Open Water Diver Final Exam 2026–2027 | Practice Questions,
Answers & Detailed Rationales | Scuba Diving Certification Prep
This Study Guide Includes
➢PADI Open Water Diver Final Exam practice questions
➢Answers with detailed rationales
➢Diving physics, pressure, and depth concepts
, PADI Open Water Diver Final Exam 2026–2027 |
Practice Questions, Answers & Detailed Rationales |
Scuba Diving Certification Prep
1. As a newly certified PADI Open Water Diver, I will be trained to dive
with a buddy as deep as:
A) 12 metres/40 feet
B) 18 metres/60 feet
C) 30 metres/100 feet
D) 40 metres/130 feet
Answer: B
Rationale: The PADI Open Water Diver certification qualifies you to dive
to a maximum recommended depth of 18 metres/60 feet. This is the
standard depth limit for recreational diving at this certification level.
Deeper diving requires additional training (e.g., Advanced Open Water).
2. As you descend in water, the pressure:
A) decreases
B) remains the same
C) increases
D) fluctuates randomly
,Answer: C
Rationale: Pressure increases with depth in water. This is a
fundamental principle of diving physics. The weight of the water above
you increases as you go deeper, causing the surrounding pressure to
increase.
3. A depth change of 10 metres/33 feet causes a pressure change of:
A) 0.5 bar/ata
B) 1 bar/ata
C) 2 bar/ata
D) 3 bar/ata
Answer: B
Rationale: In seawater, every 10 metres/33 feet of depth change
results in a 1 bar/ata (atmosphere) pressure change. This is a key
relationship for understanding pressure effects on air spaces and gas
consumption.
4. If you take 6 liters of air from the surface to 20 metres/66 feet, the
volume will be:
A) 6 litres
B) 4 litres
, C) 3 litres
D) 2 litres
Answer: D
Rationale: According to Boyle's Law, as pressure increases, gas volume
decreases proportionally. At 20 metres/66 feet, the pressure is 3
bar/ata (1 bar at surface + 2 bar from depth). Therefore, 6 litres ÷ 3 = 2
litres. The density of the air would be three times the density at the
surface.
5. A balloon fully inflated and sealed at 10 metres/33 feet would
probably during ascent to the surface:
A) shrink
B) remain the same size
C) burst
D) fill with water
Answer: C
Rationale: As you ascend, pressure decreases, causing the air inside the
balloon to expand. A balloon fully inflated at 10 metres/33 feet
contains air at 2 bar/ata. At the surface (1 bar/ata), that air would