NAUI Underwater Skills & Safety Procedures 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a safety stop at 15 feet (5 meters), a diver's computer shows they have exceeded their no-decompression limit. The diver should:
- Ascend immediately to the surface
- Extend the safety stop until the computer clears the obligation (Correct answer)
- Descend back to depth to off-gas
- Signal buddy and surface together immediately
Correct answer: Extend the safety stop until the computer clears the obligation
If a diver inadvertently exceeds NDL limits, extending the safety stop allows additional nitrogen off-gassing before surfacing.
Question 2: What is the purpose of the pre-dive buddy check (often remembered as BWRAF)?
- To practice underwater communication signals
- To verify all equipment is functioning and both divers are prepared (Correct answer)
- To establish the dive plan and depth limits
- To check weather and water conditions
Correct answer: To verify all equipment is functioning and both divers are prepared
The BWRAF buddy check (BCD, Weights, Releases, Air, Final check) ensures all equipment is properly configured before entering the water.
Question 3: A diver experiencing nitrogen narcosis at depth is most likely to exhibit which behavior?
- Increased awareness and hypervigilance
- Impaired judgment and euphoria similar to alcohol intoxication (Correct answer)
- Rapid breathing and anxiety
- Muscle cramps and joint pain
Correct answer: Impaired judgment and euphoria similar to alcohol intoxication
Nitrogen narcosis impairs cognitive function and can cause euphoria, poor decision-making, and loss of coordination at depth.
Question 4: When ascending from a dive, the maximum recommended ascent rate according to most training agencies is:
- 100 feet (30 meters) per minute
- 60 feet (18 meters) per minute
- 30 feet (9 meters) per minute or slower (Correct answer)
- 10 feet (3 meters) per minute
Correct answer: 30 feet (9 meters) per minute or slower
Most agencies, including NAUI, recommend ascending no faster than 30 feet (9 meters) per minute to allow adequate nitrogen elimination.
Question 5: A diver who surfaces far from the boat in a current should:
- Swim aggressively against the current to reach the boat
- Inflate SMB, conserve energy, and signal for pickup (Correct answer)
- Remove BCD and weight belt to swim faster
- Submerge again and navigate back underwater
Correct answer: Inflate SMB, conserve energy, and signal for pickup
Inflating an SMB (surface marker buoy) makes the diver visible while conserving energy is essential in a current.
Question 6: What is the correct response if a diver's regulator free-flows while underwater?
- Immediately surface as fast as possible
- Turn off the tank valve
- Breathe from the side of the mouthpiece and ascend in a controlled manner (Correct answer)
- Switch to snorkel
Correct answer: Breathe from the side of the mouthpiece and ascend in a controlled manner
Breathing from the side of the mouthpiece controls the flow rate while the diver safely ascends to have the regulator serviced.
Question 7: Which factor primarily determines a diver's susceptibility to decompression sickness on a given dive?
- Water temperature
- The amount of nitrogen absorbed based on depth and time (Correct answer)
- Physical fitness level
- Type of wetsuit worn
Correct answer: The amount of nitrogen absorbed based on depth and time
DCS risk is driven by the amount of nitrogen absorbed, which is directly determined by dive depth and duration.
NAUI Underwater Skills & Safety Procedures 3
During a safety stop at 15 feet (5 meters), a diver's computer shows they have exceeded their no-decompression limit.
The diver should: