dense.
Rationale: As you descend, water pressure increases, reducing the
volume of the air inside the balloon (Boyle's Law). This makes the
air more dense as the molecules are pushed closer together.
Question 3
, You turn a glass upside down, trap the air in it by putting it in
water, and then take the glass down to 10 meters. The air space
would:
A) Become half the size it was at the surface
B) Not change in size
C) Become 1/3 the size it was at the surface
D) Become 2/3 the size it was at the surface
Answer: A. Become half the size it was at the surface.
Rationale: At 10 meters (33 feet), the pressure is 2 atmospheres
absolute (ATA) – 1 ATA from the water plus 1 ATA from the
atmosphere. This is twice the surface pressure, so the volume of
an air space is reduced to one-half.
Question 4
If my cylinder of air lasts 60 minutes while I am at the surface
breathing normally, assuming all else is the same, how long will it
last at 20 meters breathing normally?
A) 60 minutes
B) 20 minutes
C) 15 minutes
D) 12 minutes
Answer: B. 20 minutes
Rationale: At 20 meters, you are at 3 ATA (2 from water + 1 from
atmosphere). You consume air at a rate equal to the ambient
Practice Questions & Answers/PADI
OPEN WATER Final Exam A with 100%
Correct Answers 2026
The PADI Open Water Diver Final Exam is a key step in your
certification process. Students have two attempts to achieve a
passing score of 75% or greater on the Final Exam. This practice
set reflects the core topics tested, including diving physics,
equipment, safety procedures, and dive planning, based on
verified PADI training materials.
Question 1
If an object is neutrally buoyant (does not sink or float) in fresh
water, the same object placed into salt water would:
A) Sink
B) Either sink or float
C) Do nothing
D) Float
,Answer: D. Float
Rationale: Salt water is heavier than fresh water because of
dissolved minerals, which creates a greater upward force
(buoyancy). An object that is neutrally buoyant in fresh water
would float in salt water because of this increased upward force.
Question 2
You blow up a balloon, tie it off, and take it to the bottom of the
swimming pool. What will happen to the balloon and the air inside
it?
A) The balloon will get bigger, and the air will be less dense.
B) The balloon will get smaller, and the air will be more dense.
C) The balloon will get bigger, and the air will be more dense.
D) The balloon will get smaller, and the air will be less dense.
Answer: B. The balloon will get smaller, and the air will be more
dense.
Rationale: As you descend, water pressure increases, reducing the
volume of the air inside the balloon (Boyle's Law). This makes the
air more dense as the molecules are pushed closer together.
Question 3
, You turn a glass upside down, trap the air in it by putting it in
water, and then take the glass down to 10 meters. The air space
would:
A) Become half the size it was at the surface
B) Not change in size
C) Become 1/3 the size it was at the surface
D) Become 2/3 the size it was at the surface
Answer: A. Become half the size it was at the surface.
Rationale: At 10 meters (33 feet), the pressure is 2 atmospheres
absolute (ATA) – 1 ATA from the water plus 1 ATA from the
atmosphere. This is twice the surface pressure, so the volume of
an air space is reduced to one-half.
Question 4
If my cylinder of air lasts 60 minutes while I am at the surface
breathing normally, assuming all else is the same, how long will it
last at 20 meters breathing normally?
A) 60 minutes
B) 20 minutes
C) 15 minutes
D) 12 minutes
Answer: B. 20 minutes
Rationale: At 20 meters, you are at 3 ATA (2 from water + 1 from
atmosphere). You consume air at a rate equal to the ambient
