Glossary of Scuba Diving Terms (A)

Understanding That Strange Scuba Language

Welcome to our glossary of scuba diving terms. Diving, like many sports, has its own language. Our scuba glossary is for anyone interested in understanding the scuba diving definitions, scuba diving terms or scuba slang found in this strange scuba communication that divers use.

Our glossary of scuba diving terms is easy to use. Just click on the letter that corresponds to the first letter of the word that you are looking for. All the words that begin with that letter will be displayed.

We will be constantly updating our glossary of scuba diving terms. If you think we have missed a term or you can not find the word you are looking for, please let us know. We will add it and the best definition we can find to our glossary of scuba diving terms.

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A

The total pressure exerted on a body. This is equal to the sum of gauge and atmospheric pressure.

Total elapsed time in minutes from leaving the surface until direct ascent to the surface.

A compressed breathing gas mixture containing 21% oxygen, 78% nitrogen, and 1% other gasses (mainly argon). Compressed air is used for recreational scuba diving.

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.

The depletion of breathing gas by a diver during the course of a dive.

A condition that occurs when air enters the bloodstream through a ruptured lung. The air in the bloodstream then forms bubbles, which can block blood flow to the body's tissues.

The force per unit area exerted by the weight of air. At sea level the air pressure is 14.7 psi. Air pressure decreases at altitude.

An International maritime signal flag, meaning, 'Diver down, keep clear'.

A redundant air supply. This allows a diver to make a slow, safe ascent to the surface in case of an out of air emergency. This can be either an octopus second stage or a separate tank and regulator.

Un-even release of pressure from the inner ear. This willcause vertigo, dizziness and spins.

An illness brought on by the sudden reduction in pressure of ascent to altitude.

It is the available natural sunlight underwater.

The total pressure exerted on a body at depth. One atmosphere is about 14.7 pounds of pressure per square inch.

Device that uses a needle moving around a dial to provide information.

A rope, cable or chain that attaches a boat to its anchor.

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

The first self-contained-underwater-breathing-apparatus that used compressed air and a two-stage on demand regulator. The aqua lung was designed by Jacques Cousteau and Emile Gagnan.

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.

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.

An extra cylinder of air used on deep dives to allow decompression stops without fear of running out of air. They come in many different sizes from 6 c.f. to a full 80 c.f. tank.

Line suspended from a boat or a buoy for a diver to use to control their rate of ascent or descent.

A common condition manifested by narrowing of air passages within the lungs. One reason for the narrowing is excess mucous in the airway.

Atmosphere absolute. 1 ata is the atmospheric pressure at sea level and it is measured with a barometer.

The pressure of atmospheric gases at a given altitude or location. At sea level, this is 14.7 psi (bar).

Aquatic World Awareness, Responsibility and Education. A PADI nonprofit environmental foundation that provides financial support for aquatic preservation endeavors develops conservation-oriented educational materials and initiates public awareness campaigns.