Use the table to find the pressure at that depth.Ī few practice questions should make this much clearer: Air Consumption question in minutesġ.Scan the question and find the DEPTH in meters.It seems like the most obvious, but the greatest number of answers I mark as incorrect are because people haven’t taken this simple step. Will it be a bigger balloon – more liters (multiply), or a smaller balloon - fewer liters (divide)?.Will it be more PSI/BAR (multiply) or less PSI/BAR (divide)?.Will the correct answer be more minutes or fewer minutes? If the correct answer is more minutes you multiply, if you know the answer should be less or fewer minutes, then divide.Using this knowledge, you should be able to look at the question and without concerning yourself with the numbers, decide:

If you take a balloon down, it gets smaller. When you ascend to a shallower depth, your air consumption will decrease the amount of air in PSI/BAR will decrease. The amount of air you consume in PSI/BAR will increase. The deeper you go, the more air you breathe with every breath. If you ascend to a shallower depth, you will consume your air less quickly. The deeper you go, the faster you breathe your air. With your existing knowledge of diving you know:

Find the number from the question that is in that same unit and write it down.

Is the question calling for an answer in Minutes, PSI or BAR, Liters?.

Look at the answers it is multiple-choice after all.

Then when you get a pressure question, refer to it. When the exam starts, just jot this table down before you read any of the questions. Find the pressure at the depth given in the question.īefore we start, there is a table you need to be able to write down on the scrap paper you are given in the exam. Do not focus on the numbers yet, leave your calculator alone! Based on your conclusions, decide if you should be multiplying, which will make the number bigger, or dividing to get a smaller number. Using your diving knowledge, think about the answer you would expect in general terms. Find the unit of measurement that the question is asking about, and take the number in the question that is in that unit. There are four simple steps to answering most of the physics questions the come up in a Divemaster or Instructor exam that requires calculation.

I will also start by focusing on questions where pressure is the key component and then look at other topics. Later parts will use the same fundamentals to answer more complicated questions. In Part 1, I start with the basics and EASY questions.

Padi open water diver exam answer key