PADI OPEN WATER
CERTIFICATION EVALUATION
EXAMS 2026 EXAM PAPER FULL
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
◉ What is the pressure change for each 10m/33ft of depth
change? Answer: 1 bar/1 ata/1 atmosphere
◉ What is the relationship between my depth in water and the
pressure? Answer: The deeper you go in water, the more the
pressure increases
Pressure is expressed as the weight of air
◉ What is the relationship between pressure, and the volume
and the density of air? Answer: As pressure increases, the gas
volume decreases and the gas density increases
◉ If I take a volume of air from one depth to another depth,
how much will the volume and density change? Answer:
Volume will be 1/ata#
Density will be ata#
◉ What 3 major body air spaces does increasing pressure affect
as I descend? Answer: Ears, sinuses, mask
◉ What is a "squeeze"? Answer: The discomfort caused by
pressure imbalance pulling tissue into the air space
◉ What is "equalization"? Answer: The addition of air to your
air spaces as you descend
◉ How do I equalize as I descend? Answer: For ears and
sinuses, pinch your nose and blow gently, or wiggle your jaw
and swallow
For mask, blow into it with nose
,◉ How often should I equalize? Answer: Every meter/few feet,
BEFORE you feel discomfort
◉ What should I do if I can't equalize? Answer: Stop your
descent, signal problem and point to your ear, ascend a bit, and
try again
◉ What can happen if I don't or can't equalize gently and keep
descending? Answer: Fluid can rupture the eardrum
Bruising around the face can occur
◉ Why does a congestion from a cold or allergy temporarily
keep me from diving? Answer: Congestion might block normal
air flow, making equalization difficult or impossible
◉ Why should I never dive with earplugs? Answer: They create
air spaces that you can't equalize
◉ What other body air spaces are affected by increasing
pressure? How do I equalize them? Answer: In filled teeth - go
to a dentist
In a dry suit - learn from an instructor
Lungs - breathe normally and continuously
◉ What is the most important rule in scuba diving? Answer:
Breathe continuously and never hold your breath
◉ What can happen if I don't follow the most important rule in
scuba diving? Answer: Your lungs will over expand and rupture
◉ What is a "reverse block"? Answer: When expanding air
becomes trapped in your body air spaces as you ascend
◉ What should I do if I feel discomfort in my ears, sinuses,
stomach, intestines, or teeth while ascending? Answer: Stop
, your ascent and descend a meter/few feet to reduce discomfort
and give trapped air time to work its way out
◉ How does depth affect how long my air supply lasts? Answer:
The deeper you are, the more dense air you breathe, and the
faster you use the air in your cylinder. Compared to the surface,
air supply lasts 1/#ata as long along with other factors
◉ What's the most efficient way to breathe dense air underwater?
Answer: Take slow, deep breaths
◉ How do I breathe to reduce anxiety when under stress?
Answer: Do NOT breathe faster - keep breathing slowly
◉ What are my 4 breathing rules as a scuba diver? Answer: 1.
Breathe continuously and never hold your breath
2. Breathe slowly and deeply
3. Don't allow yourself to get winded or out of breath
4. If faced with a problem, stop, and reduce anxiety by breathing
slowly and deeply
◉ What is buoyancy? Answer: An upward force acting on an
object in the water, canceling the pull of gravity
◉ What causes buoyancy? Answer: The upwards force is
caused by the water displaced by the object, and is equal to the
weight of displaced water
◉ positive buoyancy Answer: The object weighs less than the
water it displaces, so it floats
◉ neutral buoyancy Answer: The object weighs the same as the
water it displaces, neither sinking nor floating
◉ negative buoyancy Answer: The object weighs more than the
water it displaces, so it sinks
CERTIFICATION EVALUATION
EXAMS 2026 EXAM PAPER FULL
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
◉ What is the pressure change for each 10m/33ft of depth
change? Answer: 1 bar/1 ata/1 atmosphere
◉ What is the relationship between my depth in water and the
pressure? Answer: The deeper you go in water, the more the
pressure increases
Pressure is expressed as the weight of air
◉ What is the relationship between pressure, and the volume
and the density of air? Answer: As pressure increases, the gas
volume decreases and the gas density increases
◉ If I take a volume of air from one depth to another depth,
how much will the volume and density change? Answer:
Volume will be 1/ata#
Density will be ata#
◉ What 3 major body air spaces does increasing pressure affect
as I descend? Answer: Ears, sinuses, mask
◉ What is a "squeeze"? Answer: The discomfort caused by
pressure imbalance pulling tissue into the air space
◉ What is "equalization"? Answer: The addition of air to your
air spaces as you descend
◉ How do I equalize as I descend? Answer: For ears and
sinuses, pinch your nose and blow gently, or wiggle your jaw
and swallow
For mask, blow into it with nose
,◉ How often should I equalize? Answer: Every meter/few feet,
BEFORE you feel discomfort
◉ What should I do if I can't equalize? Answer: Stop your
descent, signal problem and point to your ear, ascend a bit, and
try again
◉ What can happen if I don't or can't equalize gently and keep
descending? Answer: Fluid can rupture the eardrum
Bruising around the face can occur
◉ Why does a congestion from a cold or allergy temporarily
keep me from diving? Answer: Congestion might block normal
air flow, making equalization difficult or impossible
◉ Why should I never dive with earplugs? Answer: They create
air spaces that you can't equalize
◉ What other body air spaces are affected by increasing
pressure? How do I equalize them? Answer: In filled teeth - go
to a dentist
In a dry suit - learn from an instructor
Lungs - breathe normally and continuously
◉ What is the most important rule in scuba diving? Answer:
Breathe continuously and never hold your breath
◉ What can happen if I don't follow the most important rule in
scuba diving? Answer: Your lungs will over expand and rupture
◉ What is a "reverse block"? Answer: When expanding air
becomes trapped in your body air spaces as you ascend
◉ What should I do if I feel discomfort in my ears, sinuses,
stomach, intestines, or teeth while ascending? Answer: Stop
, your ascent and descend a meter/few feet to reduce discomfort
and give trapped air time to work its way out
◉ How does depth affect how long my air supply lasts? Answer:
The deeper you are, the more dense air you breathe, and the
faster you use the air in your cylinder. Compared to the surface,
air supply lasts 1/#ata as long along with other factors
◉ What's the most efficient way to breathe dense air underwater?
Answer: Take slow, deep breaths
◉ How do I breathe to reduce anxiety when under stress?
Answer: Do NOT breathe faster - keep breathing slowly
◉ What are my 4 breathing rules as a scuba diver? Answer: 1.
Breathe continuously and never hold your breath
2. Breathe slowly and deeply
3. Don't allow yourself to get winded or out of breath
4. If faced with a problem, stop, and reduce anxiety by breathing
slowly and deeply
◉ What is buoyancy? Answer: An upward force acting on an
object in the water, canceling the pull of gravity
◉ What causes buoyancy? Answer: The upwards force is
caused by the water displaced by the object, and is equal to the
weight of displaced water
◉ positive buoyancy Answer: The object weighs less than the
water it displaces, so it floats
◉ neutral buoyancy Answer: The object weighs the same as the
water it displaces, neither sinking nor floating
◉ negative buoyancy Answer: The object weighs more than the
water it displaces, so it sinks
