Scuba Diving Marine Life and Environment 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the correct response if a diver encounters a moray eel in the open?
- Observe calmly from a distance without reaching into crevices (Correct answer)
- Grab it quickly and relocate it
- Chase it away from the dive site
- Offer it food to distract it
Correct answer: Observe calmly from a distance without reaching into crevices
Moray eels are not aggressive unless provoked; divers should observe from a safe distance and never reach into holes or crevices where eels may be resting.
Question 2: What does 'buoyancy control' have to do with reef conservation?
- Poor buoyancy leads to accidental contact with and damage to coral (Correct answer)
- Good buoyancy increases air consumption
- Buoyancy control affects fish behavior more than coral
- Reef protection only requires not touching coral with hands
Correct answer: Poor buoyancy leads to accidental contact with and damage to coral
Divers who cannot control their buoyancy accidentally fin, kneel on, or crash into fragile coral structures, causing lasting damage to slow-growing reef ecosystems.
Question 3: What is the main reason divers are advised not to touch marine life?
- It can harm the animal and disturb its protective coating or behavior (Correct answer)
- It reduces the diver's air supply
- It is only forbidden near spawning areas
- Marine life may attract predators to the diver
Correct answer: It can harm the animal and disturb its protective coating or behavior
Many marine animals have protective mucus coatings that human hands damage, and handling causes stress responses that can injure or kill the animal.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes responsible behavior near a sea turtle?
- Remain still or move slowly, allow the turtle to approach, never chase or block its path (Correct answer)
- Swim alongside the turtle to match its speed
- Gently hold onto the turtle's shell for a ride
- Herd the turtle toward shallower water for better photos
Correct answer: Remain still or move slowly, allow the turtle to approach, never chase or block its path
Sea turtles are protected species; divers must not chase, touch, or obstruct them and should let the animal dictate any interaction distance.
Question 5: What is coral bleaching caused by?
- Elevated water temperatures causing coral to expel symbiotic algae (Correct answer)
- Physical damage from anchors or divers
- Oil pollution coating the coral surface
- Overfishing removing algae-eating fish
Correct answer: Elevated water temperatures causing coral to expel symbiotic algae
Coral bleaching occurs when thermal stress causes corals to expel the symbiotic zooxanthellae algae that give them color and nutrients, leaving the white calcium skeleton visible.
Question 6: What should a diver do if stung by a jellyfish underwater?
- Move away calmly, alert the buddy, and treat the sting after surfacing (Correct answer)
- Immediately ascend as fast as possible
- Rub the affected area with sand to neutralize the venom
- Pour fresh water over the sting while still underwater
Correct answer: Move away calmly, alert the buddy, and treat the sting after surfacing
A jellyfish sting should be addressed calmly — move away, signal the buddy, complete a controlled ascent, and receive appropriate treatment (removing tentacles, rinsing) at the surface.
Scuba Diving Marine Life and Environment 1
What is the correct response if a diver encounters a moray eel in the open?