PADI - Professional Association of Diving Instructors Recreational Dive Planner (RDP) Questions and Answers

Question 1

A diver completes a dive to 60 feet for 40 minutes. After a surface interval of 1 hour and 30 minutes, what is their new pressure group, and what is the adjusted no-decompression limit (ANDL) for a subsequent dive to 50 feet?

Accepted Answer

Pressure Group E, ANDL is 76 minutes

Answer

Following the RDP table: A 60-foot dive for 40 minutes results in Pressure Group Q. Using Table 2 (Surface Interval Credit Table), a 1 hour 30 minute surface interval moves the diver from pressure group Q to pressure group E. Then, using Table 3 (Repetitive Dive Timetable), for a 50-foot dive, pressure group E corresponds to a residual nitrogen time (RNT) of 24 minutes and an adjusted no-decompression limit (ANDL) of 76 minutes.

Question 2

What does the Pressure Group designator (e.g., 'G', 'K', 'W') represent after a dive when using the Recreational Dive Planner?

Accepted Answer

The theoretical amount of residual nitrogen in the diver's body.

Answer

The letter, or Pressure Group, assigned at the end of a dive is a way to represent the theoretical amount of nitrogen that remains in a diver's body tissues. This residual nitrogen must be accounted for when planning any subsequent dives.

Question 3

According to the Recreational Dive Planner rules, which of the following situations requires a mandatory safety stop at 15 feet for 3 minutes?

Accepted Answer

A dive to 80 feet for 28 minutes.

Answer

A safety stop is required for any dive to 100 feet or deeper, or when the dive comes within three pressure groups of the no-decompression limit. A dive to 80 feet has a no-decompression limit of 30 minutes (Pressure Group O). A 28-minute dive results in Pressure Group N, which is within three pressure groups (N, M, L) of the limit, thus requiring a safety stop.

Question 4

A diver plans a first dive to 70 feet for 30 minutes. They want to make a second dive to 60 feet for 25 minutes. What is the MINIMUM surface interval they must take between dives?

Accepted Answer

1 hour 4 minutes

Answer

First dive: 70ft for 30 min results in Pressure Group N. Second dive: To dive to 60ft for 25 min, the diver needs an Adjusted No Decompression Limit (ANDL) of at least 25 minutes. On Table 3, at 60ft, the lowest pressure group that allows a 25-minute dive is Pressure Group J (ANDL of 28 min). To get from Pressure Group N to J, Table 2 shows a minimum surface interval of 1 hour and 4 minutes.

Question 5

If a diver accidentally exceeds their no-decompression limit by 4 minutes on a dive, what is the correct emergency procedure according to the PADI RDP?

Accepted Answer

Perform a mandatory 8-minute decompression stop at 15 feet and stay out of the water for at least 6 hours.

Answer

If a no-decompression limit is exceeded by 5 minutes or less, the diver must make a mandatory emergency decompression stop at 15 feet for 8 minutes. After surfacing, the diver should not dive for at least 6 hours.

PADI - Professional Association of Diving Instructors Practice Test

PADI - Professional Association of Diving Instructors Practice Test

PADI - Professional Association of Diving Instructors Recreational Dive Planner (RDP) Questions and Answers