PADI - Professional Association of Diving Instructors Recreational Dive Planner (RDP) Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A diver completes a dive to 60 feet for 40 minutes. After a surface interval of 1 hour and 30 minutes, what is their new pressure group, and what is the adjusted no-decompression limit (ANDL) for a subsequent dive to 50 feet?
- Pressure Group E, ANDL is 76 minutes (Correct answer)
- Pressure Group D, ANDL is 80 minutes
- Pressure Group Q, ANDL is 60 minutes
- Pressure Group F, ANDL is 69 minutes
Correct answer: Pressure Group E, ANDL is 76 minutes
Following the RDP table: A 60-foot dive for 40 minutes results in Pressure Group Q. Using Table 2 (Surface Interval Credit Table), a 1 hour 30 minute surface interval moves the diver from pressure group Q to pressure group E. Then, using Table 3 (Repetitive Dive Timetable), for a 50-foot dive, pressure group E corresponds to a residual nitrogen time (RNT) of 24 minutes and an adjusted no-decompression limit (ANDL) of 76 minutes.
Question 2: What does the Pressure Group designator (e.g., 'G', 'K', 'W') represent after a dive when using the Recreational Dive Planner?
- The diver's experience level.
- The amount of air remaining in the cylinder.
- The theoretical amount of residual nitrogen in the diver's body. (Correct answer)
- The recommended minimum surface interval time in minutes.
Correct answer: The theoretical amount of residual nitrogen in the diver's body.
The letter, or Pressure Group, assigned at the end of a dive is a way to represent the theoretical amount of nitrogen that remains in a diver's body tissues. This residual nitrogen must be accounted for when planning any subsequent dives.
Question 3: According to the Recreational Dive Planner rules, which of the following situations requires a mandatory safety stop at 15 feet for 3 minutes?
- Any dive deeper than 40 feet.
- A dive to 80 feet for 28 minutes. (Correct answer)
- Only when a diver feels they ascended too quickly.
- All dives that last longer than 30 minutes.
Correct answer: A dive to 80 feet for 28 minutes.
A safety stop is required for any dive to 100 feet or deeper, or when the dive comes within three pressure groups of the no-decompression limit. A dive to 80 feet has a no-decompression limit of 30 minutes (Pressure Group O). A 28-minute dive results in Pressure Group N, which is within three pressure groups (N, M, L) of the limit, thus requiring a safety stop.
Question 4: A diver plans a first dive to 70 feet for 30 minutes. They want to make a second dive to 60 feet for 25 minutes. What is the MINIMUM surface interval they must take between dives?
- 1 hour 4 minutes (Correct answer)
- 30 minutes
- 2 hours 11 minutes
- 45 minutes
Correct answer: 1 hour 4 minutes
First dive: 70ft for 30 min results in Pressure Group N. Second dive: To dive to 60ft for 25 min, the diver needs an Adjusted No Decompression Limit (ANDL) of at least 25 minutes. On Table 3, at 60ft, the lowest pressure group that allows a 25-minute dive is Pressure Group J (ANDL of 28 min). To get from Pressure Group N to J, Table 2 shows a minimum surface interval of 1 hour and 4 minutes.
Question 5: If a diver accidentally exceeds their no-decompression limit by 4 minutes on a dive, what is the correct emergency procedure according to the PADI RDP?
- Surface immediately and breathe pure oxygen for 15 minutes.
- Descend to half the dive depth for 8 minutes before surfacing.
- Perform a mandatory 8-minute decompression stop at 15 feet and stay out of the water for at least 6 hours. (Correct answer)
- Ascend to 15 feet for a 3-minute safety stop and do not dive for 24 hours.
Correct answer: Perform a mandatory 8-minute decompression stop at 15 feet and stay out of the water for at least 6 hours.
If a no-decompression limit is exceeded by 5 minutes or less, the diver must make a mandatory emergency decompression stop at 15 feet for 8 minutes. After surfacing, the diver should not dive for at least 6 hours.
Question 6: Which of the following is a fundamental rule for planning repetitive dives using the Recreational Dive Planner?
- The second dive must always be at least 20 feet shallower than the first.
- Each successive dive should be planned to a shallower depth than the previous dive. (Correct answer)
- The surface interval must always be longer than the bottom time of the first dive.
- Repetitive dives are only permitted if the first dive was less than 60 feet.
Correct answer: Each successive dive should be planned to a shallower depth than the previous dive.
A key rule for planning repetitive dives with the RDP is to always plan your deepest dive first. Each subsequent dive should be to an equal or, ideally, a shallower depth to help manage nitrogen loading.
PADI - Professional Association of Diving Instructors Recreational Dive Planner (RDP) Questions and Answers
A diver completes a dive to 60 feet for 40 minutes.
After a surface interval of 1 hour and 30 minutes, what is their new pressure group, and what is the adjusted no-decompression limit (ANDL) for a subsequent dive to 50 feet?