PADI Open Water Diver Final Exam with
100% Correct Answers 2023
As a newly certified PADI Open Water Diver, I will be trained to dive with buddy as deep
as – Correct Answer-18 metres/60 feet
As you descend in water, the pressure – Correct Answer-increases
A depth change of 10 metres/33 feet causes a pressure change of – Correct Answer-1
bar/ata (atmosphere)
if you take 6 liters of air from the surface to 20 metres/66 feet, the volume will be –
Correct Answer-2 litres (the density of the air would be three times the density at the
surface)
A balloon fully inflated and sealed at 10 metres/33 feet, would probably _ during ascent to the surface – Correct Answer-burst A squeeze is caused by – Correct Answer-a pressure imbalance between the surrounding pressure and an air space Equalization is the process of – Correct Answer-adding air to an air space The most important rule in scuba diving is to – Correct Answer-breathe continuously and never hold your breath During ascent I feel discomfort in my ears. I should – Correct Answer-stop, descend slightly, and allow trapped air to work its way out My buddy and I descend to 12 metres/40 feet. I would expect to use my air at 6
metres/20 feet – Correct Answer-faster than
The most efficient way to breathe dense air underwater is to breathe – Correct Answerdeeply and slowly
Buoyancy – Correct Answer-a force that pushes an object in water upward
Salt water causes more buoyancy than fresh water because it is _ dense and weighs – Correct Answer-more
When I descend, my buoyancy tends to . When I ascend, it tends to
- Correct Answer-decrease, increase
The three most important considerations in choosing scuba equipment are suitability, fit,
and – Correct Answer-comfort
The two basic fin styles are _ fins – Correct Answer-adjustable and full-foot
My primary considerations when choosing fins are fit and – Correct Answer-blade size
BCD (buoyancy control device) – Correct Answer-holds your kit together and allows you
to adjust buoyancy throughout the dive
Regulator – Correct Answer-delivers breathing air at the surrounding pressure when you
inhale and directs exhaled air into the air
Cylinder – Correct Answer-holds the high-pressure breathing air supplied by your
regulator during the dive
Weight System – Correct Answer-holds lead weight to counteract the positive buoyancy
of your body and some of your equipment, with a mechanism for dropping some or all
the weight in an emergency
The five components that make up a BCD include – Correct Answer-an inflatable
bladder, a cylinder band and harness/jacket, an LPI (low-pressure inflator) mechanism,
an overpressure/quick exhaust valves, and a weight system
LPI mechanism – Correct Answer-inflates the BCD with air from my scuba cylinder
Burst disk – Correct Answer-a safety device that relieves accidental overpressure by
releasing air before reaching the pressure at which the cylinder would fail
scuba cylinders require pressure testing and visual inspection –
Correct Answer-every 2-5 years, annually
The most important feature in my weight system is its – Correct Answer-quick release
Trim means having the right _ of weight – Correct Answer-distribution Failure to follow the most important rule in scuba diving can cause serious lung overexpansion injuries, which in turn can cause paralysis and death – Correct Answertrue An object that is neutrally bouyant in fresh water will __ in salt water – Correct
Answer-float
Underwater objects appear – Correct Answer-larger and/or closer
1. regulator first stage, 2. regulator second stage, 3. alternate air source second stage, 4. instrument console/gauges/computer.5. low pressure inflator hose for the BCD.
Your regulator consists of five components. The first stage is the “hub” of your regulator and supplies air to the components – the second stage, alternate air source, low pressure inflator hose and SPG/dive computer.
See Equipment I – Regulators.
A ascend (go up), make a safety stop and end the dive.
The procedure for a failed dive computer is to signal your buddy, ascend, make a safety stop and end the dive. If you’re remaining well within limits throughout the dive, you should surface within accepted limits. You can’t continue to dive without being able to track your dive profile.
See Using Dive Computers and Tables I – Diving with Your Computer.
47) If my computer fails during a dive, I can use my backup computer to continue the dive. If I’m not wearing a backup, I should
A ascend (go up), make a safety stop and end the dive.
B borrow my buddy’s backup.
C continue the dive until low on air, but make no repetitive dives.
D end the dive and surface immediately.
A Ascend (go up) right away to 5 meters and stay there for at least 8 minutes before going to the surface, and not dive for six hours.
Using RDP Table 1, find the next greatest depth on the top row – 18m – and follow the column down to the time or next greatest time – 48/47 – go across the find pressure group S.
In RDP Table 2, follow S to find 30 minutes (between 28-32 minutes) and follow that column down to pressure group L.
Go to RDP Table 3, follow the next greatest depth – 18m – across to meet L. The number in the blue box – 24 – is allowed bottom time.
Staying 25 minutes means you’ve overstayed your bottom time by one minute. The rule is to ascend to 5 meters and stay there for at least 8 minutes before going to the surface, and not dive for six hours.
See the RDP/eRDPML Instructions for Use booklet.
53) I dive to 17 meters for 47 minutes. After a 30-minute surface interval, I do a second dive to 17 meters. Losing track of time, I notice my bottom time is now 25 minutes.
According to the General Rules, what should I do?
Note: you may have to scroll down to see the whole question or to submit your answer.
A Ascend (go up) right away to 5 meters and stay there for at least 8 minutes before going to the surface, and not dive for six hours.
B Go to the surface right away and contact the nearest recompression chamber.
C Ascend (go up) right away to 5 meters and stay there for 3 minutes before going to the surface.
D Ascend (go up) to 3 meters and stay there until I use up my air, and not dive for 24 hours.
A Ascend using my buddy’s alternate air source / make a controlled emergency swimming ascent
You can make a normal ascent when very low on air, but your cylinder isn’t completely empty. When out of air, your best option is usually to make an alternate air source ascent using your buddy’s alternate air source. Make a controlled emergency swimming ascent when fairly shallow and the surface is closer than a buddy with an alternate air source. Make a buoyant emergency ascent when your buddy is not near and you’re deep enough that you don’t think you can make it to the surface by just swimming.
See Being a Diver III – Underwater Problem Management.
35) Although it shouldn’t have happened, on a dive I fail to watch my SPG and run out of air. If my buddy is close by, my best option is to __________. Another option is to _____________, if I’m in shallow water and the surface is closer than my buddy.
Note: you may have to scroll down to see the whole question or to submit your answer.
A ascend using my buddy’s alternate air source / make a controlled emergency swimming ascent
B ascend using my buddy’s alternate air source / make an buoyant emergency ascent
C make a normal ascent / ascend using my buddy’s alternate air source
D make a controlled emergency swimming ascent / make a normal ascent
55) My buddy and I are planning to dive at a site where the water and air temperature are near freezing. We plan to dive to 18 meters for 30 minutes. What dive profile would we use when planning our dive?
A 22 meters for 40 minutes
B 22 meters for 30 minutes
C 20 meters for 30 minutes
D 18 meters for 30 minutes
B 32 minutes
Using RDP Table 1, find the depth on the top row – 18m – and follow the column down to the time or next greatest time – 34/33 – go across the find pressure group M.
In RDP Table 2, follow M to find 30 minutes (between 26-32 minutes) and follow that column down to pressure group H.
Go to RDP Table 3, follow the next deepest depth – 18m – across to meet H. The number in the blue box – 32 – is the allowed bottom time.
See the RDP/eRDPML Instructions for Use booklet.
B 32 minutes
Using RDP Table 1, find the depth on the top row – 18m – and follow the column down to the time or next greatest time – 51/49 – go across the find pressure group T.
On RDP Table 3, follow 18m row across until you find a time in the blue box equal to 24 minutes – follow this up to pressure group L.
Go to RDP Table 2, follow the L column from the bottom until it meets the T row – the minimum surface interval is 32 minutes.
See the RDP/eRDPML Instructions for Use booklet.
B Dive while tired, cold, sick, thirsty or injured.
Secondary factors that can contribute to developing decompression sickness include fatigue, dehydration, cold, poor fitness, high body fat, illness, injuries, age, alcohol consumption before or after a dive, and vigorous exercise before, during or immediately after a dive.
See Being a Diver IV – Decompression Sickness.
B Follow the computer’s instructions for decompression.
If you exceed a no stop limit, you will have to make an emergency decompression stop. You computer will go into decompression mode and guide you by providing the depth of your emergency decompression stop and how long you have to stay there before you can ascend to the surface. Emergency decompression stops are required so that you don’t exceed accepted theoretical nitrogen levels.
See Using Dive Computers and Tables II – Emergency Decompression Stops.
45) If I accidentally exceed my computer’s no stop limits, I should
A make a safety stop for three minutes at 5 meters.
B follow the computer’s instructions for decompression.
C surface immediately, breathe oxygen and report my condition to the divemaster.
D make a controlled ascent and refer to the manufacturer’s literature for decompression procedures.
B In the triangle area formed by my chin and the lower corners of my rib cage.
Your alternate air source attaches with a quick release in the triangle area formed by your chin and the lower corners of your rib cage. Avoid letting your alternate air source dangle unsecured from your kit.
See Equipment I – Regulators.
B It would lose memory of the previous dive and not calculate repetitive dives correctly.
Your dive computer tracks your personal theoretical nitrogen levels continuously during all your dives and surface intervals. For your safety, to keep an accurate account, you must not turn off your computer and need to use the same computer the entire diving day, on all dives.
See Using Dive Computers and Tables I – Repetitive Diving.
44) It’s important that I do not turn off a dive computer between dives because
A the divemaster may object because I can’t recall the dive information for logging.
B it would lose memory of the previous dive and not calculate repetitive dives correctly.
C it won’t come back on, or it may take a long time to power up.
D doing so is hard on the batteries and may cause the computer to fail.
B Low on air.
This is the hand signal for low on air.
See Your Skills as a Diver I – Hand Signals.
27) If I were separated from my buddy, the general procedure is to
A go up immediately, wait a minute and then go back down.
B search for a minute and then go up to reunite with my buddy at the surface.
C go to the surface immediately and get out of the water.
D look for my buddy’s bubbles and follow the bubbles to find my buddy.
B Share air.
This is the hand signal for share air.
See Your Skills as a Diver I – Hand Signals.
B Stop all activity and rest, holding onto something for support if possible.
If you find it difficult to breathe you’re overexerted. Immediately stop and rest while holding onto something for support to restore normal breathing. Continue only after you’ve regained a normal, slow breathing rate.
See Being a Diver II – Overexertion.
B The balloon will get smaller and the air inside the balloon will be more dense (molecules move closer together).
As water pressure increases, the volume of an air space will decrease. This causes the density of the air inside to increase and air molecules are pushed closer together. The balloon would get smaller and the air density inside would be greater.
See Being a Diver I – Water Pressure and Air Volume Effects.
2) I blow up a balloon, tie it off, and take it to the bottom of the swimming pool. What will happen to the balloon and the air inside it?
A The balloon will get bigger and the air inside the balloon will be less dense (molecules move further apart).
B The balloon will get smaller and the air inside the balloon will be more dense (molecules move closer together).
C The balloon will get bigger and the air inside the balloon will be more dense.
D The balloon will get smaller and the air inside the balloon will be less dense.
B The maximum allowable time limits for depths (typically in 3-meter).
You plan dives with your dive computer by activating it and scrolling the no stop limits. With most computers, you scroll depths in 3 meter increments, displaying the maximum time allowed at each depth. Agree with your buddy on a maximum depth based on the no stop times displayed.
See Using Dive Computers and Tables I – Planning Dives with Your Computer.
49) As a new PADI Open Water Diver, the recommended maximum depth is ______________, or the actual depth I reached in training, if shallower. The maximum depth for all recreational scuba divers, even experienced divers, is ______________.
A 10 meters/ 18 meters
B 12 meters / 30 meters
C 18 meters / 40 meters
D 24 meters / 58 meters
C 34 minutes
Using RDP Table 1, find the depth on the top row – 25m – and follow the column down to the time – 22 – go across the find pressure group L.
In RDP Table 2, follow pressure group row to find 52 minutes and follow that column down to pressure group D.
Go to RDP Table 3, follow D down to meet – 20m. The number in the white box – 15/13 – is the residual nitrogen time. Add this time to the bottom time – 15/13 + 27 = 42/40.
On RDP Table 1, follow the 20m column down to the time or next greater time – pressure group is S/T.
In RDP Table 2, follow pressure group row to find 1 hour and 2 minutes and follow that column down to pressure group G.
Go to RDP Table 3, follow G down to meet – 18m. The number in the blue box – 34 – is the maximum bottom time.
See the RDP/eRDPML Instructions for Use booklet.
56) I am an Advanced Open Water Diver. I plan to do three dives.
The first dive is a 25-meter dive for 22 minutes followed by a 52-minute surface interval.
The second dive is to 20 meters for 27 minutes followed by a surface interval of 62 minutes.
My third dive is to 18 meters.
What would be my maximum allowable bottom time for this third dive?
A 21 minutes
B 54 minutes
C 34 minutes
D 25 minutes
C Breathe 100 percent oxygen and contact emergency medical care.
For a suspected case of decompression illness, contact emergency medical care, lie down and breathe emergency oxygen. Almost all cases of decompression illness require treatment in a recompression chamber. Don’t delay first aid and getting to treatment.
See Using Dive Computers and Tables II – First Aid Treatment for Decompression Illness.
C Float at eye level while holding a normal breath of air and with an empty BCD.
Part of having good buoyancy and trim is having the right amount of weight. You should float at eye level with an empty BCD and holding a normal breath. When you exhale, you should slowly sink.
See Your Skills as a Diver II – Weight Check and Proper Weighting.
18) I know I am properly weighted for diving if I
A float at neck level with my BCD about half full while I am holding a normal breath of air.
B sink slowly holding a normal breath of air and with an empty BCD.
C float at eye level while holding a normal breath of air and with an empty BCD.
D sink easily with a partially filled BCD.
C Hold the regulator without sealing my mouth around the mouthpiece and “sip” the air I need as I ascend (go up).
You can breathe from a freeflowing regulator by “sipping” air as you need it. Don’t seal your mouth around the mouthpiece. Begin your ascent promptly, because the freeflow will exhaust your air supply quickly.
See Being a Diver III – Underwater Problem Management.
C I am feeling a squeeze and need to equalize.
Pain in your ears or sinuses means that they aren’t equalized. Stop your descent and ascend slightly to relieve pressure on your ears. Then attempt to equalize again. If you can’t equalize, end the dive.
See Being a Diver I – The Effects of Increasing Pressure on Body Air Spaces.
C Keep some air in it.
You should keep some air in the cylinder to prevent moisture from entering and causing corrosion. Also, have it pressure tested at required intervals, usually two to five years. Have it visually inspected annually. Store it standing in a safe place and keep it away from high heat.
See Equipment I – Cylinder Care.
C Okay? Okay.
This is the hand signal for Okay.
See Your Skills as a Diver I – Hand Signals.
A Compress (feel thinner) from water pressure, and I will lose buoyancy and warmth.
The small bubbles in your wet suit compress as you get deeper. This causes your buoyancy to decrease and makes the wet suit thinner, which affects warmth. To control your buoyancy, add small amounts of air to your BCD frequently during descent.
See Being a Diver II – Descents in Open Water.
17) As I descend (go down), my wet suit will
A compress (feel thinner) from water pressure, and I will lose buoyancy and warmth.
B expand (feel thicker) from water pressure, and I will gain buoyancy and warmth.
C remain the same thickness from the water pressure, and there will be no change in warmth.
D expand (feel thicker) from water pressure, and I will lose buoyancy and warmth.
D Divers who are distressed or panicked often have their masks on their foreheads and don’t use their breathing equipment. They usually have wide, unseeing eyes, quick and jerky movements, and do not follow instructions. They need immediate help because they may continue to struggle until exhausted.
See Being a Diver III – Surface Problem Management – Responsive Diver.
32) A diver at the surface is moving quickly and jerkily, has the mask off the face, the regulator/snorkel is out of the mouth, and the diver does not respond to directions. The diver is
A giving the okay signal.
B performing a predive safety check.
C excited about the dive.
D showing signs of distress (trouble).
D float.
Salt water is heavier than fresh water because it has dissolved minerals in it. This means it causes more upward force (buoyancy) on an object. An object that is neutrally buoyant in fresh water would float in salt water because there is greater upward force.
See Being a Diver I – Buoyancy and Controlling Buoyancy.
D Holding my breath while scuba diving.
Blocking off your lungs by holding your breath and ascending could cause them to overexpand and rupture, which is a serious injury that could result in paralysis and death. Breathing continuously while scuba diving keeps air passages open allowing expanding air to escape.
See Being a Diver I – The Effects of Decreasing Pressure on Body Air Spaces.
D I need to follow special procedures and may need to set my computer for the altitude.
Because you surface to lower atmospheric pressure, you need to use altitude diving procedures if diving at an altitude of 300 meters or higher. Many dive computers automatically adjust and some have settings you can adjust for altitude diving.
See Using Dive Computers and Tables II – Flying After Diving and Altitude Diving.
50) When diving at an altitude above 300 meters
A I do not need to follow special procedures.
B I can’t use my dive computer.
C I do not need to follow special procedures, but my computer may need to be set for the altitude.
D I need to follow special procedures and may need to set my computer for the altitude.
D Out of air.
This is the hand signal for out of air.
See Your Skills as a Diver I – Hand Signals.
D Reduce the risk of breathing contaminated air.
Contaminated air is rare because it’s easy to avoid by getting your cylinders filled at reputable scuba air sources – namely, professional dive operations. Dive centers and resorts take care of their fill systems and know the value of regular air testing.
See Being a Diver IV – Contaminated Air.
37) I should have cylinders filled at a dive center I trust, not use air that tastes or smells bad, nor use air from a compressor designed to fill car tires. This is important to
A decrease the likelihood of gas narcosis.
B increase the enjoyment of my dive.
C reduce the risk of lung overexpansion injuries.
D reduce the risk of breathing contaminated air.
D R
Using RDP Table 1, find the depth on the top row – 22m – and follow the column down to the time or next greatest time – 21 – go across the find pressure group I/K.
In RDP Table 2, follow pressure group row to find 1 hour and follow that column down to pressure group C.
Go to RDP Table 3, follow C down to meet – 18m. The number in the white box – 15/14 – is the residual nitrogen time. Add this time to the bottom time – 15/14 + 30 = 45/44.
On RDP Table 1, follow the 18m column down to the time or next greater time – Pressure Group is R.
See the RDP/eRDPML Instructions for Use booklet.
54) A group of Advanced Open Water Divers plans to make two dives. The first dive is on a reef in 22 meters of water for 20 minutes. The group then remains on the surface for 1 hour. The second dive is on a wreck in 18 meters of water, with a planned bottom time of 30 minutes. What will be the ending pressure group after the second dive?
A L
B K
C S
D R
A I should add an extra safety margin and stay well within my computer’s limits.
If you get cold or exercise a lot during a dive, you may end up with more dissolved nitrogen than calculated by your dive computer or tables. This could increase your decompression sickness risk. Stay well within the no stop limits, being even more conservative than normal by adding an extra safety margin.
See Using Dive Computers and Tables II – Cold and Strenuous Dives.
A Visibility (how far you can see underwater).
The nature and composition of particles in the water affects visibility. Large, heavy material – like from gravel and rock bottoms – settles out of the water quickly, restoring visibility quickly. Small, light particles – like from mud and clay bottoms – can remain suspended for very long periods.
See Being a Diver III – Visibility.