Confined & Open Water Skills Flashcards

During an ascent, a diver fine-tunes their buoyancy primarily with their lungs. What is the correct technique to do this while maintaining a controlled ascent rate?

Answer: Exhale fully to descend slightly and inhale fully to rise slightly.

Proper buoyancy control during ascent involves using your lungs. By breathing in a slow, relaxed manner, a diver can make small adjustments to their buoyancy. Inhaling deeply will cause a slight rise, and exhaling fully will cause a slight descent, allowing for fine-tuned control without relying solely on the BCD.

You are performing a Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent (CESA) from a depth of 9 meters/30 feet. Which of the following actions is critical for preventing a lung-overexpansion injury?

Answer: Making a continuous 'ahhh' sound throughout the ascent.

During a CESA, the diver is ascending without breathing from scuba. As they ascend, the air in their lungs expands due to decreasing ambient pressure. To prevent a lung-overexpansion injury, it is crucial to release this expanding air by exhaling continuously. Making a continuous sound, like 'ahhh', ensures the airway remains open and air is constantly escaping.

A diver signals that they are out of air. You are the donor. After presenting your alternate air source and seeing them begin to breathe, what is the next critical step for both divers to maintain control and prepare for ascent?

Answer: Signal 'OK' and then 'up' while establishing and maintaining physical contact.

After establishing a stable breathing pattern on the alternate air source, the divers must communicate their intentions. The standard procedure is to signal 'OK' to confirm the situation is under control, then signal 'up' to begin the ascent. Establishing and maintaining physical contact (like a 'Roman handshake' grip) is vital for control and communication during the shared ascent.

Which of the following is a key performance requirement for the PADI skill of hovering, demonstrating mastery of buoyancy control?

Answer: Achieving neutral buoyancy by rising and falling gently with each breath for at least 30 seconds.

The skill of hovering demonstrates fine buoyancy control. A key component is using lung volume to make minor adjustments. The diver should be able to remain at a constant depth, rising slightly on inhalation and falling slightly on exhalation, for a sustained period (PADI requires at least 30 seconds) without needing to kick or use their hands.

When performing the five-point descent, what is the correct sequence of the first three steps before you begin to deflate your BCD?

Answer: Signal, Orientate, Regulator in

The PADI five-point descent follows a specific sequence for safety and control. The first three steps are: 1) Signal to your buddy that you are ready to descend. 2) Orient yourself to your surroundings and the descent line/area. 3) Switch from your snorkel to your regulator. Only after these steps do you check your time and then deflate your BCD to begin the descent.

During a confined water session, a student diver is practicing removing and replacing their mask underwater. What is the most common problem instructors watch for immediately after the student puts the mask back on their face?

Answer: The student exhaling through their mouth instead of their nose to clear the mask.

A very common error for new divers when clearing a mask is to continue exhaling through their mouth out of habit, which does not displace the water inside the mask. The correct procedure requires the diver to press the top of the mask frame against their forehead, look up, and exhale through their nose to force the water out from the bottom of the mask skirt.