DIVERS DICTIONARY

-A-
Absolute Pressure – Pressure calculated by using a vacuum as the zero point and including the
gauge and atmospheric pressure in the calculation.

Adrenaline – a hormone secreted by the adrenal gland into the circulatory system which
stimulates the heart, blood vessels and respiratory system.

Air – a gas mixture containing 21% oxygen, 78% nitrogen, and 1% other gases (mainly argon);
compressed air is used for recreational scuba diving.

Air compressor – a machine that compresses or pressurizes air; for scuba purposes, air is
compressed from the atmospheric level (14.7 psi at sea level) to the capacity of the tank, usually
between 2500-3000 psi.

Air embolism – a condition that occurs when air enters the bloodstream through ruptured
alveoli into the pulmonary capillaries. The air in the bloodstream then forms bubbles, which
can block blood flow to the body’s tissues.

Air pressure – the force per unit area exerted by the weight of air; at sea level the air pressure
is 14.7 psi. (air pressure decreases with altitude.)

Algorithm – a set of equations incorporated into diving computers in order to compute nitrogen
uptake and elimination from changes in depth and elapsed time.

Alternate air source – a device a diver can use in place of the primary regulator, in order to
make an ascent while still breathing normally.

Ambient pressure – the surrounding pressure; on land, comes from the weight of the
atmosphere (see air pressure), at depth, comes from the weight of the water plus the weight of
the atmosphere.

Analog instrument – device that uses a needle moving around a dial to provide information.

Archimedes principle – any object wholly or partly immersed in fluid will be buoyed up by a
force equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object.

Argon – an inert gas that makes up less than one percent of air (sometimes used as a drysuit
gas).

Arterial gas embolism – the condition characterized by bubble(s) of air from a ruptured lung
segment under pressure; the bubbles enter the pulmonary circulation and travel to the arterial
circulation, where they may cause a stroke.

Ascent / Descent line – line suspended from a boat or a buoy for a diver to use to control their
rate of ascent or descent.
Asthma – a common condition manifested by narrowing of air passages within the lungs. One
reason for the narrowing is excess mucous in the airways.

ATA – atmosphere absolute; 1 ata is the atmospheric pressure at sea level; is measured with a
barometer.

Atmosphere – the blanket of air surrounding the earth, from sea level to outer space. Also, a
unit of pressure; “one atmosphere” is pressure of the atmosphere at sea level, i.e., 760 mm Hg.
Two atmospheres is twice this pressure, 1520 mm Hg, etc. Abbreviated atm.

Atmospheric pressure – pressure of the atmosphere at a given altitude or location.

-B-

Backscatter – light from a flash or strobe reflecting back from particles in the lens’ field of
view causing specks of light to appear in the photo. Backscatter can be a common problem in
underwater photography because particulate matter can be very dense and include plankton
which would otherwise be near transparent. Backscatter can be reduced and in many cases
removed altogether using various photographic techniques.

Barometric pressure – same as atmospheric pressure with the exception that it varies with the
weather.

Barotrauma – any disease or injury due to unequal pressures between a space inside the body
and the ambient pressure, or between two spaces within the body; examples include arterial gas
embolism and pneumothorax.

BC or BCD – see buoyancy compensator.

Bends – a form of decompression sickness caused by dissolved nitrogen leaving the tissues too
quickly on ascent; is manifested by pain, usually in the limbs and joints; “the bends” is
sometimes used to signify any manifestation of decompression sickness.

Body suit – garment that provides full length abrasion protection.

Bottom time – the time between descending below the surface to the beginning of ascent.

Boyle’s law – at a fixed temperature for a fixed mass of gas, pressure times volume is a constant
value.

Breath-hold diving – diving without life support apparatus, while holding one’s breath.

Bubble – a collection of air or gas surrounded by a permeable membrane through which gases
can enter or exit.
Buoyancy – the upward force exerted on an object in liquid, whether the object sinks or floats.
Objects that float are positively buoyant, those that sink are negatively buoyant and those that
stay where placed are neutrally buoyant.

Buoyancy compensating device – see buoyancy compensator

Buoyancy compensator – an inflatable vest worn by the diver that can be automatically or
orally inflated to help control buoyancy; abbreviated BC or BCD (Buoyancy Control Device).

Buoyancy control – the practice of controlling one’s buoyancy.

Buoyancy – in diving, the upward force on an object produced by the surrounding water in
which it is immersed, due to the pressure difference of the water between the top and the bottom
of the object. The net upward buoyancy force is equal to the magnitude of the weight of water
displaced by the body. This force enables the object to float or at least to seem lighter.

Burst disk – thin copper disk held in place with a vented plug. Designed to rupture if tank
pressure is greatly exceeded.

-C-

C-Card – refers to a divers certification card for a specific level of achievement.

Capillary depth gauge – made up of a small tube. Uses Boyle’s law to determine depth.

Carbon dioxide – CO2; an odorless, tasteless gas that is a byproduct of metabolism; is excreted
by the lungs in exhaled air.

Carbon dioxide toxicity – problems resulting from buildup of CO2 in the blood; they may
range from headache and shortness of breath, all the way to sudden blackout.

Carbon monoxide – CO; odorless, tasteless, highly poisonous gas given off by incomplete
combustion of hydrocarbon fuels.

Carbon monoxide poisoning – CO bonds with hemoglobin and prevents blood cells from
carrying oxygen. This causes oxygen deprivation in the tissues and can even cause death.

Carbon monoxide toxicity – illness from inhaling excess CO; problems may range from
headache to unconsciousness and death.

Cave diving – a type of technical diving in which specialized equipment is used to enable the
exploration of natural or artificial caves which are at least partially filled with water. Caves
often have a wide range of unique physical features, such as stalactites and stalagmites and can
contain unique wildlife not found elsewhere.

Charles’s Law – the amount of change in either volume or pressure of a given volume of gas
is directly proportional to the change in the absolute temperature.
Closed circuit scuba – apparatus designed to allow divers to re-breathe exhaled air after
removal of CO2 and addition of supplemental O2. In contrast to “open circuit”, closed circuit
scuba is noiseless and produces no bubbles.

Compartment – a theoretical division of the body with an arbitrarily assigned half time for
nitrogen uptake and elimination. In designing decompression tables the body is divided into a
finite number of compartments for purposes of making calculations.

Computer – a device that monitors nitrogen in the body during a dive through mathematical
algorithms. The device allows divers to multilevel dive and extend bottom time beyond what a
dive table allows.

Coral – invertebrates that secrete an internal, hard skeletal structure composed of calcium
carbonate, which is absorbed from the surrounding water.

Core temperature – the internal temperature of the body. 98.6 F is the normal temperature of
the human body. Deviation from this temperature even a few degrees could be life threatening.

-D-

Dalton’s Law – the total pressure exerted by a mixture of gases is equal to the sum of the
pressures of each of the different gases making up the mixture. Each gas acting as if it were
alone were present and occupied the total volume.

Decompression – any change from one ambient pressure to a lower ambient pressure, always
results in a reduction of gas pressures within the body.

Decompression dive – any dive where the diver is exposed to a higher pressure than when the
dive began, the decompression occurs as the diver ascends.

Decompression stop – on ascent from a dive, a specified time spent at a specific depth, for
purposes of nitrogen off-gassin. When not mandatory it is called a safety stop.

Decompression illness – DCI; a term to encompass all bubble-related problems arising from
decompression, including both decompression sickness and arterial gas embolism.

Decompression sickness – DCS; a general term for all problems resulting from nitrogen
leaving the body when ambient pressure is lowered. Can be divided into Type I
(musculoskeletal and/or skin manifestations only) or the more serious Type II (neurologic,
cardiac, and/or pulmonary manifestations).

Deep diving – for recreational divers a deep dive is a dive below 60 feet.

Depth gauge – a device that indicates how far a diver is below the surface.
Dive computer – device that constantly measures depth and time, based on a pre-programmed
algorithm, the computer calculates tissue nitrogen uptake and elimination in several theoretical
compartments and provides a continuous readout of the dive profile, including: depth, elapsed
time of dive, duration at current depth before decompression becomes mandatory, and a
warning if the rate of ascent is too fast.

Dive Flag – may be either a red rectangle with a white diagonal stripe or a blue and white
double tailed pennant. Flags are used to warn watercraft to stay away because there are divers
below.

Dive lights – specially designed underwater lights used for night, cave or wreck diving.

Dive tables – a printed collection of dive times for specific depths, by which the diver can avoid
contracting DCS. Most tables are based on Haldanian theory for nitrogen uptake and
elimination.

Diver propulsion vehicle – motorized vehicle used by divers to cover long distances
underwater without having to kick.

Dry suit – a water-tight garment that keeps the diver’s body warm by providing insulation with
a layer of gas, such as air; for diving in waters that are too cold for comfortable wetsuit
protection, usually below 65°F.

-E-

EAN – enriched air nitrogen; nitrox.

Equalization – the act of forcing air into an open space to offset increasing water pressure.

Eustachian tube – a short tube connecting the back of the nose to the middle ear. If clogged,
by mucus, equalization is next to impossible.

Exposure protection – garment worn to prevent decreases in core body temperature and
abrasions. Protection can range from thin body suits to heavy dry suits.

-F-

First stage – regulator attached to the scuba tank that lowers the tank pressure to ambient
pressure plus a pre-determined pressure (e.g., ambient + 140 psi).

Free diving -diving without any scuba or other equipment and synonymous with breath-hold
diving.

FSW – feet of sea water; used to indicate either an actual depth, or just a pressure equal to that
depth (e.g., in an hyperbaric chamber).
-G-

Gas absorption and elimination – dissolved gases such as nitrogen are absorbed into the blood
and tissues during the course of the dive. The level of saturation depends on the depth of the
dive. The elimination of these gases is very important in preventing decompression sickness.
The length of time required for elimination depends on the duration and depth of the dive.

Gas law – laws that predict how gases will behave with changes in pressure, temperature and
volume.

Gauge pressure – pressure exclusive of atmospheric pressure, when diving, gauge pressure is
due solely to the water pressure.

-H-

Half time – half the time it takes for a dissolved gas in a tissue (such as nitrogen) to equilibrate
to a new pressure, or to reach full saturation at a new pressure. Theoretical tissue half times are
used in designing dive tables and algorithms for dive computers.

Haldanian – related to Haldane’s theory that nitrogen is absorbed up and released in an

exponential manner during a dive, and that there is some safe ratio of pressure change for ascent.

Heliox – mixture of helium and oxygen, usually reserved for very deep diving.

Helium – second lightest gas; does not cause problems of narcosis to the same extent as seen
with nitrogen, and is therefore used for very deep diving.

Henry’s Law – the amount of any given gas that will dissolve in a liquid at a given temperature
is a function of the partial pressure of the gas in contact with the liquid and the solubility
coefficient of the gas in the liquid.

Hoods – garment worn over the head to reduce thermal loss.

Hydrogen – an inert gas, and lightest of all the elements, has been used in experimental diving
situations.

Hydrostatic test – pressure test in which the tank is filled with water instead of air and raised
to five thirds the maximum working pressure, causing the water to expand and be displaced.

Hyperbaric chamber – air-tight chamber that can simulate the ambient pressure at altitude or
at depth, is used for treating decompression illness.

Hypercapnia – a higher than normal PO2 level in the blood.

Hyperthermia – a body temperature warmer than normal, less common in diving than
hypothermia, but can occur from overheating in a wet suit.
Hyperventilation – over breathing to the extent that the blood carbon dioxide level is lowered,
may lead to tingling in fingers and dizziness.

Hypothermia – a body temperature colder than normal (98.6°F), severe problems start to
manifest when body temperature reaches about 95oF.

Hypoventilation – under breathing to the extent that the blood carbon dioxide level is elevated,
may be manifested by carbon dioxide narcosis.

Hypoxia – lower than normal PO2 level in the blood, insufficient oxygen in the blood.

-J-

J-Valve –Tank valve that contains a spring loaded valve that shuts off a divers air supply at
Approx. 300psi

-K-

K-Valve – a simple on / off tank valve.

-L-

Lift bag – after being tied to an object to be lifted, the bag is inflated and will start to rise.

Lionfish – for more details about lionfish and their non-native species invasion of the east coast
click here.

Liveaboard – a dive boat with sleeping and eating accommodations. Commercial liveaboard
boats are usually between 50 and 130 feet long, and can carry from 10 to 30 divers for up to a
week or more.

Logbook – a diary of a divers dive history. Provides evidence of the depth and breadth of a
divers experience.

-M-

Macro photography – a method of getting close-up pictures of a subject by using macro

accessories attached to the camera’s lens, or a specific lens.

Manifold – used on double cylinder systems. Has 2 valves similar to single tank systems
attached by a heavy duty crosspiece with a valve in the center.

Mask squeeze – occurs in rapid descents where the diver neglects to equalize his/her mask.
The increasing pressure causes tissues around the eyes to swell.
Mediastinal emphysema – air from an over expanding lung escapes into the center of the chest
. This puts pressure on the heart and major blood vessels, interfering with circulation. Symptoms
are shortness of breath and feeling faint.

Middle ear – air containing space of the ear bordered on one side by the tympanic membrane,
which is exposed to any change in ambient pressure. Air pressure in the middle ear space can
only be equalized through the eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the back of the
nose.

Mixed gas – any non-air mixture (e.g., nitrox), although some authors use the term only for
mixes that contain a gas in addition to (or in place of) nitrogen (e.g., helium).

Multilevel diving – spending a period of time at several different depths on a single dive.

-N-

Narcosis – depressed mental state, anywhere from confusion or drowsiness to coma.

Nitrogen – inert gas that makes up 79% of air. Nitrogen is inert in that it does not enter into
any chemical reaction in the body, but it can cause problems under pressure (see nitrogen
narcosis, decompression sickness).

Nitrogen narcosis – depressed mental state from high nitrogen pressure; usually does not begin
to manifest on compressed air until deeper than 80 feet.

Nitrox – any mixture of nitrogen and oxygen that contains less than the 79% nitrogen as found
in ordinary air.

NOAA – abbreviation for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.

-O-

OEA – Oxygen enriched air – synonym for nitrox

Open circuit scuba – apparatus used in recreational diving. Exhaled air is expelled into the
water as bubbles, no part is re-breathed by the diver.

Open water diver – any diving where the surface of the water immediately above the diver is
in contact with the earth’s atmosphere. “Open water diving” implies that the diver can directly
ascend vertically to breathe.

O-rings – a flat ring made of rubber or plastic, used as a gasket.

Oxygen – often seen as using the chemistry abbreviation O2, gas vital for all life on this planet;
makes up about 21% of air by volume.
Oxygen therapy – administration of any gas, for medical purpose, that contains more than 21%
oxygen.

Oxygen toxicity – damage or injury from inhaling too much oxygen; can arise from either too
high an oxygen concentration or oxygen pressure. One of the most dramatic manifestations of
oxygen toxicity while diving can be a seizure.

Oxygen window – difference between total gas pressures in arterial and venous blood, exists
because oxygen is partly metabolized by the tissues, so venous oxygen pressure is lower than
arterial oxygen pressure.

-P-

Partial pressure – pressure exerted by a single component of a gas within a gas mixture, or
dissolved in a liquid.

Piston type first stage – work by allowing water to enter the first stage and press directly on a
piston within a sleeve – the greater the depth, the higher the pressure, and the greater the
pressure applied directly to the piston mechanism. Because there is only one moving part, this
is a great and extremely durable design under most underwater conditions, which is why you’ll
see so many regulators with “balanced piston” as part of their specs.

Pneumothorax – An abnormal collection of air outside the lining of the lung, between the lung
and the chest wall, often a consequence of pressure injuries (barotraumas).

Pony Bottle – a small scuba cylinder strapped to a divers main tank for emergency use.

Pressure – any force exerted over an area.

Prosumer – a professional consumer, a person who takes pride in buying high-quality items
after research.

PSI – pounds per square inch, a common measurement of air pressure.

Purge valve – allow masks to be cleared without removal. Allow snorkels to be cleared easily.

-R-

Recreational depths – a term used to define diving at depths above 130 feet.

Recreational scuba diving – diving to prescribed limits, including a depth no greater than 130
fsw, using only compressed air, and never requiring a decompression stop.

Regulator – in scuba, any device that changes air pressure from one level to a lower level.

Repetitive dive – any dive whose profile is affected by a previous dive is considered repetitive.
Residual nitrogen time – the time it would take to off-gas any extra nitrogen remaining after
a dive. Residual nitrogen time is always taken into consideration when determining the safe
duration for any repetitive dive.

Reverse squeeze – pain or discomfort in enclosed space (e.g., sinuses, middle ear, inside mask)
on ascent from a dive.

-S-

Salinity – the amount of salt dissolved in a liquid, measured in parts per million.

Safety stop – on ascent from a dive, a specified time spent at a specific depth, for purposes of
nitrogen off gassing. By definition it is not mandatory for safe ascent from the dive.

Saturation – the degree to which a gas is dissolved in the blood or tissues, full saturation occurs
when the pressure of gas dissolved in the blood or tissues is the same as the surrounding pressure
of that gas.

Saturation diving – diving performed after the body is fully saturated with nitrogen. To become
fully saturated the diver must stay under water for a much longer period than is allowed in
recreational scuba diving tables.

Sergeant major – the Sergeant Major or píntano (Abudefduf saxatilis, family Pomacentridae)
is a large, colourful damselfish. It earns its name from its brightly striped sides, which are
reminiscent of the insignia of a military Sergeant Major. It grows to a length of about 15cm (6
inches). They are popular aquarium fish, although their aggressively territorial nature can pose
problems if not closely watched.

SCUBA – acronym meaning Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.

Sea level – the altitude of the world’s oceans; all oceans are at sea level.

Second stage regulator – the regulator that follows, in line, the first stage regulator, and
delivers compressed air to the diver. Usually associated with the mouthpiece.

Scuba cylinder – a scuba or diving cylinder, also know as a tank is used to store and transport
high pressure breathing gas to a diver through the demand valve of a regulator.

Shallow water blackout – a sudden unconsciousness, from hypoxia, that occurs among some
breath hold divers. Often occurs near the surface after a deeper dive, hence “shallow water.”

Shipwreck diving – commonly known as wreck diving, this type of diving focuses on the
practices and techniques used while exploring shipwrecks. Although most wreck dive sites are
at shipwrecks, there is an increasing trend to scuttle retired ships to create artificial dive sites.
Shipwreck diving enables sport divers to visit the past. Each wreck is considered a time capsule
into history waiting to be explored. Sport divers also make interesting artifact finds while
exploring the remains of sunken ships. This enables the sport diving community to make its
own contribution to historians and archaeologists by giving them the information needed for
wreck identification and further research.

Shipwreck diver specialty – see shipwreck diving.

Shivering – the body’s attempt to create heat through muscular activity.

Sinuses – air spaces within the skull that are in contact with ambient pressure through openings
into the back of the nasal passages.

Skin diving – another name for breath-hold diving; diving without the use of breathing
equipment (may include snorkel).

Skirt – the part of the diving mask typically made of rubber or silicone that creates a watertight
seal with the diver’s face.

SNUBA – a surface-supplied compressed air apparatus, for use in shallow diving in calm
waters. The air is delivered to one or more divers through a long hose.

Split fin – a fin having a split at the end of the blade. Split fins operate similarly to a propeller,
by creating suction and lift forces to move the diver forward. Water flowing toward the center
of the fin’s ‘paddle’ portion also gains speed as it focuses, creating a ‘scooping’ or channeling
effect.

Squeeze – pain or discomfort in an enclosed space (sinuses, middle ears, inside a mask) caused
by shrinkage of that space, occurs on descent.

Stoplight parrotfish – a sex-changing fish inhabiting coral reefs in Florida, Bahamas, the
Caribbean, eastern Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda, and Brazil. Its typical length is between 30 and
45 cm, but it can reach 60 cm at times. The common name, stoplight, comes from the marked
yellow spot near the pectoral fin.

Submarine – heavy walled vessel that can withstand pressures under water and allow
occupants to breathe air at sea level pressure and travels under its own power.

Submersible Pressure Gauge – gauge to monitor air supply during the course of a dive.

Surface interval – length of time on the surface, usually out of the water, between two
consecutive dives.

Surface supplied compressed air diving – diving with the air continuously supplied by a
compressor on the surface can be used for both sport and professional diving.

Supersaturation – an unstable situation where the pressure of a gas dissolved in the blood or
tissues is higher than the ambient pressure surrounding that gas.
-T-

Tank Boot – flat-bottomed, plastic, vinyl or rubber devices that fit over the rounded end of a
scuba tank, allowing the tank to stand up.

Thermocline – intersection between two layers of water of that are of distinctly different
temperatures, usually the colder layer is deeper.

Tissue – a part of the body characterized by specific characteristics, such as muscle, bone, or
cartilage. The term is also used to refer to any part of the body with a specific half time for
loading and unloading nitrogen or even a theoretical compartment.

Trimix – mixture of helium, nitrogen and oxygen, used for very deep diving.

-V-

Vasoconstriction – the constriction of the blood vessels in order to reduce heat loss from the
blood through the shin.

Vertigo – dizziness caused by differences in pressure or temperature between the balance

mechanism in the ear and the surrounding environment. Vertigo can be a sign of ear pressure
injury. Causes may range from minor ear squeeze to perforation of the eardrum to inner ear
barotrauma.

Visibility – the distance a diver can see underwater. Can be measured horizontally or vertically
but usually refers to horizontal distance.

-W-

Wall Diving – occurs on rocks or reefs that run vertically, usually run from shallow to very
deep.

Water pressure – force per unit area exerted by the weight of water, each 33 feet of sea water
exerts a pressure equivalent to one atmosphere, or 14.7 psi.

Wet suit – any suit that provides thermal protection underwater by trapping a layer of water
between the diver’s skin and the suit.

Wheel – a dive table used to plan multi-level dives.

Wreck divers – see shipwreck divers.

A
Alternative air source - is a secondary supply of air or other breathing gas used by the diver
in an emergency. Examples include an auxiliary demand valve, a pony bottle and bailout bottle.

Alternobaric vertigo - is the feeling of dizziness, that is caused by the unequal increase in
middle ear pressures. Such a state may occur due to barotrauma of descent, and/or the effects
of nasal decongestants. When the pressures in both ears reach ambient levels, the the dizziness
usually stops. Although most often mild, the vertigo can persist until the diver reaches the
surface continuing the unequal pressures, which can damage the inner ear or eardrum.

Altitude diving - diving at a location where the water surface is at an altitude which requires
the modification of decompression schedules (more than about 300 m (980 ft) above sea level).

Ambient light - is the available sunlight underwater used as a source of illumination.

Ambient pressure - is the surrounding pressure; on land, comes from the weight of the
atmosphere, at depth, comes from the weight of the water plus the weight of the atmosphere.

Analog Instrument - a device that uses a needle moving around a dial to provide information.
Compasses, gauges, watches, etc. can be analog instruments. An alternative to analog
instrument is digital display.

Anoxia - a medical condition caused by a severe lack of oxygen in the body.

Apnea - is generally defined as a suspension of breathing, however, in the modern athletic

world apnea has become a synonym of freediving - a form of underwater diving that relies on
divers' ability to hold their breath until resurfacing

Ascent - part of the dive profile where the diver is moving upwards towards the surface. An
ascent may be interrupted by stops (decompression stops), when the diver maintains a
functionally constant depth for the purpose of decompression.

Ascent rate - is the rate at which depth is reduced at the end of a dive. It is recommended to
never exceed the ascent rate of 30 feet / 9 meters per minute, as it is an important part of
preventing the decompression sickness.

Atmospheric diving suit - is basically submarine of an anthropomorphic form, with elaborate

pressure joints to allow articulation while maintaining an internal pressure of one atmosphere.
The ADS allows the diver to go as deep as 2,300 feet (700 m), and eliminates the majority of
physiological dangers associated with deep diving. The diver doesn’t need to decompress, nor
breathe the special gas mixtures. What’s more, the diver do not even need to be a skilled
swimmer. Nowadays, ADS are still very heavy and expensive, thus, are used mostly by rescue
teams and military.
B
Backplate - A plate, usually made from metal, which rests against the diver’s back, and to
which the primary scuba cylinders are attached. Held to the body by harness straps over the
shoulders and around the waist. It is most often used with a back inflation buoyancy
compensator.

Backward roll entry - means of entering the water in scuba gear from a sitting position from
the side of the boat. Using this method, the diver needs to securely hold his mask, lean backward
and roll into the water with his tank and shoulders first. Checking for an all clear is
recommended.

Bailout bottle (also called bailout cylinder) - is a cylinder with an emergency supply of air or
other breathing gas, aimed to use in case of air supply trouble.

Balanced regulator - a regulator designed to help the diver maintain a consistent breathing
effort regardless of external conditions, such as depth or tank pressure.

Barotrauma - an injury caused by unequal pressures between a space inside the body and the
ambient pressure, or between two spaces within the body.

BC - see buoyancy compensator, same as BCD - buoyancy control device.

Bell harness - a safety harness made of strong webbing. The harness is fastened around the
diver’s body over the exposure suit, and allows the diver to be lifted without risk of falling out
of the harness.

Blind traverse - is a situation when the diver passes through a cave from one entrance to a
different exit, which the diver has not used before.

Blue hole - is a large marine cavern or sinkhole, which is open to the surface and may provide
access to submerged cave passages. Well-known examples can be found in Belize, the Bahamas,
Guam, Australia (in the Great Barrier Reef), and Egypt (in the Red Sea).

Bottom time - the time between descending below the surface to the beginning of ascent.
excluding ascent itself and decompression time. Bottom time is used to calculate decompression
obligation.

Breath-hold diving - diving without life support apparatus, while holding one's breath, also
see freediving and apnea.

Buddy - diving partner. When diving with a buddy, you need to monitor each other constantly
during a dive and provide assistance or rescue when needed. Buddy system is created with the
purpose to increase divers’ safety.

Buddy breathing - sharing of the same air supply by two or more divers in case of an
emergency, in particular when one diver's air supply is exhausted or unavailable due to
equipment malfunction.

Buddy line - a short line between two divers, helping them to maintain contact during a dive,
most often used in poor visibility, or other conditions where the divers might become separated
and not be able to quickly locate each other.
Buoyancy - the upward force exerted on an object in fluid that opposes the weight of an
immersed object. Objects that float are positively buoyant, those that sink are negatively
buoyant and those that stay where placed are neutrally buoyant.

Buoyancy compensator - an inflatable vest worn by the diver that can be automatically or
orally inflated to help control buoyancy; abbreviated BC or BCD.

Buoyancy control - the skill of maintaining the appropriate buoyancy at any time during the
dive.
C
Carbon dioxide - CO2; an odorless, tasteless gas that is a byproduct of metabolism and is
excreted by the lungs in exhaled air.

Carbon dioxide toxicity - occurrence of toxic effects, such as headache, shortness of breath or
even sudden blackout, caused by the buildup of CO2 in the blood.

Cave diving - a type of scuba diving that involves diving into various overhead environments
including caves, abandoned mines or quarries and natural springs or sinkholes where the exit is
not always visible. Because such an environment prevents the diver from making a direct
vertical ascent to the surface, cave diving requires specialized training and equipment.

C-card (certification card) - a plastic card issued to a diver by a certification agency as

evidence of completed diver training and experience required for the level of certification. You
may be required to show your certification card when booking a dive trip, hiring scuba
equipment or filling dive tanks.

Cf - cubic foot. A measure of volume, often used to mark the size of scuba cylinders. Standard
cylinder sizes are 30, 50, 72 and 80 cf.

Closed circuit scuba (also called rebreather diving) - underwater diving, using a rebreather -
an apparatus designed to allow divers to re-breath exhaled air after removal of CO2 and addition
of supplemental 02. Unlike open circuit systems, closed circuit scuba is noiseless and produces
no bubbles.

Command signal - a signal from one diver in a team that requires a response from another
diver. Command signals include: Are you OK, Hold, and Surface.

Compressed air - air at a pressure greater than ambient.

Confined water - a dive site, where the water that is enclosed and bounded sufficiently.
Confined water is essentially a controlled environment, not affected by geographic or weather
conditions, most often used for safe training purposes. The simplest example of confined water
is a swimming pool.

Controlled buoyant lift - a rescue technique used by scuba divers to raise an incapacitated
diver to the surface from depth
Cyanosis - a bluish coloration on the skin or mucous membranes that appears when the tissues
near the skin surface are low on oxygen

DAN - Divers Alert Network, a group of nonprofit organizations that provides emergency and
informational advice and assistance for its members and the diving community. Member
services usually include a diving accident hot-line, and diving accident and travel insurance.
Services to the general public include diving medical advice and training in first aid for diving
accidents. DAN America and DAN Europe also collect and maintain databases on diving
accidents, treatment and fatalities, used for research and statistical reference.

Deco mix (also called decompression gas) - gas mixture used during decompression in order to
to accelerate it. Deco mix usually has increased oxygen content.

Decompression - change from one ambient pressure to a lower ambient pressure that occurs
during the ascent. During the decompression, gas pressure within the body is reduced and and
dissolved inert gases are eliminated from the tissues.

Decompression algorithm - a set of step-by step procedures, designed to calculate the

decompression stops needed for a particular dive profile. The algorithm can be used to generate
specific decompression schedules, create decompression tables, or be implemented in dive
computer software.

Decompression chamber (hyperbaric chamber) - is a large cylindrical tube, in which the air
pressure can be varied to help deep-sea divers to adjust gradually to normal air pressure.

Decompression illness - DCI; a term that encompasses such decompression related problems
as decompression sickness and arterial gas embolism.

Decompression sickness - DCS; a general term for all problems resulting from nitrogen
leaving the body when ambient pressure is reduced. Can be divided into Type I (musculoskeletal
and/or skin manifestations only) and the more serious Type II (neurologic, cardiac, and/or
pulmonary manifestations).

Decompression stop - a decompression stop is a pause during the diver’s ascent, made to allow
the body to expel dissolved gases, primarily nitrogen, in the blood. Failure to perform
decompression stops, leads to decompression sickness, caused by the gases expanding and
turning into bubbles. A diver who only breathes gas at atmospheric pressure when free-diving
or snorkelling will not usually need to decompress. Divers using an atmospheric diving suit do
not need to decompress either, as they are never exposed to high ambient pressure.

Deep diving - a dive deeper than 18 meters (60 feet). This type of diving requires additional
preparation, planning and skills.

Deep water blackout - loss of consciousness caused by cerebral hypoxia on ascending from a
deep breath-hold dive, when the swimmer does not necessarily experience an urgent need to
breathe.

Depth gauge - a device that is calibrated to display how far a diver is below the surface.

Dive computer - a device that allows to monitor the time and depth of a dive as well as calculate
nitrogen levels in the body and determine a safe ascent profile using mathematical algorithms.
With the help of dive computers divers can extend bottom time beyond what a dive table allows,
avoid decompression sickness, etc. Many dive computers also offer additional information such
as water temperature, dive log, the pressure of remaining breathing gas, etc.

Dive flag - a flag used to signal that divers are below. There exist two standard versions of a
dive flag - a red rectangle with a white diagonal stripe or a blue and white double tailed pennant.

Divemaster - a professional level recreational diver, who has enough skills and expertise to
lead a group of less experienced divers underwater.

Dive profile - most often a graph, displaying two crucial characteristics of the dive: depth and
time. The profile can be used to determine a dive's likely decompression obligation.

Dive tables (also called decompression tables) - printed cards or booklets that allow divers to
determine a decompression schedule for a particular dive profile and breathing gas.

Diving signals - hand and light sign system used by scuba divers to communicate with each
other when underwater.

Drift diving - a type of scuba diving, where a diver is transported underwater by drifting with
currents.

Drop weight - weight used during descent and ascent, but left on the bottom at the guideline
during the deep part of the dive when it is not needed due to suit compression.

Dry bag - a watertight bag or case that allows to keep the desired equipment or documents dry
in a wet environment.

Dry suit - A watertight suit, designed to keep the diver dry and provide insulation with a layer
of gas, such as air. Dry suits are usually used for diving in cold waters, where the protection of
a wetsuit is not sufficient.

E
EAN - Enriched Air Nitrox. A special breathing gas that contains more oxygen and less nitrogen
than plain air. It is used by recreational divers to increase the bottom time or safety margin by
decreasing the amount of nitrogen absorbed. The usage of such mixture requires the adherence
to strict depth restrictions and some predive testing.

ECCR - electronic closed circuit rebreather. The device uses electronic circuitry to monitor the
status of the loop gas in real time, and performs the necessary adjustments to keep it within
narrow tolerances.

Eddy - a circular movement of water, formed on a side of the main current. It often appears at
a point where the mainstream passes a projection or meets the opposite current.

Electro-galvanic fuel cell - an electrical device designed to measure the concentration of

oxygen in dive gear.

Equalization - the procedure used to balance the pressure of a gas filled space with the ambient
pressure by forcing air into that space. It diving it is used to offset increasing water pressure
and prevent barotrauma or pressure damage.

Exposure protection - a piece of special clothing or a costume that is worn during the dive
with the purpose to prevent abrasions and decreases in core body temperature. Exposure
protection suits range from thin wetsuits to heavy dry suits.

F
Faceplate - a glass or a plastic window on a full face mask or a helmet.

Farmer John/Jane - a two-piece wetsuit, where the bottoms cover the torso and the legs all
the way to the ankles and the tops cover the torso and the arms to the wrists.

First stage - a diving regulator component that attaches to the tank valve and reduces the gas
pressure from that in the cylinder to release it into the hose that supplies the second stage and
BC inflation.

Fogging - condensation of water vapour on the inside surface of a mask that results in reduced
visibility.

Forward roll entry - a technique of entering the water by a scuba diver from a boat or a pier
by bending at the knees and, while firmly securing the mask, rolling forward into the water,
landing on one's shoulders and tank.

Free air - air at atmospheric pressure.

Freediving - breath-hold diving, where no scuba equipment is used, also called apnea.

Free flow - malfunction of a demand regulator where the valve sticks in the open position,
causing a constant rate of flow.

Frenzel maneuver - one of the methods for equalizing the middle ear by pinching the nose
closed and moving the back of the tongue upwards.

Frogman - a scuba diver, specifically a military diver on an undercover mission.

Full-face mask - a diving or snorkeling mask that covers the eyes, nose and mouth and provides
the diver with the breathing gas.

G
Gas blending - mixing breathing gases for diving and filling the diving cylinders with such
mixes as nitrox or trimix.

Gas embolism - a condition when a gas bubble enters the blood vessel and blocks it.

Gas fraction - the fraction of a particular gas in a gas mix, by molecular count, volume or
pressure.

Gaseous impurities - contaminants in the compressed breathing air or gas mixture.

Gas saturation - a state that occurs when the level of dissolved gas in a particular body tissue
has reached its maximum.

Giant stride entry - The most common method used by scuba divers to enter the water. Using
this method, a standing diver needs to take a large step into the water while securely holding
his mask, tucking chin and bringing fins quickly together to keep himself at the surface for a
controlled descent.

Glowstick - a small tube with either a single-use chemical substance that produces light or a
battery powered LED bulb.

GPS - a global positioning system that provides location using the ring of stationary satellites.
Even very small GPS devices can be used to accurately determine speed and direction of travel,
and identify dive site locations.

H
Half time (tissue half time) - the 50% of time it takes for a dissolved gas in a tissue (such as
nitrogen) to equilibrate to a new pressure, or to reach full saturation at a new pressure.

Hang tank - an extra tank staged at the decompression stop. Typically found at the rear of a
dive boat in case of emergencies.

Heliox - mixture of helium and oxygen, usually used as a breathing gas during very deep dives.

Helicopter turn - maneuver in which a diver rotates on the spot on a vertical axis with the help
of small fin movements.

Helium - in inert and second lightest gas, used as a component of breathing gas mixtures for
deep diving. The benefit of using helium is that it doesn’t cause problems of narcosis to the
same extent as nitrogen.

High pressure nervous syndrome (HPNS) - is a disorder that results from using a breathing
gas that contains helium, when deep diving. Symptoms of HPNS include tremors, myoclonic
jerking, somnolence, electroencephalogram changes, visual disturbance, nausea, dizziness, and
decreased mental performance. The severity of the symptoms depends on the mix of breathing
gases, and can often be decreased with continued exposure.

Hood - a garment used for thermal head protection. Hoods are usually made from neoprene or
latex (for use with dry suits).

Hydrostatic pressure - pressure at a certain point at depth due to the weight of the water above.

Hydreliox - breathing gas containing hydrogen, helium and oxygen used for deep diving.

Hyperthermia - a body temperature higher than normal. In diving hyperthermia can result from
overheating in a wet suit.

Hyperventilation - either a rapid and shallow breathing associated with panic, or, in context of
freediving, deliberate overbreathing that leads to reduced levels of carbon dioxide in blood and
may result in tingling in fingers and dizziness.

Hypothermia - a condition when the body temperature is lower than normal.

Hypoventilation - breathing at an abnormally low rate that leads to elevated carbon dioxide
level in blood.

Hypoxia - abnormally low level of oxygen in the body, insufficient to support normal activities
or consciousness.

I
ICD (Isobaric counterdiffusion) - the diffusion of gases in and out of tissues, caused by a
change in the composition of the breathing gas under the constant ambient pressure.

Immersion hypothermia - the decrease of body temperature that occurs when the diver is fully
immersed in cold water without proper thermal protection.

Inflator valve - a manually operated valve that puts compressed air into the buoyancy bladders
of a BCD or into a dry suit.

Ingassing - an uptake of inert (not metabolically active) gases in body tissues during the dive.

Internal condition of cylinder - the state of the internal space of a cylinder regarding
corrosion, wear, pitting or rust. Both steel and aluminum cylinders can be corroded internally,
if salt water enters the cylinder.

IP (Intermediate Pressure, or Interstage Pressure) - the reduced pressure between the first
and second stages of a diving regulator. Also referred to as LP (Low Pressure) in this context.

J
J-cylinder - bulk gas storage cylinder with internal volume of 50 litres.
Jellyfish - marine animals that are usually transparent and bell shaped. The tentacles, hanging
down from their bodies have a stinging mechanism that these creatures use for prey catching
and defence. If you get stung by a jellyfish, apply vinegar to the injured skin area.

Jocking strap - a webbing strap system that is used with diving helmets in order to prevent the
helmet assembly from being lifted by buoyancy.

Jonline - a short line line with a hook device, often used by scuba divers to fasten themselves
to any thickness anchor or down line. Jonline helps the diver to stay in the water column
regardless of wave action during decompression stops.

J-valve - a spring-loaded scuba cylinder valve that shuts off a diver’s air supply once the
cylinder pressure reaches approximately 300psi. A diver can then open the reserve by pulling a
rod, attached to the reserve lever.

K
Kayak diving - a type of recreational diving, where a diver uses a special purpose kayak to get
to the site where the distance from a suitable entry and exit point is inconvenient for shore
diving.

Kelp surface dive - a vertical method of descending, when the diver enters the water feet-first.
The technique is most often used when diving to unknown depth or when obstructions or heavy
plant (such as kelp) growth exists. Some also find it easier to equalize ears using this type of
descent, because there is less blood pressure in head than with pike (head first) dive.

Knot - the velocity unit of 1 nautical mile (6080.20 ft.) per hour; equivalent to 1.689 ft. per
second. To convert ft. per sec. into knots, multiply the given number by 0.592.

K-valve - the most common valve, used on scuba cylinders. This type of valve has no reserve
mechanism and fits regulators with yoke attachments.

L
Lanyard - a piece of rope or a cord usually worn around one's neck or wrist and used to secure
or lower things, such as a knife, compass, etc.

Laryngospasm - an uncontrolled muscular contraction of the vocal cords that causes a partial
blocking of breathing in. Laryngospasm is also a body’s response to prevent water from entering
the lungs when drowning.

LED - light emitting diode, commonly used in dive lights.Lifeline - a line connected firmly to
the diver at one end and anchored at the other end at the diving control point. The lifeline is
used as a means to communicate with the diver and assist him/her to the surface and back to
the control point, if necessary.

Lift bag - an air-tight bag with straps that can be tied to an object, which, once the bag is
inflated, will be lifted to the surface by the means of bag’s buoyancy.
Lift capacity - the amount of buoyancy provided by a BCD. Lift capacity can vary depending
on the size of the buoyancy compensator and its intended use, for example, a BC for cold fresh
water will provide greater lift capacity than that for warm salt water.

Logbook - a record of the diver’s dive history that serves as a proof of experience. Keeping a
logbook is optional for recreational divers, but mostly mandatory for professional divers.

Long hose - 5 ft (1.5 m) to 7 ft (2.1 m) long interstage hose on a scuba regulator, primarily used
by cave and technical divers to to simplify air sharing, in particular through narrow spaces.

Lost buddy drill - a standard procedure followed in case dive buddies get separated.
Procedures may differ depending on the circumstances and training organisations.

Low volume (low profile) mask - a mask with a little amount of air space inside it. Low volume
masks sit closer to the diver’s face and require less air to purge if flooded.

M
Manifold - a piece of gear used to connect two diving cylinders containing breathing gas,
providing a greater amount of gas for longer or deeper dives.

Macro photography - a photography method that allows to get close-up pictures of small
subjects and producing an image larger than life size by using Macro accessories attached to
the camera's lens.

Mask - a skirted glass window (or multiple lenses) constructed to provide air space between
the diver’s eyes and water. It is thanks to the mask that both eyes can see in the same plane
underwater. There are many different types of masks, the regular mask covers eyes and nose
only; full face masks also cover the mouth. Modern mask skirts are mostly made of
hypoallergenic silicone.

Mask squeeze - is a painful condition that appears during rapid descents, when the ambient
pressure suddenly increases and the diver neglects to equalize his/her mask. As a result the mask
creates suction on the face and eyes that can possibly lead to tissues swelling or even cause
permanent damage if the mask is not equalized.

Mixed gas - breathing gas for diving other than air, usually implies a helium based mixture.

MOD/ODL - maximum operating depth/oxygen depth limit. The depth limit a diver can safely
achieve using a particular gas mixture. For example, the MOD for EAN32 (32% oxygen) is 40
m.

Monofin - a type of swimfin that consists of a single surface attached to footpockets for both
of the diver's feet and is typically used in finswimming or free-diving.

Multilevel diving - a type of dive profile when a diver spends time at several different depths
on a single dive.
N
Narcosis - depressed mental state, a stupor that can range in intensity from confusion or
drowsiness to coma.

NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors) - a non-profit association of scuba

diver training, one of the oldest certifying agencies.

NDL (No decompression limit) - the maximum time a diver can spend at a specified depth
without the need to make mandatory decompression stops during the ascent.

Neoprene - a synthetic rubber material that exhibits good chemical stability, maintains
flexibility and is used for manufacturing of most wetsuits and some drysuits.

Net cutter - a handle with a hooked blade used to cut netting or fishing line in case the diver
gets entangled and needs to free himself/herself or his/her buddy.

Night diving - underwater diving that takes place during the hours of darkness.

Nitrogen - an inert gas that makes up approximately 78% of air. Nitrogen does not enter into
any chemical reaction in the body, but can cause problems like nitrogen narcosis and
decompression sickness when breathed under pressure.

Nitrogen narcosis - also known as narcs or raptures of the deep, is a reversible alteration in
consciousness caused by the diver breathing gases containing Nitrogen at high pressure.
Nitrogen narcosis usually does begins to manifest itself at depths of 30 m and greater.

Nitrox - any mixture of nitrogen and oxygen that contains less than the 78% of Nitrogen.No-
mount diving - a strategy for diving in a very tight overhead environment, which involves the
diver wearing a basic harness or simply hand-carrying cylinders.

O
Octopus breathing - sharing air using an octopus regulator.

Octopus regulator- a spare demand valve fitted to a first stage diving regulator and used as an
alternative air source in case of emergency.

Off-gassing - diffusion of gas out of the tissues into the blood, and its further movement to the
lungs where the gas is eliminated by exhalation.

Open circuit scuba - a breathing apparatus that discharges the exhaled air into the environment,
with no part of it being re-breathed by the diver.

OOA (out of air) - an emergency situation where the breathing gas supply to the diver has
stopped.

Open-water diving - recreational diving done in an environment other than a swimming pool
but with no overhead obstacles; for instance, lakes, ponds, rivers, oceans.
OPV (over-pressure valve) - a pressure relief valve that automatically opens at a set pressure
to allow excess gas to escape.

O-ring - a loop of elastomer, designed to be placed in a groove and compressed between two
or more parts, with an aim to create a seal at the contact surfaces.

Outgassing - diffusion of gas (such as nitrogen) out of the tissue into the blood, and its further
transport to the lungs where it diffuses into the lung gas and is eliminated by exhalation.

Overhead - a physical or procedural obstacle to a direct ascent to the surface. An example of a

physical overhead would be a cave ceiling, fishing net, ship hull, or wreckage, whereas a
procedural overhead is a decompression obligation.

Overweighting - Carrying more weight than is necessary to achieve neutral buoyancy at all
times in a dive.

Oxygen - Often seen as using the chemistry abbreviation 02, gas vital for all life on this planet;
makes up about 21% of the air by volume.

Oxygen therapy - a treatment that involves breathing pure oxygen or a gas that contains more
than 21% oxygen.

Oxygen toxicity - damage or injury caused by breathing oxygen at either too high pressure or
concentration.

P
PADI - Professional Association of Diving Instructors. It is one of the largest certifying
agencies.

Panic - a strong sudden sensation of fear which often replaces reason and logical thinking with
overwhelming feelings of anxiety and frantic agitation.

Partial Pressure - pressure exerted by a single component (gas) within a gas mixture.

Patent Foramen Ovale - a hole between the left and right atria (upper chambers) of the heart
that enables blood flow between them.

Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) - a personal safety device that is designed to indicate a person
in distress and help emergency services quickly find him/her.

Pony bottle - is a small diving cylinder, fitted with an independent regulator, and serves the
purpose of an alternative air source in case of emergency, such as depletion of the diver's main
air supply. The capacity and contents of the pony bottle should be sufficient to allow a safe
ascent from any point in the planned dive profile, however its size is usually pretty small, which
explains the name pony.
Pre-fill External Inspection - examination of the external condition of a pressure vessel (tank)
to ensure that it complies with requirements before accepting for filing.

Pressure - any force exerted over an area.

Pressure Gradient - partial pressure change rate of a dissolved gas through a solvent, which is
the driving mechanism for diffusion through the solvent.

Primary Light - the main light to be used on a dive. Usually the most powerful.

Professional Diving - diving which is done as a part of the diver's employment or professional
occupation.

Public Safety Diving - the underwater work conducted by law enforcement, fire department
rescue, and search and recovery dive teams.

Purge - usually to press the purge button on a demand valve to induce a gas flow to clear the
demand valve interior of water or other substances.

Purge Valve - allow masks or snorkels to be cleared easily and without removal.

Q
Quad - a group of high pressure gas storage cylinders mounted upright on a frame and
manifolded together. Usually in four, six, nine, twelve, or sixteen cylinder arrangements.

Quick Link - oval connector shaped like a chain link with a screw gate on one side.

R
Rapture of the Deep - nitrogen narcosis.

Rash Vest (rash guard, rashie) - a shirt made of spandex and nylon or polyester, designed to
protect against rashes caused by abrasion, often worn under a wetsuit.

Rebreather - a closed-circuit system which filters exhaled air and recirculates it for rebreathing
by the diver. Using a rebreather requires special training.

Recompression - subjecting a diver to pressure after an ascent from a dive as treatment for
decompression illness or to prevent decompression sickness. Preferably done in a
recompression chamber, but occasionally done as in-water recompression.

Recreational Dive Planner - a decompression table developed by DSAT for calculating no-
stop time underwater.

Recreational Scuba Diving - diving for the purpose of leisure and enjoyment, observing the
prescribed limits, such as a depth no greater than 30-40 meters, using only compressed air, and
never requiring a decompression stop.
Reel - mechanism used to store, deploy and recover long line.

Regulator - in scuba diving, a device that reduces the pressure of a breathing gas and delivers
it from the scuba tank to the diver.

Regulator Freeze - malfunction of the regulator mechanism caused by water freezing inside it
and locking the mechanism open (free flow).

Repetitive Dive - a dive performed before off-gassing from the previous dive is complete
(normally, at least 10 minutes, but no more that 12 hours after a previous dive).

Reserve Gas - gas which is not intended to be used during the dive, and is reserved for
contingencies.

Residual Gas - gas remaining in a cylinder from the previous fill.

Residual Nitrogen Time - the time it would take to off-gas any extra nitrogen remaining after
a dive. Residual Nitrogen Time is always taken into consideration when determining the safe
duration for any repetitive dive.

Reverse Profile - either a repetitive dive, deeper than the previous dive, or a multilevel dive in
which a later level is deeper than an earlier level.

Reverse Squeeze - pain or discomfort in enclosed spaces, such as sinuses, middle ear, inside
mask, due to inability to release pressure on ascent from a dive.

Rip Current - a strong current flowing outward from the shore. Such currents can be dangerous
to the uninitiated swimmers, but are often used by divers to facilitate entry to areas beyond the
bar or reef.

S
Safety Sausage - an SMB or a surface marker buoy. A buoy towed by a diver to indicate
location to people at the surface.

Safety Stop - a voluntary stop (not required by the decompression schedule) on ascent from a
dive. The diver spends a specified time at a specified depth (normally, 3 minutes at 5 meters /
15 feet), for purposes of nitrogen off gassing.

Samba - contractions experienced by breathhold divers when approaching hypoxic blackout.

SASY/SASA - Supplied Air Snorkeling for Youth/Supplied Air Snorkeling for Adults. BC-like
Personal Flotation Device, mounted with small compressed air cylinder and regulator that
allows snorkeler to breathe comfortably on the surface, but prohibits him/her from descending.

Saturation - the degree to which a gas is dissolved in the blood or tissues, full saturation occurs
when the pressure of gas dissolved in the blood or tissues is the same as the surrounding pressure
of that gas.
Scuba (SCUBA) - acronym meaning Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.

Scuba Orienteering - competitive underwater sport in which scuba divers attempt to swim a
circuit marked by buoys, without surfacing, using compass navigation and mechanical distance
measurement. Points are awarded for time and accuracy according to the specific course
definition and length.

Second Stage - a part of the diving regulator which provides pressure reduction from
intermediate pressure to ambient pressure on demand.

Shallow Water Blackout - a sudden unconsciousness, caused by hypoxia, that occurs among
some breath hold dives. Often occurs near the surface after a deeper dive.

Shore (Beach) Diving - scuba diving that starts from the shore line.

Sidemount - a scuba diving equipment configuration which has diving cylinders mounted
alongside the diver, below the shoulders and along the hips, instead of on the diver’s back.

Skandalopetra - a flat stone, usually of marble or granite, weighing between 8 and 14 kg (17-
30 lbs), with rounded corners and edges and tied to a rope. Historically skandalopetra was used
by Greek free-divers to assist descent. When the diver wanted to ascend, he would signal the
tender on the boat who would then pulls in the rope. Currently a competitive sport.

Slate - rigid plastic tablet used for writing messages or notes during the dive.

Snorkel - bended tube with a mouthpiece used for breathing air from above the water surface
when the wearer's mouth and nose are submerged.

Snorkeling - swimming at the surface of the water while breathing through a snorkel. The
snorkeller is almost always equipped with a diving mask or swim goggles, and fins.

Snorkel Keeper - a device used to hold a snorkel in place at the side of a diving mask by fixing
it to the mask strap.

SNUBA - a surface-supplied compressed air apparatus, used for diving in shallow, calm waters.
The air is delivered to one or more divers through a long hose.

Solo Diving - the practice of scuba diving alone without a "dive buddy".

Speargun - a weapon for shooting fish underwater. A speargun is usually loaded with a barbed
steel spear that can be propelled a short distance forward using stored energy from stretched
rubber strips or compressed air behind a captive piston.

Spearo - slang term for breathhold spearfisher.

Standard Operating Procedure - a procedure, usually compiled by a diver certification

organisation, prescribing the processes to be followed when performing specified tasks.

Submersible Pressure Gauge - gauge to monitor air supply during the course of a dive.

Surface Consumption Rate - a measure of the diver’s rate of gas usage expressed in psi, bars
or cubic feet per minutes. SCR is commonly used in calculations for determining air
consumption rate at various depths.

Surface Interval - length of time on the surface between two consecutive dives.

Surface Marker Buoy - a buoy towed by a diver to indicate location to people at the surface.

T
Task Loading - a multiplicity of responsibilities leading to an increased risk of failure on the
part of the diver to undertake some key basic function which would normally be routine for
safety.

Technical Diving - a form of diving that exceeds the limits of recreational scuba diving and
carries greater technical complexity as well as higher inherent risk. Technical divers often use
multiple breathing gases, helium based gases, closed circuit rebreathers, and dive under
extensive overheads.

Test Pressure - pressure at which the cylinder is hydrostatically tested for revalidation. Usually
1.5 of working pressure.Thermocline - intersection between two layers of water that are of
distinctly different temperatures, usually the colder layer is deeper.

Thumb the Dive - terminate the dive by signalling exit to surface at a time or place other than
the planned turning point.

Toynbee Maneuver - a method of equalising the middle ears by pinching the nose and
swallowing.

Travel Gas - gas mixture used for descent and/or ascent when the bottom gas is not suitable for
breathing at shallower depths.

Traverse - pass through a cave by entering at one point and exiting at another.

Triangular Profile - a dive profile in which, the diver descends at a constant rate, and, after a
short bottom time at maximum depth, maintains a constant, slow ascent to the surface or first
decompression stop.

Trimix - mixture of helium, nitrogen and oxygen, used for deep diving.

Trim Weight - ballast weight used to improve diver's trim.

Turn the Dive - start the return on a dive which has reached the planned turning point in terms
of depth, time, gas supply or distance.

U
Unbalanced Regulator - a regulator that is affected by tank pressure. The tank pressure works
to force the piston in the first stage open. As the gas in the tank diminishes, it is easier for the
piston to be forced into a closed position. This makes it increasingly harder to breath from the
first stage as the dive progresses. This is an older style regulator and has almost disappeared
from today's scuba equipment market.

Underwater Breathing Apparatus - equipment used to supply breathing gas to the diver.

Upstream - against the current or flow.

Upwelling - a vertical water movement that occurs when the surface water is moved away
(offshore) due to winds blowing from north to south. Because water from somewhere has to fill
the space left by the offshore movement of surface water, water fills in from below, creating a
vertical current.

V
Valsalva Maneuver - a method of middle ear equalization by pinching the nose shut and
blowing gently.

Vasoconstriction - the constriction of the blood vessels in order to reduce heat loss from the
blood through the skin.

Vasodilation - the widening of blood vessels resulting from relaxation of smooth muscle cells
within the vessel walls, particularly in the large veins and arteries.

Vertigo - the feeling of dizziness and off balance that can be a sign of ear barotraumas form
minor ear squeeze to perforation of the eardrum.

Visibility - the distance a diver can see underwater measured in feet or meters.

Visual Inspection - internal and external inspection of a pressure vessel as part of revalidation
procedure.

W
Wall Diving - a form of diving on rocks and reefs that run vertically, usually from shallow to
deep.

Water Pressure - force per unit area exerted by the weight of water, each 33 feet of seawater
exerts a pressure equivalent to one atmosphere.

Weighting System - a set of weights, generally made of lead, to counteract the buoyancy of
other diving equipment, and belts, pockets or harnesses used to support them.

Wet Filling - a method of filling scuba cylinders using a water bath to cool them.
Wet Notes - a small notebook made from waterproof paper.

Wet Pot - water filled hyperbaric chamber.

Wet Suit - a garment, usually made of foamed neoprene, that provides thermal protection
thanks to the bubbles of gas enclosed within the material. In addition to thermal insulation,
wetsuits also provide abrasion resistance and buoyancy.

Whip - flexible high pressure gas hose with the connector at the free end, designed for
temporary connections, such as filling cylinders, oxygen transfer, decanting gases when
blending gas, etc.

Wing - back inflation buoyancy compensator cell.

Working Pressure - maximum filling pressure rating for the cylinder at standard temperature.

Wreck Diving - diving on natural or man-made shipwrecks.

Yoke Adaptor - a fitting used to connect a regulator or whip with a DIN thread connection to
an international connection cylinder valve.

Yoke Valve/Fitting - a fitting or valve used to connect a regulator or filling whip to a diving
cylinder using the international connection.

Y-valve - dual orifice valve.

Zip Tie (also cable tie, tie wrap) - self-locking plastic strip used to connect objects together.

Z-knife - line cutting tool with a replaceable blade in a slot.