Scuba Diving Underwater Navigation 2

Question 1

What natural cue can divers use to determine which direction is up when disoriented?

Accepted Answer

Watch their bubbles rise

Answer

Exhaled air bubbles always rise toward the surface due to buoyancy, making them a reliable reference when a diver is spatially disoriented.

Question 2

How does surge and current affect underwater compass navigation?

Accepted Answer

It can push the diver off course, requiring heading corrections

Answer

Water movement can carry the diver sideways (current) or back and forth (surge), requiring adjustments to maintain the intended compass heading.

Question 3

What is an 'out-and-back' dive profile?

Accepted Answer

Swimming in one direction then returning on a reciprocal bearing

Answer

An out-and-back profile means swimming a straight heading away from the entry point, then turning 180° and following the reciprocal heading to return.

Question 4

Which direction do sand ripples typically run relative to predominant current?

Accepted Answer

Perpendicular to the current

Answer

Sand ripples form perpendicular to the predominant current direction, so their orientation can reveal which way water is flowing on the bottom.

Question 5

What is a 'search pattern' used for in underwater navigation?

Accepted Answer

Systematically cover an area to locate an object or dive site feature

Answer

Search patterns such as expanding square, U-pattern, or compass arc are used to methodically cover an underwater area to find a specific object.

Scuba Diving Practice Test

Scuba Diving Practice Test

Scuba Diving Underwater Navigation 2