SSI Open Water Final Exam- 2026/2027
Edition – 53 Questions with 100% Verified
Correct Answers
53 Questions with Step-by-Step Answers | 100% Verified | A+ Graded Review
INTRODUCTION:
SSI Open Water Final Exam is your ultimate preparation tool for certification success. This
comprehensive guide covers essential diving physics, physiology, equipment, safety
procedures, decompression theory, and emergency responses based on SSI standards. With
53 Final Exam questions, detailed answers, and clear rationales, you will master equalization,
buoyancy, gas laws, and dive planning. Build confidence, avoid common mistakes, and dive
safely while preparing for real-world underwater adventures with your buddy confidently
Answers are in bold Green, with rationales after.
1. Which of the statements concerning sound transmission underwater is
incorrect?
A) Divers find it easy to talk to each other directly through water
B) Sound will travel farther underwater than in air
C) Divers find it difficult to locate the direction of a sound producing source
D) Sound travels four times faster underwater than in air
Rationale: Sound travels 4.3x faster in water and farther, but speech is unintelligible
and direction is nearly impossible to determine.
2. The absolute pressure expressed in terms of atmospheres absolute at 33 feet
in sea water is:
A) 1 ata
B) 2 ata
C) 3 ata
D) 4 ata
Rationale: Surface 1 ata + 33 ft seawater 1 ata = 2 ata absolute.
3. The condition in which certain colors are diminished as depth increases is
called:
A) Refraction
B) Turbidity
C) Absorption
D) Diffusion
, Rationale: Water absorbs light energy - red first at 15ft, then orange, yellow.
4. Earplugs:
A) Aid equalization of the middle ear
B) Protect against cold
C) Should never be worn while diving
D) Protect ears from squeeze
Rationale: Earplugs trap air, prevent equalization, cause ear squeeze.
5. Gauge pressure is defined as:
A) Hydrostatic pressure minus 1 ata
B) The pressure at the surface
C) Absolute pressure minus 1 ata
D) The depth reading on a gauge
Rationale: Gauge = Absolute - atmospheric pressure.
6. Sinus squeeze can be prevented by:
A) Not diving with a cold
B) Wearing earplugs
C) Tilting the diver's head back and forth
D) Valsalva technique alone when congested
Rationale: Congestion blocks sinuses. Best prevention is not diving congested.
7. The event that led to the use of the acronym SCUBA to describe diving was:
A) The development of the demand regulator in 1943 by Cousteau and Gagnan
B) The invention of the wetsuit
C) The US Navy Mark V helmet
D) The invention of fins
Rationale: Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus term came after the Aqua-
Lung.
8. Ear squeeze can be prevented by:
A) Relaxing only
B) Never diving with a cold only
C) All answers are correct - relaxing, never diving with a cold, rotating jaw,
swallowing or Valsalva
D) Rotating the jaw only
Rationale: All techniques aid equalization of middle ear.
9. The first symptom of a sinus squeeze is usually:
A) A dull pain deep within the head
B) A sharp pain above the eyes
C) A crushing pain high in the chest
D) A sharp pain at the base of the neck
Rationale: Frontal sinus pain presents above eyes.
10. If you experience pain in the ear during descent:
A) Stop the descent and ascend till the pain stops, then equalize again
B) Abort the dive immediately without equalizing
C) Place a finger in the ear canal and gently massage
D) Continue the descent while gently exhaling into the mask
Rationale: Never descend with pain. Stop, ascend slightly, equalize. If fails, abort.
Edition – 53 Questions with 100% Verified
Correct Answers
53 Questions with Step-by-Step Answers | 100% Verified | A+ Graded Review
INTRODUCTION:
SSI Open Water Final Exam is your ultimate preparation tool for certification success. This
comprehensive guide covers essential diving physics, physiology, equipment, safety
procedures, decompression theory, and emergency responses based on SSI standards. With
53 Final Exam questions, detailed answers, and clear rationales, you will master equalization,
buoyancy, gas laws, and dive planning. Build confidence, avoid common mistakes, and dive
safely while preparing for real-world underwater adventures with your buddy confidently
Answers are in bold Green, with rationales after.
1. Which of the statements concerning sound transmission underwater is
incorrect?
A) Divers find it easy to talk to each other directly through water
B) Sound will travel farther underwater than in air
C) Divers find it difficult to locate the direction of a sound producing source
D) Sound travels four times faster underwater than in air
Rationale: Sound travels 4.3x faster in water and farther, but speech is unintelligible
and direction is nearly impossible to determine.
2. The absolute pressure expressed in terms of atmospheres absolute at 33 feet
in sea water is:
A) 1 ata
B) 2 ata
C) 3 ata
D) 4 ata
Rationale: Surface 1 ata + 33 ft seawater 1 ata = 2 ata absolute.
3. The condition in which certain colors are diminished as depth increases is
called:
A) Refraction
B) Turbidity
C) Absorption
D) Diffusion
, Rationale: Water absorbs light energy - red first at 15ft, then orange, yellow.
4. Earplugs:
A) Aid equalization of the middle ear
B) Protect against cold
C) Should never be worn while diving
D) Protect ears from squeeze
Rationale: Earplugs trap air, prevent equalization, cause ear squeeze.
5. Gauge pressure is defined as:
A) Hydrostatic pressure minus 1 ata
B) The pressure at the surface
C) Absolute pressure minus 1 ata
D) The depth reading on a gauge
Rationale: Gauge = Absolute - atmospheric pressure.
6. Sinus squeeze can be prevented by:
A) Not diving with a cold
B) Wearing earplugs
C) Tilting the diver's head back and forth
D) Valsalva technique alone when congested
Rationale: Congestion blocks sinuses. Best prevention is not diving congested.
7. The event that led to the use of the acronym SCUBA to describe diving was:
A) The development of the demand regulator in 1943 by Cousteau and Gagnan
B) The invention of the wetsuit
C) The US Navy Mark V helmet
D) The invention of fins
Rationale: Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus term came after the Aqua-
Lung.
8. Ear squeeze can be prevented by:
A) Relaxing only
B) Never diving with a cold only
C) All answers are correct - relaxing, never diving with a cold, rotating jaw,
swallowing or Valsalva
D) Rotating the jaw only
Rationale: All techniques aid equalization of middle ear.
9. The first symptom of a sinus squeeze is usually:
A) A dull pain deep within the head
B) A sharp pain above the eyes
C) A crushing pain high in the chest
D) A sharp pain at the base of the neck
Rationale: Frontal sinus pain presents above eyes.
10. If you experience pain in the ear during descent:
A) Stop the descent and ascend till the pain stops, then equalize again
B) Abort the dive immediately without equalizing
C) Place a finger in the ear canal and gently massage
D) Continue the descent while gently exhaling into the mask
Rationale: Never descend with pain. Stop, ascend slightly, equalize. If fails, abort.
