PADI OPEN WATER DIVER COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FIRM A+
✔✔How do I breathe to reduce anxiety when under stress? - ✔✔Do NOT breathe faster
- keep breathing slowly
✔✔What are my 4 breathing rules as a scuba diver? - ✔✔1. Breathe continuously and
never hold your breath
2. Breathe slowly and deeply
3. Don't allow yourself to get winded or out of breath
4. If faced with a problem, stop, and reduce anxiety by breathing slowly and deeply
✔✔What is buoyancy? - ✔✔An upward force acting on an object in the water, canceling
the pull of gravity
✔✔What causes buoyancy? - ✔✔The upwards force is caused by the water displaced
by the object, and is equal to the weight of displaced water
✔✔positive buoyancy - ✔✔The object weighs less than the water it displaces, so it
floats
✔✔neutral buoyancy - ✔✔The object weighs the same as the water it displaces, neither
sinking nor floating
✔✔negative buoyancy - ✔✔The object weighs more than the water it displaces, so it
sinks
✔✔Why does salt water cause more buoyancy than fresh water? - ✔✔It has dissolved
minerals in it, so a given volume weighs more than fresh water
✔✔What 2 pieces of equipment do I normally use to control buoyancy? - ✔✔The weight
system and the BCD (buoyancy control device)
✔✔How does descending affect my buoyancy? - ✔✔The volume decreases, reducing
buoyancy, so you ADD air to the BC
✔✔How does ascending affect my buoyancy? - ✔✔The volume increases, adding
buoyancy, so you RELEASE air from the BC
✔✔How does breathing affect my buoyancy? - ✔✔Inhaling adds, exhaling reduces
✔✔What is the buddy system? - ✔✔Diving with another diver
, ✔✔What are the 3 most important considerations in choosing scuba equipment? -
✔✔Suitability, fit, and comfort
✔✔How do I generally care for scuba equipment? - ✔✔Rinse everything in fresh water
and dry it in the shade and store in a cool, dry place
✔✔Why do I need a mask? - ✔✔It provides an air space so your eyes can focus
because light behaves differently underwater
✔✔Why does my mask need to enclose my nose? - ✔✔Because the mask creates an
air space, you need your nose to blow in it to equalize it
✔✔Why do I need a snorkel? - ✔✔It saves your air supply while your face is in the
water
✔✔What are 2 basic fin styles? - ✔✔Full-foot and adjustable strap
✔✔What consists of your scuba kit? - ✔✔Buoyancy control device, regulator, air
cylinder, weight system
✔✔What 5 components make up a BCD? - ✔✔Inflatable bladder, harness/jacket and
cylinder band, low pressure inflator (LPI) mechanism, overpressure/quick dump exhaust
valve, weight system
✔✔inflatable bladder - ✔✔Controls buoyancy
✔✔harness/jacket and cylinder band - ✔✔Holds cylinder on back
✔✔low pressure inflator (LPI) mechanism - ✔✔Inflates bladder with air from your
cylinder with the touch of a button
✔✔overpressure/quick dump exhaust valve - ✔✔Vents air if the bladder is overfilled
✔✔weight system - ✔✔Contain weight pockets that you release and drop in case of
emergency
✔✔What 2 special maintenance considerations do BCDs have? - ✔✔Rinse the inside of
the bladder with fresh water, and store them partially inflated to keep the bladder from
sticking together
✔✔What 5 components make up a regulator? - ✔✔First stage, second stage, alternate
air source, low pressure inflator (LPI) hose, submersible pressure gauge (SPG)
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FIRM A+
✔✔How do I breathe to reduce anxiety when under stress? - ✔✔Do NOT breathe faster
- keep breathing slowly
✔✔What are my 4 breathing rules as a scuba diver? - ✔✔1. Breathe continuously and
never hold your breath
2. Breathe slowly and deeply
3. Don't allow yourself to get winded or out of breath
4. If faced with a problem, stop, and reduce anxiety by breathing slowly and deeply
✔✔What is buoyancy? - ✔✔An upward force acting on an object in the water, canceling
the pull of gravity
✔✔What causes buoyancy? - ✔✔The upwards force is caused by the water displaced
by the object, and is equal to the weight of displaced water
✔✔positive buoyancy - ✔✔The object weighs less than the water it displaces, so it
floats
✔✔neutral buoyancy - ✔✔The object weighs the same as the water it displaces, neither
sinking nor floating
✔✔negative buoyancy - ✔✔The object weighs more than the water it displaces, so it
sinks
✔✔Why does salt water cause more buoyancy than fresh water? - ✔✔It has dissolved
minerals in it, so a given volume weighs more than fresh water
✔✔What 2 pieces of equipment do I normally use to control buoyancy? - ✔✔The weight
system and the BCD (buoyancy control device)
✔✔How does descending affect my buoyancy? - ✔✔The volume decreases, reducing
buoyancy, so you ADD air to the BC
✔✔How does ascending affect my buoyancy? - ✔✔The volume increases, adding
buoyancy, so you RELEASE air from the BC
✔✔How does breathing affect my buoyancy? - ✔✔Inhaling adds, exhaling reduces
✔✔What is the buddy system? - ✔✔Diving with another diver
, ✔✔What are the 3 most important considerations in choosing scuba equipment? -
✔✔Suitability, fit, and comfort
✔✔How do I generally care for scuba equipment? - ✔✔Rinse everything in fresh water
and dry it in the shade and store in a cool, dry place
✔✔Why do I need a mask? - ✔✔It provides an air space so your eyes can focus
because light behaves differently underwater
✔✔Why does my mask need to enclose my nose? - ✔✔Because the mask creates an
air space, you need your nose to blow in it to equalize it
✔✔Why do I need a snorkel? - ✔✔It saves your air supply while your face is in the
water
✔✔What are 2 basic fin styles? - ✔✔Full-foot and adjustable strap
✔✔What consists of your scuba kit? - ✔✔Buoyancy control device, regulator, air
cylinder, weight system
✔✔What 5 components make up a BCD? - ✔✔Inflatable bladder, harness/jacket and
cylinder band, low pressure inflator (LPI) mechanism, overpressure/quick dump exhaust
valve, weight system
✔✔inflatable bladder - ✔✔Controls buoyancy
✔✔harness/jacket and cylinder band - ✔✔Holds cylinder on back
✔✔low pressure inflator (LPI) mechanism - ✔✔Inflates bladder with air from your
cylinder with the touch of a button
✔✔overpressure/quick dump exhaust valve - ✔✔Vents air if the bladder is overfilled
✔✔weight system - ✔✔Contain weight pockets that you release and drop in case of
emergency
✔✔What 2 special maintenance considerations do BCDs have? - ✔✔Rinse the inside of
the bladder with fresh water, and store them partially inflated to keep the bladder from
sticking together
✔✔What 5 components make up a regulator? - ✔✔First stage, second stage, alternate
air source, low pressure inflator (LPI) hose, submersible pressure gauge (SPG)
