Equipment Knowledge & Maintenance Flashcards
7 cards from real PADI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Equipment Knowledge & Maintenance flashcards as text
What is the correct procedure for rinsing a regulator after a saltwater dive?
Answer: Soak and rinse with fresh water without pressing the purge button, keeping the dust cap in place
The dust cap must be in place and the purge button must NOT be pressed during rinsing to prevent water from entering the first stage.
A diver notices their SPG reads lower than expected at the start of a dive. What is the most likely explanation?
Answer: The cylinder was not fully filled or gas was lost from a leaking valve
An unexpectedly low SPG reading at dive start almost always indicates the cylinder was not topped off or gas escaped through a leak.
Why are aluminum scuba cylinders anodized on the exterior?
Answer: Anodizing creates a hard oxide layer that resists corrosion and surface abrasion
Anodizing converts the outer aluminum surface into aluminum oxide, which is harder and far more corrosion-resistant than bare aluminum.
Which component in a BCD oral inflator allows the diver to add air by mouth without it escaping back out?
Answer: A one-way check valve inside the mouthpiece assembly
The one-way check valve allows air to enter the bladder from the mouthpiece but prevents it from flowing back out during exhalation.
What is the purpose of a drysuit's non-return valve (inflator valve)?
Answer: It allows gas to enter the suit for thermal insulation and prevents backflow into the cylinder hose
The non-return (check) valve on a drysuit inflator port allows gas from the cylinder to enter the suit but blocks backflow toward the regulator.
What is the recommended maximum fill pressure for a standard aluminum 80 scuba cylinder rated at 3000 psi?
Answer: 3000 psi (207 bar) — the rated working pressure
Aluminum cylinders should be filled only to their rated working pressure — in this case 3000 psi — to avoid stress beyond design limits.
Which of the following best describes the function of a tank boot on a scuba cylinder?
Answer: Protects the cylinder base from impact and provides a flat surface for standing the tank upright
A tank boot cushions the base of the cylinder from impact damage and gives it a stable, flat surface to stand on.