Diving Dictionary - Diving Terms and Definitions

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	ACTUAL BOTTOM TIME (submitted by: mishy) The total time in minutes from the beginning of descent until the beginning of ascent.
	ANOXIA Described as the state of lack of oxygen in tissues to support normal activities. Brain cells are damaged when there is too low oxygen present in the blood. Read our section on Anoxia for more information.
	BAROTRAUMA (submitted by: lenay) Brought about by the difference in pressure between air spaces inside or beside the body and its surrounding environment. This health risk usually damages the eyes, lungs, skin, ear, and the sinuses.
	BUDDY SYSTEM Is commonly practiced so that Divers can give assistance to each other, especially in case help or rescue is necessary. Read our section on Basic Dive Training - Buddy System for more information.
	BUOYANCY Is an upward force on something that is immersed in a liquid or gas. It enables an object to float or make it look like it is lighter. For more information, visit our section on Beginner's Guide - Physics Principles in Diving.
	BUOYANCY COMPENSATOR Is used by Scuba Divers to stay at a certain depth and to control Buoyancy during descent and ascent. Read our section on Diving Gear and Equipment - Buoyancy Compensator for more details.
	C-CARD/CERTIFICATION CARD This serves as proof of completed diver training and evidence of experience.
	CPR Stands for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. It is an emergency First Aid which is done on an unconscious person whose pulse and breathing cannot be detected. Read our section on Diving Safety and First Aid - CPR for more details.
	DECOMPRESSION BUOY (submitted by: lenay) Also called as Surface Marker Buoy. A surface tool used by Divers to mark their position while at a Decompression Stop.
	DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS Is caused by the formation of nitrogen bubbles in the blood as well as in the tissues of the body. Visit our section on Decompression sickness for more information.
	DECOMPRESSION STOP Is a period of time when the Diver stays in shallow water in order to get rid of inert gases absorbed by the body during the dive and avoid Decompression sickness. Visit our section on Skills in Dive Planning for more details.
	DIVE COMPUTER Is an electronic device used in determining important diving information such as the current depth, Dive time, maximum depth reached, time for no-stop dive, and water temperature. For more details, check out our section on Diving Gear and Equipment - Instrumentation.
	DIVE FLAG Flag used by a boat to indicate that it has 'divers down'.
	DIVER (submitted by: mishy) One who works under water, especially one equipped with breathing apparatus and weighted clothing.
	DIVING SHOT (submitted by: lenay) A surface tool which marks the dive site and guarantees the safety of the Diver during ascent and descent.
	DYE MARKERS (submitted by: lenay) Bright-colored water dyes used as a surface tool. Dye Markers are basically used to increase the visibility of Divers from the air.
	FORWARD DIVE (submitted by: mishy) The more or less standard dive, on which the diver faces the water and rotates forward, toward the water.
	HURDLE (submitted by: mishy) The last portion of the diver's approach, on which he or she springs off one foot toward the end of the board and lands on both feet.
	HYPERBARIC (submitted by: mishy) A term used to describe increased pressure over the pressure in one atmosphere.
	HYPOXIA Occurs when the body or part of the body is not provided with sufficient oxygen. Check out our section on Hypoxia for more details.
	LOG BOOK List of the dives a diver has recorded for proof of experience.
	MAL DE MER Also called motion or sea sickness.
	MASK (submitted by: mishy) A usually rubber frame forming a watertight seal around the eyes and nose and containing a transparent covering for use in seeing underwater.
	NITROGEN NARCOSIS Occurs when there is a higher concentration of nitrogen dissolved in the blood. For more information, visit our section on Nitrogen narcosis for more information.
	OPEN CIRCUIT SCUBA An apparatus used in recreational diving in which exhaled air is expelled as bubbles into the water.
	OXYGEN TOXICITY Occurs when the Diver is breathing oxygen with a high partial pressure for a considerable period of time. For more details, visit our section on Oxygen toxicity.
	PADI Stands for Professional Association of Diving Instructors. This is the largest and most recognized professional diving group in the world. Visit our section on Beginner's Guide - Diving Certification Agencies to know more about PADI and other diving associations.
	REBREATHER Is a type of Scuba set that converts exhaled air to a gas that the Diver can breathe again. There is total re-circulation and reprocessing of gas supplied to the Diver. read our section on Scuba Sets - Types for more details.
	RECOMPRESSION CHAMBER It is a pressure vessel used to treat divers suffering from certain diving disorders such as decompression sickness.
	RECREATIONAL DIVING Is a type of Diving which is done mainly as a leisure activity and for enjoyment. For more information, check out our section on Diving Variations - Recreational Diving.
	REEF (submitted by: mishy) A strip or ridge of rocks, sand, or coral that rises to or near the surface of a body of water.
	REPETITIVE DIVE A dive made between 10 minutes and twelve hours of a previous dive.
	RESIDUAL NITROGEN TIME The time it takes for nitrogen off-gassing.
	SAFETY STOP A specific time spent at a set depth for nitrogen off-gassing while ascending.
	SATURATION DIVING A dive performed after the body is fully saturated with nitrogen.
	SCOMBROID FISH POISONING Is a type of food poisoning caused by consumption of fish that have high levels of histamine. For more details, visit our section on Dangerous Marine Life - Marine Life Poisoning.
	SCUBA Stands for Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. This enables Divers to breathe underwater for a considerable period of time. Check out our section on Scuba Sets for more information.
	SCUBA DIVING Is a form of diving which enables a person to breathe underwater and stay for longer periods through the use of an independent breathing apparatus. For more details, visit our section on What is Diving?.
	SHALLOW WATER BLACKOUT Characterized by sudden unconsciousness caused from hypoxia. This is also called as latent hypoxia.
	SINGLE DIVE A dive performed 12 hours after the last dive.
	SKIN DIVING Diving without the use of scuba equipment. This is also called breath-hold diving.
	SNORKEL Is a hollow, curved tube made of either rubber or plastic with a mouthpiece that enables you to breathe while you are on the water surface with your face down. For more details, visit our section on Diving Gear and Equipment - Snorkels.
	SOMERSAULT (submitted by: mishy) A movement on which the diver's body is rotated around the imaginary horizontal axis through the hips.
	SURFACE INTERVAL This is the time between dives.
	SURFACE MARKER BUOY Is a float with a strong thin line wound around a reel and is attached to the Diver. This buoy makes it possible for the surface boat cover to know where the Divers are. Read our section on Diving Gear and Equipment - Surface Tools for more information.
	TINNITUS Caused by barotraumas in the inner ear and by per lymph fistula. Described as a ringing sound heard by divers and sometimes need surgical repair.
	VERTIGO Often caused by diving problems. This is characterized by a dizzy and unbalanced feeling.
	VERTIGO Often caused by diving problems. This is characterized by a dizzy and unbalanced feeling.
	VERTIGO Often caused by diving problems. This is characterized by a dizzy and unbalanced feeling.
	WET-SUIT (submitted by: mishy) A tight-fitting permeable suit worn in cold water, as by skin divers, to retain body heat.
	WHISTLES/POWER WHISTLES (submitted by: lenay) A surface tool used by Divers to get the attention of the surface boat cover.
	WRECK DIVING This form of Diving involves exploration of wrecks, particularly shipwrecks. Visit our section on Diving Variations - Wreck Diving for more information.