Open Water Diver Flashcards

What should you do if you experience a muscle cramp in your leg while diving?

Answer: Stop, relax, stretch the cramped muscle, then continue or ascend

Stopping and stretching the cramped muscle while relaxing typically resolves leg cramps; you may then continue the dive or ascend as needed.

Which of the following is a symptom of decompression sickness (DCS)?

Answer: Joint pain, dizziness, or numbness after a dive

DCS symptoms include joint pain ('the bends'), dizziness, numbness, weakness, and rashes appearing after surfacing from a dive.

What is the first aid treatment for a diver suspected of having decompression sickness?

Answer: Administer 100% oxygen and seek emergency medical care

Administering 100% oxygen and getting the diver to emergency medical care (including hyperbaric treatment) is the correct first aid for DCS.

What does a 'kelp bed' environment require divers to be especially careful about?

Answer: Entanglement in the plant growth

Kelp beds pose an entanglement risk; divers should move slowly, keep equipment streamlined, and know how to calmly free themselves if tangled.

Which factor most affects how long a scuba tank will last during a dive?

Answer: Depth and breathing rate

Depth increases air consumption because each breath at depth uses more compressed air, and a higher breathing rate further depletes the tank faster.

What is the purpose of the 'rule of thirds' in cave or overhead diving?

Answer: Use one-third of air going in, one-third coming out, and keep one-third in reserve

The rule of thirds means using one-third of your air supply to enter, one-third to exit, and holding one-third in reserve for emergencies.

What effect does cold water have on a diver's air consumption?

Answer: It can increase air consumption as the body works harder to stay warm

Cold water causes the body to work harder to maintain core temperature, which can increase breathing rate and thus air consumption.