Open Water Diver (OWD) Manual Introduction/Section One

As a newly certified PADI Open Water Diver, I will be trained to dive with a buddy as deep as

1. 10m/30ft

2. 18m/60ft

3. 30m/100ft

4. 40m/130ft

18m/60ft

T/F: Certain medical conditions can be hazardous while diving, so it is important to respond to all statements on the Diver Medical form honestly and completely

T

PADI courses are performance-based. This means that to be certified, I must

1. meet specific performance requirements

2. spend a given number of hours in training

3. simply pay for the course

1

T/F Failure to complete assigned independent study can create significant delays, and my instructor may have to cancel and reschedule sessions until I complete the assignment.

T

T/F When diving in a new dive enviroment, two benefits of seeking an orientation, supervision and/or additional training are that it helps me avoid problems and that it helps me enjoy the dive more.

T

As you descend in water the pressure

• increases

• decreases

• does not change

increases

A depth change of 10m/33ft causes a pressure change of

• 1 bar/ata

• 2 bar/ata

• 3 bar/ata

• 4 bar/ata

1 bar/ata

If you take 6 litres of air from the surface to 20m/66ft, the volume will be __ litres

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

2

The density of 6 litres of air from the surface to 20m/66ft would be __ the density at the surface

• one third

• one half

• three times

• four times

three times

A balloon fully inflated and sealed at 10m/33ft would probably __ during ascent to the surface.

• shrink (become smaller)

• burst

burst

As I descend, increasing pressure affects my (choose all that apply)

• mask

• ears

• sinuses

• skin

mask, ears, sinuses

A squeeze is caused by

• wearing my wet suit or other gear too tightly

• a pressure imbalance between the surrounding pressure and an air space

a pressure imbalance between the surrounding pressure and an air space

Equalization is the process of

• adding air to an air space

• removing air from an air space

• reducing the surrounding pressure

• increasing the surrounding pressure

• adding air to an air space

I should equalize

• when I feel pain or discomfort

• only if I cant tolerate the pain or discomfort

• before i feel pain or discomfort

• when i reach the bottom

before i feel pain or discomfort

Im descending and discover I cant equalize. The first thing I would do is

• equalize more forcefully

• stop my descent and signal my buddy/the instructor

• slow my descent and see if the problem corrects itself

• stop my descent and signal my buddy/the instructor

On a day I plan to go diving, I wake up with my sinuses blocked due to a cold or allergy. I should

• take an approved decongestant so I will be able to equalize

• plan to take longer as i descend

• cancel the dive until im well

• cancel the dive until im well

T/F I equalize gently because an extended, forceful equalization can cause permanent damage to my ears and hearing

T

T/F When scuba diving, normal breathing keeps your lungs equalized to the surrounding pressure

T

The most important rule in scuba diving is to

• always dive with a buddy

• breathe continuously and never hold your breath

• check your air supply every five minutes

• breathe continuously and never hold your breath

T/F Failure to follow the most important rule in scuba diving can cause severe lung overexpansion injuries, which can result in paralysis or death

T

During ascent I feel discomfort in my ears. I should

• continue my descent at a slightly faster rate

• stop, descend slowly and allow trapped air to work its way out

• use a decongestant before my next dive

• equalize by blowing gently across blocked nostrils

• stop, descend slowly and allow trapped air to work its way out

My buddy and I descend to 12m/40ft. I would expect to use my air __ at 6m/20ft.

• slower than

• at the same rate as

• faster than

faster than

The most efficient way to breathe dense air underwater is to breathe

• shallowly and slowly

• shallowly and rapidly

• deeply and slowly

• deeply and rapidly

• deeply and slowly

T/F My body responds to anxiety with increased breathing but slow breathing helps reduce anxiety

T

Which of the following are among the breathing rules I follow as a diver? (Choose all that apply)

• Breathe continuously and never, ever, hold my breath

• Breathe slowly and deeply

• Do not allow myself to get winded or out-of-breath

• if faced with a problem, stop, then maintain or restore slow, deep breathing

• Breathe continuously and never, ever, hold my breath

• Breathe slowly and deeply

• Do not allow myself to get winded or out-of-breath

• if faced with a problem, stop, then maintain or restore slow, deep breathing

T/F In recreational diving, the buddy system means diving with another diver or divers in a team that provides assistance and safety benefits

T

Overall benefits of the buddy system include (Choose all that apply)

• practicality

• safety

• fun

• practicality

• safety

• fun

The three most important considerations in choosing scuba equipment are suitability, fit and __.

• cost and features

• color and style

• manufacturer

• comfort

• comfort

T/F Getting the service my gear needs may be a consideration when choosing equipment

T

Before each use, I should __ my equipment

• inspect

• wash

• warm

• dry

• inspect

I need a mask because

• i will inhale water without it

• my eyes must be in air to focus

• my eyes must be in air to focus

My mask encloses my nose so I can

• equalize the mask

• suck the mask into place

• equalize the mask

T/F From among masks that fit me, I should choose a mask that fits as far away from my face as possible.

F

I want to adjust my mask so the strap rests

• below my ears, above the neck

• over my ears, below the crown of my head

• above my ears, over the crown of my head

• above my ears, over the crown of my head

T/F Snorkels are standard equipment for scuba diving because they allow my to breathe with my face in the water, or in rough conditions, without wasting my scuba air, especially when I have little scuba air remaining.

T

Some scuba divers prefer a snorkel with a flexible lower portion so it drops out of the way when not in use

T

When my snorkel is in my mouth, the tip should be

• above my forehead

• over the crown of my head

• at the base of my skull

• over the crown of my head

T/F Fins provide a large surface area so my legs an push against the water effectively

T

Two basic fin styles are __ fins

• large blade and small blade

• freshwater and marine

• vented and split

• adjustable and full-foot

• adjustable and full-foot

My primary considerations when choosing fins are fit and

• blade size

• material

• splits

• vents

• blade size

T/F To prepare adjustable fins, I should adjust the straps wearing my wet suit boots.

T

T/F Theres no real benefit to choosing the components of my scuba kit as an integrated package.

F

T/F The LPI mechanism inflates the BCD with air from my scuba cylinder

T

T/F My BCD should have adequate capacity to easily float my equipment and me at the surface

T

My BCD should fit

• very tightly and restrict breathing when fully inflated

• fit snugly but not restrict breathing when fully inflated

• fit snugly but not restrict breathing when fully inflated

Y/N My buddy is rinsing a BCD and partially fills the bladder with water. Is this consistent with BCD care

Y

The most important consideration when choosing a regulator is

• ease of breathing

• color

• dive/predive switch

• adjustable second stage

• ease of breathing

When choosing an alternate second stage, a primary consideration involves deciding

• whether to let it dangle

• where to secure it

• between independence and simplicity

• whether you really need one

• where to secure it

T/F My SGP is always part of my dive computer

F

T/F My local dive pro will usually set up my regulator components

T

When setting up and wearing my kit, the alternate air source

• dangles on either side

• secures in the triangle formed by my hips and chin

• goes in a pocket on my left

• goes in a pocket on my right

• secures in the triangle formed by my hips and chin

T/F Regulators need periodic overhauls, typically every year to two years

T

The __ is a safety device that relieves accidental overpressure by releasing air before reaching the pressure at which the cylinder would fail

• DIN valve

• burst disk

• cylinder alloy

• burst disk

T/F A cylinder with a high working pressure always holds more air than a cylinder with a lower working pressure

F

Y/N Im renting a scuba cylinder at a dive resort. Among the cylinders for hire, some have green and yellow bands that read “Nitrox.” As a PADI Open Water Diver with no other training or instructor supervision, am I qualified to use one of these cylinders?

N

I bring a cylinder aboard a dive boat in preparation for a trip out to a nearby reef. The normal procedure would be to

• stand the cylinder on the deck

• lay the cylinder on the deck

• secure the cylinder in a rack

• secure the cylinder in a rack

Scuba cylinders require pressure testing __ and visual inspection __.

• annually, annually

• annually, every 2-5 years

• every 2-5 years, annually

• every 2-5 years, every 2-5 years

• every 2-5 years, annually

I should have my scuba cylinder filled

• from any compressed air source

• with pure oxygen

• with pure nitrogen

• only by reputable scuba air stations

• only by reputable scuba air stations

The most important feature in my weight system is its

• comfort

• quick release

• size

• trim

• quick release

T/F I must be able to quickly release enough weight to float reliably in an emergency, but not necessarily all my weight.

T

Trim means having the right __ of weight

• distribution

• amount

• shape

• distribution

T/F One reason for wearing more than one weight system is that it is sometimes easier than handling a single, heavier one

T

Accessory weights

• must have quick releases

• can help you adjust your trim

• require special training

• can help you adjust your trim